Results 181 - 200 of 773
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: JCrichton Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
181 | The keeper of Man? | Gen 28:15 | JCrichton | 123791 | ||
Hi, Looking4Answers! I am not sure if this is the passage which you are looking for: Genesis 28:15: Be sure that I am with you; I will keep you safe wherever you go, and bring you back to this land, for I will not desert you before I have done all that I have promised you." Another version reads: And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said. This particular Bible passage talks about Jacob's dream at Bethel (Jacob's Ladder). In the dream, Jacob receives Yahweh's promise that He will protect him wherever he goes. God Bless! Angel |
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182 | How could Esau forgive Jacob? | Gen 33:4 | JCrichton | 144921 | ||
Hi Samantha Lo! Though there are many unclear topics in Scripture, we can surmise much of the unknown by that which is known: Jacob's and Esau's conflict was not a simple matter of Jacob usurping Easau... we find in Scripture that God made a conscious choice (Jacob over Easau) even before they were born (Genesis 25:21-26)... to this end, Rebecca, the mother, was inspired to love Jacob better and Esau himself chose to become a hunter (the life of a recluse and traveler) rather than a homebody--a practice that would pave the way for the loss of his birthright (first born status); as Esau lost both his first born rights and his father's blessigs... he must have had a temporary loss of judgment (psychotic episode) and he sought Jacob in order to kill him... God's words were fulfilled Jacob returned with wealth and Esau (being of sound mind again) forgave his trespasses... Jacob was destined to become a great nation (Israel) while his brother, though powerful in his own rights, would serve him (protection, etc.) We also find a similar situation with Josephs children, where God chooses the younger one rather than the first born to continue the lineage! (Genesis 48:1-20) It is God's Plan that is achieved, regardless of our sense of morality and justice (which more times than not are flawed)... He sees beyond our finite limitations; He fulfills His Promises through His own Might rather than relying on us to come to His conclusion and to obey and acquiesce to His Will. God Bless! Angel |
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183 | Rape, Circumcission, Slaughter. | Gen 34:31 | JCrichton | 135041 | ||
Hi, Just Read Mark! Have you noticed how hollow wood (my term for the entertainment industry) has always managed to romanticize every sort of perversion (violence --specially murder and rape, racism, adultery, drugs--inclusive of alcohol and tobacco products, prostitution, homosexuality, materialism, power (physical, political, financial)... there are cultures (groups of people) in the US and internationally that actually live by those standards! Back then, as now, no man has the right to force himself on a woman--specially when he loves/lusts after her beauty! Though we have only partial information on Dinah's rape, it is clearly understood that she was taken while in the company of other women, women who were subject of Shechem and would hold allegiance to him rather than to a stranger, and that after the rape she was not in high spirits--having had consensual sex with a prince, no doubt he would have bragged about his position, it would be logical for a woman of such morals to be content (specially after his attempt to woo her after the fact). "It seems that Shechem has significant love for Dinah" ...this kind of love the world could do without... isn't that the excuse many wife/girlfriend beaters use for the harm (both physical and mental) that they cause their "loved" ones? Love protects and cherishes... it never abuses and injures! "Or should it be seen as going against their word (the agreement that Dinah could marry Shechem if the males were circumsized)" Genesis 34:13 clearly states that they answered "deceitfully." This means that they had not intention in contracting any accords with the man who raped their sister nor with his people! Remember the Trojan Horse? Shechem and his people had declared war on Jacob and his children--one family against a whole city... they needed an edge! "political rather than moral reasons" Jacob did not sanction his sons for taking revenge upon those who assaulted his daughter... not just then! In the heat of the moment (Genesis 34:5), when he was first informed, it seems that he does not even mind that his daughter was raped! Prudence! What could an old man do against two or more men? Jacob waited patiently for his sons to return to his side and then he presented to them the situation! Now, we know that only two of his sons committed the carnage (Levi and