Results 261 - 280 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# | |||
261 | So how do you hear God's voice? | Eccl 7:17 | JCrichton | 135787 | ||
Hi, Joy! I understand how you feel... it seems that another 12 hours should be added to our current days--though I suspect that that still would not be enough! ...I find that reflecting on Scripture (specifically Jesus' Words) whenever a few minutes or seconds open up (waiting on line for service, gridlock, even while waiting for elevators and riding on them!) is most productive... The trick is to consciously push aside any encroaching thoughs and attempt to communicate with God, even if it is just on as simple a level as a prayer request for those who are in need of intercession... ...sometimes, making the connection between the child Jesus (the offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh), the various people who opened their hearts and minds to Him, His refusal of the anesthetic brew, the posted "King of the Jews" sign, and Thomas' confession of Jesus being Lord and God... (it could be any conbination of Christ's experience or teachings)... Remember that God dwells within us (John 14:16-17, 23; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19) so, any place and any time is our special "quiet time" with God! God Bless! Angel |
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262 | Christ and war | Is 9:6 | JCrichton | 107301 | ||
Hi, proffitt 79! We must remember that Jesus is talking about a different peace (my peace I give you, not the peace of this world: John 14:27). Though He lived under Roman occupation, Jesus did not involved Himself in any power struggle (John 18:36). And He was very aware of the disciples and their environment (John 12:8 and John 17:9, 15). In Matthew 5:9 He talks about those who work for peace... how they will be called sons of God. But the closest Jesus got to speaking about war was during the night of His arrest when He told Peter to put the knife away--he who lives by the sword... (John 18:10). Jesus did concern Himself with justice: Matthew 5:20. As Christians we should seek to be at peace with the world (Romans 12:18). But we cannot just separate ourselves from the World. Remember the story about the Maccabees, how they had to take arms on the Sabbath because their enemies by mounting massive assaults on the day of rest were obliterating the people of God? I do not presume to know everything about the war against Iraq--but remember this: a) When Saddam destroyed whole towns (including animals) were there any protesters against genocide? Where were the "just" terrorist--why did they not attack his regime for the sake of their arab brothers and sisters? b) When the airbus was hit by ground-to-air by the militia, why did the reporters that got the instant shots did not reveal their possition to the world just like they do when the US Military is involved? c) Why were there poor (below poverty level) people in Iraq--women and children gathering wood to burn as cooking and heating fuel in one of the wealthiest oil-producing nations in the world? And why were the hospitals barren (medical supplies, equiptment, personnel) years before the US/Britan assault? d) What would have made this a "just war"? God Bless |
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263 | Christ, War, and Patriotism | Is 9:6 | JCrichton | 107378 | ||
Hi, proffitt 79! You do post some interesting points. First, when I say that Christ's peace is a different peace I mean what He said. God is concerned with our spiritual as well as our corporal life. But God's ways are different from ours. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:23-24 and 15:18-20 that God is concerned with our spiritual well being. We cannot please God with material things! So seeking an earthly peace would be like the man that constructed his house on the sand. You yourself have pointed out how "the path to hell is paved with good intentions." Is America an angelic force upon the world, seeking to aide the weak and needy? Is it an evil empire that goes about the globe sucking everything dry? The truth lies in the middle. Sadly, so does our national Christianity. Should we as Christians protest America's unjustice? Yes! But, also as Christians, we must protest all the nations in the world when they commit their evils upon their own people or when they murder babies and cenior citizens and call it holy war! But perhaps that's not even in our job description: Jesus said: It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognize you as my disciples. (John 13:35) This love is shadowed by Matthew's 5:43-47). It is not our responsibility to police the world but to bring our Lord's message, to convict the world through example, and to pray for humanity. God Bless! |
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264 | what does the scripture mean? | Is 9:6 | JCrichton | 120494 | ||