Simeon, Genesis 34:25)... these same two sons are given blessings reflecting their bloodshed! (Genesis 49:5-8) "When I see the intensity of Shechem's offer to do anything to marry Dinah, I can't help thinking there was an opportunity for grace in a way that would glorify God." I know that your words are well intended... but you must remember the situation and the Covenant under which Jacob and his sons lived (eye for an eye...). They were commanded by Yahweh Himself not to intermarry with pagans; they considered themselves to be of chaste and pure intent while the pagans were clearly not interested in worshipping their God but opportunistically forming a bond that would give them access to women they considred desirable; further, we must also take into account the consequences of doing nothing: this rape set the tone for their (the very few) status among the foreigners (the many)--they would be seen as excellent targets by all who wheeled power or money! One question: Would the desire/love not have been more evident if Shechem would have spoken to his father to make the necessary negotiations to secure Dinah as his wife, rather than to rape her and then offer her power and wealth, if she would consent to be his wife? God Bless! Angel |
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184 | Joseph's iron fist | Gen 47:19 | JCrichton | 135681 | ||
Hi, JRM! I think that you are missing two points: Point 1: Joseph did not represent Israel (Jacob had not come to Egypt with his family); Joseph represented the Egyptian king (Faraoh) and all his interests... the people subjected to the rule had to grow most of the produce for storage... had there not been a system in place, how many people would have starved to death due to the greed of their compatriots? Have you notice in America how many companies are ransacked by their CEO's and accomplices? Have you noticed how much effort is placed on restitution? That sweet lady, to some not so sweet, Martha Stewart (hope I spelled it correctly) moved some of her own money and government and media has moved to make an example of her (she must have forgotten her place)... yet the billions of dollars siphoned into Lala Land by the male execs, do not even require their names and faces to be plastered all over the media... now, turn the tides over to Joseph's Egypt and allow the power hoarders the ability to control the production of grains... mass starvation for the populous! Point 2: It was God who placed Joseph in such a position and it was God who enabled him to: a) decipher the dreams, b) have the abilities necessary to manage the Egypcian kingdom. God Bless! Angel |
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185 | Gentiles into Gods kingdom | Gen 48:19 | JCrichton | 149082 | ||
Hi, regguh! There are several passages in the Holy Scripture that speak either directly or indirectly about the Gentiles coming into the Kingdom of God: Romans 3:29; 9:24-32 (Hosea 2:23; 1:10); Romans 11:11-13; 11:25-32; Romans 15:10-12 (Isaiah 11:10). Jesus spoke of the Gentiles also, He told His disciples that there were others (Gentiles) not of their (Jewish) fold and that in Him they will become one (John 10:16)... it was from this vein that Paul speaks about the two becoming one in Jesus (Ephesians 2:11 thru 3:12). God Bless! Angel |
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186 | Why did God want to kill Moses? | Ex 1:1 | JCrichton | 134854 | ||
Hi, Mary! Sometimes Scripture is not too clear... Notice that Sephora immediately circumcised their child and bonded their marriage with the symbol of Yahweh's covenant with Abraham! When Sephora complied with the commandment of the circumcision God's anger subsided and Moses was removed from the threat of death. God Bless! Angel |
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187 | Jehovah- who and what ? | Ex 3:14 | JCrichton | 149693 | ||
Hi, Hope and Dreams! ...just adding to Hank's post... His purpose is to protect us and save us from the consequences of sin (death): Matthew 23:37; John 3:16-17; Romans 8:3-17; Philippians 2:5-11; 1 Corinthians 1:17-31; John 1:1-5, 9-14; God Bless! Angel |
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188 | what is unleavened bread, symbol? | Ex 12:34 | JCrichton | 119242 | ||
Hi, eL cOKo! (Should that not be el Cuco?--just wondering about your tag!) In Exodus chapter 12 we find various commandments about the celebration of a feast (the Phase or Passage) where it is mandated that there should be no leaven in the dwellings of the Hebrews for a specific amount of time... I've found that only verses 11, 27, 33 and 34 reveal the symbolic value of the unleaven bread: Israel is to be ready to flee at a moment's notice--the life sustaining bread is just as nurishing with leaven as without... but adding leaven slows down the process as the dought will have to cure before baking; not having the luxury of time, unleaven bread, though less palatable, better reflects the "ready-to-go" approach. Hope this helps! God Bless! Angel |