Hi, tip! The Jewish people were awaiting a deliverer... to some, he would be a great king who would rise up and battle all their enemies bringing Israel back to the great kings era--not that there were that many great kings since most rebelled against Yahweh's authority--and to Israel's greatness of yonder years: their percieved peace. Jesus, in fulfilling the Scripture did not come to bring earthly peace upon Israel; rather, He came to fulfill the Law: correcting the abuses and circumventions perpetrated in the name of God: Matthew 5:17-20. Read Matthew 10:34 in light of Matthew 24:36-44 and Luke 17:31-37--with close attention to Luke 17:34. The Battle is drawn (Luke 12:51-53)... in some places around the world Christians have been persecuted under the penalty of death (their own family members delivering them onto anti-Christian authorities)... and here in the US, though not as badly persecuted, the war rages on daily as masses of anti-Christians and atheists are bent on rewriting civil morality and even the Holy Bible! God Bless! Angel |
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265 | What does God means in Jeremiah 33 ? | Is 9:6 | JCrichton | 129406 | ||
Hi, Flordeliz! Yes, the reference is to Jesus... compare Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, [1] Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Also check Isaiah 7:14, Micha 5:2, and Isaiah 40:9-11. God Bless! Angel |
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266 | follow-up question. | Is 9:6 | JCrichton | 129504 | ||
Hi, Flordeliz! In the Old Testament we find that Yahweh separated Israel in Jacob (son of Isaac, son of Abraham) to fulfill the promise to Abraham... so the Israelites had a special relationship with Yahweh as He was their God and they were His people... but they continually failed Him rejecting Him over gods that were not God and ignoring His warning not to forsake Him... Through Moses, Yahweh promised that He would keep a remnant to Himself so that His promise may be manifested (in Jesus)... Through various prophets Yahweh both warned and called the people onto Himself... He made known to them that in the fulness of times (God's Schedule) He would send His Anointed One (again Jesus)... Yahweh offered several distictive signs (ie: born of a virgin, born with all the titles of God, born to unite His people, born to free the captives, born to die for all of our sins...); but all of these prophecies about Jesus were to fulfill the promise to Israel (descendants of Abraham according to the flesh)... had they accepted Jesus then the rest of the world (those called uncircumcised or Gentiles or pagans) would not be able to partake of God's Mercy and Love... So for a time, Israel was granted a period of rebelliousness; during which they distorted and circumvented the Mosaic Law corrupting their hearts, minds and spirit... this is why Jesus called them "the blind leading the blind!" Due to this spiritual blindness most of the Jews rejected Jesus as their Messiah allowing God's Salvation to reach those who in the past were not considered God's people. To better understand this relationship between the Promise, Grace, Salvation, Israel, Gentiles and Christ's Cross read: Romans 2:17 through 11:32 I know it is a lengthy passage... read first: Romans 11:13 through 32--this is like a recap of the issue of the coming Salvation to both the Jews and the Gentiles (as Jesus made of the two separate flocks one fold). God Bless! Angel |
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267 | archangels, Lucifer cast out of Heaven | Is 14:12 | JCrichton | 124015 | ||
Hi, Dar Jo! There are several passages in the Bible that speak on the various topics of your post... The fall of Lucifer and his angels: How did you come to fall from the heavens, Daystar, son of Dawn? How did you come to be thrown to the ground, conqueror of nations? You who used to think to yourself: I shall scale the heavens; higher than the stars of God I shall set my throne. I shall sit on the Mount of Assembly far away to the north. I shall climb high above the clouds, I shall rival the Most High." Now you have been flung down to Sheol, into the depths of the abyss! (Isaiah 14:12-15--see also Jude 1:6; Luke 18:10) The great battle: ...Then a second sign appeared in the sky: there was a huge red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was at the point of giving birth, so that it could eat the child as soon as it was born... And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to earth and his angels were hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down... So let the heavens rejoice and all who live there; but for you, earth and sea, disaster is coming--because the devil has gone down to you in a rage, knowing that he has little time left.’ (Revelation 12:1-12) The Archangels: Michael: The Prince of the kingdom of Persia has been resisting me for twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the Chief Princes, came to my assistance. I have left him confronting the kings of Persia… In all this, there is no one to lend me support except Michael your Prince, on whom I rely to give me support and to reinforce me. (Daniel 10:13, 21 thru 11:1) ‘At that time Michael will arise--the great Prince, defender of your people. That will be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared--all those whose names are found written in the Book. (Daniel 12:1) Not even the archangel Michael, when he was engaged in argument with the devil about the corpse of Moses, dared to denounce him in the language of abuse; all he said was, ‘May the Lord rebuke you.’ (Jude 1:9) And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, (Revelation 12:7) Gabriel: I heard a human voice cry over the Ulai, ‘Gabriel, tell him the meaning of the vision!’ (Daniel 8:16) still speaking, still at prayer, when Gabriel, the being I had originally seen in vision, swooped on me in full flight at the hour of the evening sacrifice. (Daniel 9:21) The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel, who stand in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. …In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, (Luke 1:19, 26) Raphael: and Raphael was sent to bring remedy to them both. he was to take the white spots from the eyes of Tobit, so that he might see God’s light with his own eyes; and he was to give Sarah the daughter of Raguel as bride to Tobias son of Tobit, and to rid her of Asmodeus, that worst of demons… (Tobit 3:17) Tobias went out to look for a man who knew the way to go with him to Media. Outside he found Raphael the angel standing facing him, though he did not guess he was an angel of God. (Tobit 5:4) I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ever ready to enter the presence of the glory of the Lord.’ (Tobit 12:15) The Destroyer (Abbadon): As their leader they had their emperor, the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abbadon, and in Greek Apollyon. (Revelation 9:11) Please understand that there are mysteries that we will never know, in the flesh: Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can only know imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) God Bless! Angel |
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268 | when, where and why did lucifer fall | Is 14:13 | JCrichton | 121788 | ||
Hi, ministermay! Many have pondered such questions... I find that there is a thin line between what God reveals and what we want to know... sometimes our curiosity gets the better of us! Why Lucifer and his angels fell: How did you come to fall from the heavens, Daystar, son of Dawn? How did you come to be thrown to the fround, conqueror of nations? You who used to think to yourself: I shall scale the heavens; higher than the stars of God I shall set my throne. I shall sit on the Mount of Assembly far away to the north. I shall climb high above the clouds, I shall rival the Most High." Now you have been flung down to Sheol, into the depths of the abyss! (Isaiah 14:12-15) and the angels who did not keep to the authority they had, but left their appointed sphere, he has kept in darkness in eternal bonds until the judgement of the great Day. (Jude 1:6) Lucifer and the angels that followed him refused to humble themselves to God's authority. And attempted to overtake the Throne. Where, When and How: And now war broke out in heaven, when Michael with his angels attacked the dragon. The dragon fought back with his angels, but they were defeated and driven out of heaven. The great dragon, the primeval serpent, known as the devil or Satan, who had led all the world astray, was hurled down to earth and his angels wre hurled down with him. Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, 'Salvation and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the accuser, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down. (Revelation 12:7-10) Its tail swept a third of the stars from the sky and hurled them to the ground, (Revelation 12:4) It is interesting that Revelation reveals both the spiritual confrontation in Heaven and Satan's assault on humanity in a linear manner... as though they occurred simultaneously--it demonstrates that God's plane of existence is way different from our linear finite existence; it also infuses a mystery far beyond human understanding: it gives us a time frame that covers both the past and the future as though there is no time lapse between them! Further When: He said to them, 'I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. (Luke 10:18) In this passage, Jesus is clearly is on firm ground on planet earth... so it suggests that when He watched Satan fall from Heaven it happened in the past! There is a curious passage in Genesis: God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light... and God divided the light from darkness... God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night... (Genesis 1:3, 14) Could that first period of light (Genesis 1:3) not be the period when the angels (which are spiritual beigns--possibly light energy beigns) were created... could the division God made of the light and darkness not be the battle for God's Throne? But surely, we have no specific time frame of when Lucifer assaulted God. Nor am I inferring that what I've surmised is correct! The truth is that there are mysteries that God has not chosen to reveal to us: Now we see only reflections in a mirror, mere riddles, but then we shall be seeing face to face. Now I can only know imperfectly; but then I shall know just as fully as I am myself known. (1 Corinthians 13:12) God Bless! Angel |