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189 | Ministering as a priest... (Rom 15:16) | Ex 19:6 | JCrichton | 133738 | ||
Hi, Dalcent! Clearly Scripture has themes that seem conflicting... we are all called priestly kings (yet, how many of us truly behave in regards to our titles?); we are all called to Salvation; yet Christ Himself does not guarantee salvation to all--but to those who believe! (John 1:10-12; 3:19-21; Matthew 20:28) So... to serve the Lord as Priests and Bishops not everyone that throws on a robe and claims a pulpit is truly a representative of Christ! (Acts 8:14-25; 9:17; 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14; Galatians 2:9) Further... Paul speaks on the Gift of the Holy Spirit... how not all are called to minister in the same manner (1 Corinthians 12:28-31). Clearly, we can all claim to serve the Lord, but not all are given the same Gift nor the same task to perform! God Bless! Angel |
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190 | the ten commandments | Ex 20:1 | JCrichton | 150456 | ||
Hi! The Ten Commandments are found in Exodus 20:1-17. God Bless! Angel |
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191 | The Christmas Tree | Ex 20:5 | JCrichton | 120144 | ||
Hi, Daylight! I apologize if I sounded critical... Kalos has more clearly made the point I was trying to make: there is no Biblical mandate against Christmas trees; there are many condemnations against worshipping trees or using trees as mediums of occult worship--these, however, cannot be used as basis for rejecting a celebration of our Lords birth! The problem with "claims" is that they can run amok... As an example, let's take the Bible: * Jesus never used the Bible * In the Sacred Writtings there is no command to create the Bible * Only the Old Testament Scrolls existed during Jesus earthly stay (33 years or so) So what am I saying: that we are wrong to have the Bible as the compilation of the Sacred Writings? That there is no command by God to organize the Bible as a single book structure? NO! I know this because God, as Jesus Christ, did not come to reveal all truth. Jesus Christ's main reason for coming into the world as one of us was to replace us (the Lamb of God) on the Cross! Jesus Himself attests to not revealing all: I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you to bear now. However, when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking of his own accord, but will say only what he has been told; and he will reveal to you the things to come. he will glorify me, since all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: all he reveals to you will be taken from what is mine. (John 16:12-15) (Jesus is refering here to the Paraclete or the Holy Spirit: John 14:26.) So, we are to understand from these passages (John 16:12-15 and 14:26) that though Jesus did not leave a book of instructions as per the organization of the Church, the Holy Spirit reveals God's Plan to the Church--as in the Old and New Testaments writtings, the compilation of the Bible and other matters of worship and service. God Bless! Angel |
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192 | Are Christians to keep the Sabbath? | Ex 20:8 | JCrichton | 124738 | ||
Hi, kalos! Part 1 of 2 “Are Christians to keep the Sabbath?” Yes, as we are to emulate the Creator: On the seventh day God had completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he rested after all his work of creating. (Genesis 2:2-3) “1. Are Christians obligated to keep the Sabbath—the Sabbath of Old Testament Judaism?” There were changes brought by Jesus, not the destruction of the Law but the fulfillment of the Law, restoring the Law to its perfect state: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved. (Matthew 5:17-18--see some of the changes in Matthew 5:19 through 7:27) The Old Testament Judaism occupied itself with forewarning Jesus’ arrival: Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; (Matthew 11:13) The Law was our schoolmaster and we received tutelage from the Law until the arrival of Jesus Christ: Then what is the purpose of the Law? It was added to deal with crimes until the ’progeny’ to whom the promise had been made should come; and it was promulgated through angels, by the agency of an intermediary. Now there can be an intermediary only between two parties, yet God is one. Is the Law contrary, then, to God’s promises? Out of the question! If the Law that was given had been capable of giving life, then certainly saving justice would have come from the Law. As it is, scripture makes no exception when it says that sin is master everywhere; so the promise can be given only by faith in Jesus Christ to those who have this faith. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, locked up to wait for the faith which would eventually be revealed to us. So the Law was serving as a slave to look after us, to lead us to Christ, so that we could be justified by faith. But now that faith has come we are no longer under a slave looking after us; for all of you are the children of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus, (Galatians 3:19-26) Though Jesus did not remove our obligation to the Sabbath, He clarified the its purpose: And he said to them, ’The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of man is master even of the Sabbath.’ (Mark 2:27-28) Many times Christians behave as the Masters of the Law, the Pharisees and Sadducees, in respect to the Sabbath and other issues of Faith. Jesus’ reply to ostentatious sanctimony (theirs or ours) devastates any feigned adherence to God’s commandments: Did not Moses give you the Law? And yet not one of you keeps the Law! ‘Why do you want to kill me?’ The crowd replied, ‘You are mad! Who wants to kill you?’ Jesus answered, ‘One work I did, and you are all amazed at it. Moses ordered you to practise circumcision--not that it began with him, it goes back to the patriarchs--and you circumcise on the Sabbath. Now if someone can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me for making someone completely healthy on a Sabbath? Do not keep judging according to appearances; let your judgement be according to what is right.’ (John 7:19-24) Yet this argument is not new; it was made by Yahweh hundreds of years prior to the incarnation of the Word: They seek for me day after day, they long to know my ways, like a nation that has acted uprightly and not forsaken the law of its God. …Look, you seek your own pleasure on your fast days and you exploit all your workmen; look, the only purpose of your fasting is to quarrel and squabble and strike viciously with your fist. …Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes? Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin? …If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist and malicious words, if you deprive yourself for the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, your light will rise in the darkness, and your darkest hour will be like noon. |
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193 | Are Christians to keep the Sabbath? | Ex 20:8 | JCrichton | 124739 | ||
Part 2 of 2 …If you refrain from breaking the Sabbath, from taking your own pleasure on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’, and the day sacred to Yahweh ‘Honourable’, if you honour it by abstaining from travel, from seeking your own pleasure and from too much talk, then you will find true happiness in Yahweh… (Isaiah 58:2-14) Today’s argument is no different! We seek to get closer to God not by faithful obedience but by sanctimonious adherence to the letter of the Law, while simultaneously breaking any command of our choosing! We seek to be pious, at least more pious than the next person, but our zealousness is not to abide in Christ’s love but to bask in our own egos. Again, this is nothing new; Paul address the Sabbath issue in Romans 14:5-6: One person thinks that some days are holier than others, and another thinks them all equal. Let each of them be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who makes special observance of a particular day observes it in honour of the Lord… In the beginning there were no names set for the various days in which God worked and the day He rested: God rested on the seventh day! Did God wait around for a particular day to rest? He completed Creation on the 6th day and rested on the 7th day! The Sabbath day is a day to be sanctified for the Lord. As Paul says, some people may hold all days holy for the Lord; while others may decide on one particular day to be held as holy, for that same Lord! “4. What is the Lord's Day, as Sunday is called in the Scripture? Who instituted it, and to what degree are we obligated to it?” The early Church stayed faithful to the doctrine taught by the Apostles, which included the breaking of the bread (Acts 2:42). Though, at the beginning, they adhered to Temple worship, their Christians practices were observed in additional gatherings, in their private homes (Acts 2:46). And the day of the Lord, the day of His resurrection (Sunday), was observed with the breaking of the bread and worship, sometimes celebrated all through the night (Acts 20:7-12). There are changes in the lives of the disciples that are not specified in the Bible. As an example: we know that the Temple was totally destroyed in 70 AD making it impossible to gather and worship in the Temple; but prior to this particular event, the Apostles and disciples had kept the