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269 | In Matthew 21:42-44. Please tell me what | Is 28:16 | JCrichton | 141136 | ||
Hi, StarleyJim! Jesus is the Stone on which all builders (beleavers) must built! (1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20-21) To reject Jesus is as our Lord and Savior is to throw ourselves against the Stone--surely, we will be broken by the impact (fall short of Salvation)... to ignore and blaspheme Christ is to have Judgment passed on us as the Word will testefy against us for we refuse to Believe in Him who is the Resurrection and Life--there will be no excuse for those who see ignored and blasphemed Jesus, at Judgment the Stone will fall upon them and they will be crushed! There is no escape! We must humble ourselves and submit to the Builder... accept the Foundation, Jesus the Corner Stone, and build (abide) on Him! God Bless! Angel |
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270 | Earth round or flat? Sun center of syste | Is 40:22 | JCrichton | 120364 | ||
Hi, Razman! When you read the Bible you will not find passages detailing science, astrology, grammar, philosophy... The Bible is a composite of God's commandments and regulations. It is the guide for the people of Israel (Old Testament) and for Christians (Old and New Testaments). Since the wisdom of God cannot be gained by studying the various sciences there could be little sense in filling the Bible with formulas and theories that would be well beyond the abilities of the ancient people of Israel and the early Church. God Bless! Angel |
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271 | Many different trees in one forest? | Is 41:19 | JCrichton | 129055 | ||
Hi, Mommapbs! Clearly they are made to fit together by Yahweh... verse 20 explains that He wants them (Israel--and, subsequently, us, Abraham's descendants according to the Promise) to recognize His Authority and Might! Yahweh is speaking to Jacob (Israel) reminding Him that He is his God and that in Him there is safety and providence! God's hands will accomplish all for the benefit of His people, including subjecting nature (water, soil, plants...) to supply in abundance for the need of those He loves! (Isaiah 41:8-20) God Bless! Angel |
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272 | Isaiah 45:7 | Is 45:7 | JCrichton | 136524 | ||
Hi, Lmad! Scripture can seem complicated at times... but it really isn't! The Word of God must be studied with God's Holy Spirit's guidance... it is He who through holy men of God gave the world the Scriture! When reading Isaiah 45:7, you must take into account that God created all that He created and He saw that it was God (Genesis 1:31--read the whole chapter 1:1-31)! Due to language license (grammar, poetic, prose, translation...) some passages seem obscure... they even confuse those who are linguist or theologians as they get caught-up in the "higher/deeper" meanings of words... Genesis 1:31 clearly states that God Created everything and that He saw (tested, analyzed, foresaw) that it was good: God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning-the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31) Nowhere in Creation does it state that God created evil and He saw that creating evil was good! Hollow wood has a tendency of creating gray zones (movies, tv programs, theatre, music...) where good and evil are not only interchangeable but codependent, and, at times, partners! Genesis 3:15 obliterates all of that pseudo-spiritual mumbo-jumbo! Sadly, some "Christians" are beginning to buy into all those bogus claims... they read Scripture as Isaiah 45:7 and they give complete credence to man's doctrines rejecting God's own Word: "GOD SAW ALL THAT HE HAD MADE, AND IT WAS VERY GOOD!" Now, when Yahweh speaks to Israel (through the prophets) there are two repeating themes: a) the promise of the Mesiah, and b) man's disobedience and God's Wrath unleashed to curve their unrighteousness... at times God allows Israel to be subjected to the oppression and serviture of other nations... at times God uses Israel to curve the other nations... and at times God uses even other nations to rescue Israel from her oppressors... This is the evil that is spoken of in Scripture... notice that it is exclusively used in the Old Testament Scripture, when the Old Covenant demanded a physical economy (eye for and eye, sacrifice of animals for atonement of sin...)! Do not despair! God created all that is good! He even came to our rescue when Satan introduce his wickedness onto the world (1 John 3:8, 16). Remember read Scripture in light of the rest of Scripture! God Bless! Angel |
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273 | Is there a scripture to document Jesus h | Is 52:14 | JCrichton | 119369 | ||
Hi, Rosemary! We have to recognize that no one alive today (except for those in hollywood's version of the crucifixion's aftermath) can give an eye-witness account of Jesus' torture and suffering. But we have to keep in mind that Jesus was not treated as a common criminal! He was an abomination to the Jews (He challenged their belief system: rather, their devotion and loyalty to Yahweh) and He could have been perceived as a political threat by the Romans (barbaric as they were, they had sharp minds when it came to conquest and occupation) since their ruled with might and decisiveness and Jesus' gatherings could not have escaped them for too long--nor could the ominous rumors about "the King of the Jews' walking the streets of the empire! I believe that they (both the Jews and the Romans) thought that Jesus must be made an example of: made to suffer the full effect of His bravado (...I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid a hand on me.' Matthew 26:55) Now, knowing that crucifixion was not just a form of capital punishment, but a form of torture--do you think that the bodily injuries on Jesus would have been cut down to a minimum? These people did not think of humanity when they were at their choice task!--even today we hear about police brutality (we can sometimes see it displayed on video)... and we are supposed to be a "civilized society!" The argument of not humanly possible... Have you not heard of the various cultural hang-ups outside (some of it is entering our society: ie: reality tv) of the US... where people pierce themselves, and beat themselves to unconsciousness... or those whose cultures demand that they twist and break the body beyond reason (lips, ear, nose, genitals, necks, hands, feet, skin...)... all on account of religious or cultural ascendancy? Could Christ, the Son of man, who refused to take the analgesic (the myrrh mixture that was offered to Him prior to the first blow of the hammer on the the first nail that would pierce His body) not have a strong enough mind and the steadfast determination to absorb all the punishment that, in our stead, would be inflicted upon Him? I rely on Isaiah's words to gauge Christ's pain and suffering: As many people were aghast at him--he was so inhumanly disfigured that he no longer looked like a man-- Isaiah 52:14 he was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard. Isaiah 53:3 whereas he was being wounded for our rebellions, crushed because of our guilt; the punishment reconciling us fell on him, and we had been healed by his bruises. Isaiah 53:5 Ill-treated and afflicted, he never opened his mouth, like a lamb led to the slaughter-house, like a sheep dumb before its shearers he never opened his mouth. Isaiah 53:7 After the ordeal he has endured, he will see the light and be content... Isaiah 53:11 Was "The PASSION of the CHRIST" one hundred percent accurate? Only Jesus can be the ultimate judge (not saying this because He is the ultimate JUDGE; I say this because He was the one who suffered it and not even those who afflicted Him may have had a precise account of all the wounds which they inflicted upon Him) of the film's exactness! God Bless! Angel |
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274 | Isaiah 53--Prophecy or not? | Is 53:1 | JCrichton | 131313 | ||
Hi, Liberty Belle! Atheists and anti-Christians have problems with Scripture because they simply de not believe!: What does it say, then? The word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is, the word of faith, the faith which we preach that if you declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved. 10 It is by believing with the heart that you are justified, and by making the declaration with your lips that you are saved. (Romans 10:8-10) Had your acquaintance believed in God he/she would have no problem understanding that God is transcendent and so is His Word! Here’s an excellent example of God’s transcendence: I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except one who was destined to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures. But now I am coming to you and I say these things in the world to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth. I pray not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in me. (John 17:11-20) Though Christ is speaking prior to Judas’ betrayal and His death and resurrection He speaks in terms of things that have already taken place: “I am no longer in the world,” Clearly He is speaking of being with the Father though still physically with the disciples in the world! And though some may want to interject with some type of metaphorical spin, Jesus is making reference to events that have not yet occurred as though the have: “While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except one who was destined to be lost,” Again, though physically with the disciples, Jesus chose to express the events in a past tense--as though it had already happened… well, to God, it all had happened (Genesis 3:15)! Further proof of this is the fact that the