practice of worship and gathering in the Temple and the various synagogues. Yet, due to the constant persecution of the non-Christian Jews, who actively expelled the Apostles and disciples not only out of the synagogues but even towns and whole geographic regions! The Bible does not speak of a congress (general meeting) where the Apostles and disciples decided to stop gathering in the Temple and synagogues; but we know it happened! Another salient example is the institution of the Church: Jesus did not leave a written account (manual/workbook) for the establishment of the Church. He promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would come and reveal the complete Truth, as He would guide and instruct the Church (John 16:12-15). It was through His tutelage and guidance that the Apostles established the organic Church with all its doctrinal and organizational functions. One clear example of a new revelation received through the organic Church is Christ’s name given to the Apostles and disciples--a particular practice that did not come into existence until Paul’s and Barnabas’ year-long stay at Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). As new observances were introduced, the activities of the early Church began to shift from the old Judaism practices and traditions (sacrificial offerings, worshipping in the synagogues and the Temple, etc.) to a more Church centered practices and traditions. The constant celebration of the Day of the Lord, where the Apostles would gather with the disciples in the breaking of the bread and worship, incrementally replaced Saturday as the 7th day of rest (the Sabbath). I cannot say if this decision was a simple evolution or if it was a direct effect of the exile of the Christians from the Jewish synagogues. The fact remains that Jesus is honored (Day of the Lord) and the day of rest is honor (Sabbath) by many Christians as one and the same day--consequently, since Saturday only fulfills one of the two conditions, Sunday has become the New Testament Sabbath! Now as far as the Lord's Day, there is also a second reference which designates the Lord's Day as the Second Coming--on this I have not spoken, nor am I confusing both terms. God Bless! Angel |
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194 | Adulty and scriputers | Ex 20:14 | JCrichton | 145174 | ||
Hi, clean2day! There is a form of adultery which is symbolic but it is based on the same principle as the physical one and it is just as damning: serving other gods (idols, money, people, animals, job, car, lifestyle...); this particular reference is found in the Old Testament (I think it's in a couple of the minor prophets) where Yahweh associates Israel as His bride/wife and speaks of both kingdoms as two sisters who committed adultery against Him... God Bless! Angel PS: If you want me to search for the actual passages drop me a line! |
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195 | what is the diff btwn conse and sanctifc | Ex 28:3 | JCrichton | 151582 | ||
Hi! Only One can Sanctify, the Holy Spirit... God makes us or anything holy (pure/purified/separated) as with the various people that were anointed and the ground about the burning bush, the mountain where God dwell as He visited with the Hebrew people, the Ark... You, I or anyone else, can choose to consecrate your life to God... as the Nazarites, the various prophets, John the Baptist, etc... though we can elect to separate ourselves from the temporal world in order to serve God (as the various monks, hermits and others); it is only God who can call us to that service and it is only God who can sanctify both our bodies and our labor. God Bless! Angel |
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196 | 12 apostles? why? | Ex 28:21 | JCrichton | 149571 | ||
Hi, rickylee! The reason why twelve are chosen as disciples (later to be Apostles) is due to the twelve tribes of Israel (the twelve sons of Jacob)... During the Old Testatament (Old Covenant) Yahweh God established the twelve tribes as the people of Israel, His people... the Word incarnate, Jesus, came to His own and they did not receive Him (John 1:1-14); He came so that all may obtain God's mercy and thus He chose twelve disciples to represent the New Testament (New Covenant) and to maintain the line of the Promise (then to the children by blood/flesh of Abraham; in Jesus, children of Abraham by Faith). Read: Exodus 21:17-21; 24:4; 39:14 and Genesis 35:10-12. God Bless! Angel |
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197 | why are so many defying Gods word | Lev 18:22 | JCrichton | 127077 | ||