disciples had not yet been persecuted by the world and yet Jesus speaks of future events in the past term: “I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them,” Another little problem nonbelievers have is that they seek to limit God to our finite abilities and understanding… Jesus tells us that nothing is impossible to God, and He gives us small demonstrations of this: “They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth.” Jesus is the Word of God, so since God’s Word is the truth it is understandable that Jesus refers to Himself as the Truth (John 14:6)… and though He prays to the Father to Consecrate the disciples in the truth, He Himself has the power to Consecrate Himself and His disciples: “and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.” And there’s no doubt that Jesus is speaking in past terms that cover not only His contemporaries but all Believers all of the time: “I pray not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in me.” Christ himself died once and for all for sins, the upright for the sake of the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life, and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. They refused to believe long ago, while God patiently waited to receive them, in Noah’s time when the ark was being built. In it only a few, that is eight souls, were saved through water. (1 Peter 3:18-20) Sadly, much too frequently the most we can do for atheist and anti-Christians is pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten their minds, hearts and spirits so that they may accept God in His terms and humbly submit their will to His!: They will have to answer for it before the judge who is to judge the living and the dead. And this was why the gospel was brought to the dead as well, so that, though in their bodies they had undergone the judgemente that faces all humanity, in their spirit they might enjoy the life of God. (1 Peter 4:5-6) God Bless! Angel |
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275 | Offspring?Long Life? | Is 53:10 | JCrichton | 148902 | ||
Hi, Star! Are you quoting some one else ("Not only did Jesus die young, but how could the days be prolonged of someone who is alleged to be God?") or are these your own words? If they are, does that mean that you do not believe that Jesus Christ is God? And if you do not believe that He is God, are you basing this on your findings on this thread? If this is the case I want to share with you a Scriptural passage that demonstrates that Jesus' contemporaries did understand that He revealed that He is God: For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18) ...and through the prophects Yahweh made it known that His Son, the Emmanuel, would come to rescue His people (Israel), Isaiah 7:14; 9:16; 52:13 thru 53:12; 42:1-8; Joel 2:23-32; Malachi 3:1-9... Could go on forever... awaiting your reply! God Bless! Angel |
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276 | Ezekiel 47, 1-12 and Revelation 22, 1-2 | Jer 2:13 | JCrichton | 125729 | ||
Hi, brother Arek! Both of these passages are describing the river of life that flows from the Temple of God and of the Lamb. They allude to the final era to come where the Heavenly Jerusalem will provide sustenance and healing to God’s people, those whose names are found in the book of the Lamb. It is interesting to note that, in Ezekiel, it is made clear that only one water will provide life--all other water will be contaminated! Jesus also makes reference to the water of life in John 4:10, 13, 14. While, most only see a reference to the Holy Spirit, I prefer to think that there is a congruent thought in all these passages: God is Spirit and true worshippers are called to worship in Spirit and Truth! It is also interesting to note that the water of life emanates from the Throne, from the Father and the Son, who both are Spirit; and, when making reference to the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, Jesus tells us that He proceeds from the Father (John 15:26) and has been given what belongs to Him (John 15:13-14). There’s a slight variation on the trees that will nourish Christ’s servants: whereas Ezekiel talks about a great number and variation of trees, Revelation speaks on only two trees. I liken the trees of life to the manna given to the people of Israel: the bread of the angels: these trees are in season all year long! God Bless! Angel |
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277 | once saved always saved? | Jer 32:40 | JCrichton | 128600 | ||
Hi, Mess! (I truly wish you change your tag, or at least employ a signature--even if it is a pseudonym from your early childhood!) This is truly a hot issue one which I have given up on (at least on this forum)... I think that I understand where you are coming from so I will share this one experience I had some years back with some who believe in the "always saved" doctrine: I was invited to attend a service (I had made it clear to the person who invited me that I had no wish to find a different place to worship; but as a Christian, I would accept the invitation out of love and respect for their congregation.)... there was a lot of energy and Amens going about almost from the very first minute and until the end... people were joyous and very friendly, the preacher was strong, deliberate and charismatic... a small group stayed behind after the service and we got into this precise exchange ("always save?") Of course my position is that God's Gift is Eternal--He is not a man to go back on His Word! Yet, we are made in His image and likeness and though He Himself calls us holy this does not mean that we are God! Jesus termed it in a different way: He said that He and the Father are One and He wants us to be one with each other so that we can be one with Him, and thus one with the Father! Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world... does this mean that all who sin are free of sin and thus eligible to enter into the Kingdom of God? Definitely not? Jesus made it clear that not all will be saved because not all believe in Him (John 1:10-13)... when He stated that those who ate His flesh would be granted eternal life (John 6:50-66) many of His followers left because He insisted on this "strange teaching," yet Jesus did not call them back and attempted to pacify them by changing His expression! Clearly, we are granted the autonomy to choose God's Gift of Eternal Life or to reject it! So I've found that the Gift that comes from God is forged in perpetuity; yet, it is our choice, even after we have began the journey home--the Heavenly trek--to reject God's Gift! ...the discussion we had after the service lasted well past midnight... one of the fellows was so confused that he stated that those who are saved are above the law so therefore anything he/she does will not keep him/her from eternal life--including dying in a sinful state. When I referred them to Revelation 21:7-8... they apparently believe that this applies only to the unbelievers! Hence, praising the Lord for a moment allows people to partake of all the world has to offer... but clearly this is not so! James teaches us that to be a friend to the world means to be an enemy of God! He admonishes exactly such behavior from those claiming to be in Christ yet holding on to worldly ways! (James 4:4-17) I offer to you two Scriptures that speak on our abilities to fail God: 1 Corinthians 10:12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. Christ promised that, in Him, we are granted Eternal Life; this promise does not grant us immunity to defile ourselves and God while simply relying on some special voucher that allows people to do as they please! It is not in vain that Jesus says that not all who call Him Lord will be saved but those who do the Will of His Father! (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 6:46) God Bless! Angel |
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278 | angel | Jer 33:3 | JCrichton | 148829 | ||
Hi, regguh! You posted your query on a separate thread... to continue the thread simply follow the last post made by the person you are attempting to contact... ...by chance I happened accross your query: "The popes of the 20th centry?" Are you seeking to know their names? ...I have a list of all of the Popes of the Roman Catholic Chuch--if you like I can email it to you; I do not want to post what could be seen as a dogmatic exchange on this forum... (if you do not have one, you can get a free email address at Yahoo.com; mine is jcrichtonfs1@yahoo.com) if you are asking for some other information on the 20th century Popes, please clarify! God Bless! Angel |
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279 | The Book of Lamentations | Lamentations | JCrichton | 140886 | ||
Hi, howling! LAMENTATIONS These five laments were written soon after the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C. Shinning through their sorrow is a ray of unconquerable trust in Yahweh and whole-hearted repentance. The first four are alphabetical poems, their verses beginning with all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in series. Their attribution to Jeremiah merely shows the influence of that great prophet in later Judaism. (The New Jerusalem Bible, American Bible Society, 1985.) God Bless! Angel |
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280 | Advise needed | Ezek 18:27 | JCrichton | 122291 | ||
Hi, faithfulness! Though God does not change... He did conceive a Divine Plan. This Plan was set in motion and has not been derailed nor delayed: Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; (John 11:13) If we were to interprete Ezekiel 18:27 and Matthew 23:37 as clauses to circumvent Christ we would surely be returning to the full mandates of the Law (Mosiac Law), where grace would no longer take effect but salvation would be by fulfillment of all of the Law. Once the Word became incarnate there is fulfillment of the Scriptures and the New Covenant, facilitated by Jesus' blood, established: Matthew 26:28 (see also Matthew 5:17 through 7:29). God Bless! Angel |
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