Hi, matron! There are two passages of Scripture that gives us the answers to your query: For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. "Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. (Matthew 24:5-13, 21) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:22-32) We are called to live separate from the world, to be holy (1 Peter 1:16); Christ's concern was not for the unbelievers but for the believers (disciples) and those who would come to know Him through them (John 17:9-20)... it is not that Christ does not have love for all of mankind; rather it is humanity that chooses to reject Christ (Matthew 20:28; John 1:5, 11-13; 3:19; 12:46). The world is secular and worships and thrives on anything and everything that is ungodly--but we must remember that these happenings are not caused by simple human frailty, the ancient serpent is roaming about the world making disciples and apostles of those who would serve against Christ! (Ephesians 6:10-18) God Bless! Angel |
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198 | law of love and homosexuality? | Lev 18:22 | JCrichton | 127725 | ||
Hi, sims! I think that you are confusing two elements: The Law of Love (God's Love) sums up everything in the Ten Commandments because if we Love God above everything and everyone else, we will obey God's Commands rather than disobey Him. And if we Love others, all the creatures created in God's immage, we will not harm them or scheme to bring harm to others. Homosexuality is a sin not a Law. Killing/murdering is a sin not a Law. Stealing is a sin not a Law. Adultery/fornication is a sin not a Law. When we sin we are being rebellious to God, hence we are braking all Law (including the Law of Love). God Bless! Angel |
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199 | homosexuality | Lev 18:22 | JCrichton | 130516 | ||
Hi, Mikec! I will share this parable with you: The Parable of the Wedding Banquet Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' "But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14) Noticed the ending of this parable?: "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are invited, but few are chosen." God expects that we change our old creature into a new creature in Christ! We cannot change into a new creature holding on to the old values of the flesh: if a homosexual seeks God, he/she cannot expect that God will accommodate his/her sinful lifestyle! We are called into the service of God in Christ Jesus who died for us, to rescue us from eternal damnation... in Him we are called to be a new creature born of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-7; Romans 8:1-13; Galatians 6:7-9; Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 3:1-17)... just think, if homosexuals were to be allowed to continue living in sin, why not murderers, liars, thieves, all sorts of sexual deviants, atheists, demon-worshippers, all of the various forms of anti-Christs, all sorts of adulterers, racists and other haters... We must stop seeking to find clauses in the Bible that could be used to excuse our rebelliousness against God--it just does not pay! Rather, we should seek God's Mercy that is ready and able to cleanse us from our sins (Isaiah 1:18-20; Ezekiel 18:30-32). God Bless! Angel |
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200 | compasionate God versus vengeful God | Lev 18:25 | JCrichton | 140064 | ||
Hi, Mom! I understand where you son is... I had an acquaintance who was so preocupied with the people that died in the Old Testament and the people who would be cast into damnation that he was beginning to resent God... I walked him through the Old Testament and into Revelation pointing out to him that God's Salvific Plan has taken all into consideration... it is His patience and mercy that we miss to comprehend when the Old Testament speak about mass killing in holy wars... reread the Old Testament with you son (as a Bible Study) and emphasize the various warnings against the rebelliousness of both Israel and the pagan people... you will find that God's wrath was unleashed after decades, if not hundreds, of years of counsel and warning and call to repentance! Yet, even those who died during the Old Covenant were visited by Christ, in the Spirit, for they were not cognizant of God's Promise (1 Peter 3:18-20, 4:6); remind your son that God chose Israel and rejected the Gentiles during the Old Covenant, so it was Israel who benefited from the knowledge of the Scripture... yet, to save both Israel and the Gentiles, even as far back as God's covenant with Abraham He promised Abraham that in him the Gentiles would find hope (Christ)... to better understand that relationship (Israel and the Gentiles) read Romans 9:1 through 11:32... add to this Hebrews 11 (the chapter on Faith) which speaks on the Promise being received by both the people under the Old Covenant and the people under the New Covenant so that all are partakers of God's Design--those who believe, of course! God Bless! Angel |
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