Results 1 - 6 of 6
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | Mommapbs | 89702 | ||
Greetings! What has promted your line of questioning here? (I see that someone has already asked this too! Also, bear in mind what others have written, spiritual death and physical death are entirely different! There are those, according to 1 Thess 4:17 who will not physically die as we know or understand it. On the other hand, spiritual death, or eternal separation from God, is a very real reality for those who reject the Righteousness of God as revealed in Jesus.) I am SO GLAD that God made an "exception for me!" You see He said, the penalty for sin is death (or separation from God). I am a sinner. Therefore, I have no hope but spiritual death, or do I? God, in His great love and mercy provided a Way for me to escape this penalty, yet still satisify the demand of His justice and His Word. He provided Jesus, to take my place, to take your place, so that we could be the "exception" to His decree. God has said, "it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Heb 9:27) If Enoch and Elijah did not physically "die," did God not keep His Word? How do you, or anyone else for that matter, know what He has planned to fulfill this? Our understanding of physical death is very limited. When God took Enoch, "he was no more." We have come to believe that Enoch did not physically die, we also have the record of Elijah who was taken into Heaven, bypassing death. So is this promised to believers at the coming of the Lord in the air. According to 1 Cor 15:50, we also know that "flesh and blood" cannot inherit eternal life, so God must have done something so that those who did not physically die, as we understand death, could enter His Presence. What or how is an unanswerable question! In some matters, God keeps secrets from us (Dt 29:29). How He will accomplish this is yet to be seen. It is here where faith takes over, FytRobert. Either you believe that God is Who He says He is in His Word or you continue to question His nature. Don't look for "exceptions" that don't concern you! Personally, there is much ground to be covered in the future and many prophesies have yet to be fulfilled. Exactly how God will accomplish these and bring history to a conclusion are only partially revealed in the Bible - bottom line is this: God saves those who put their trust in Him. Jesus is the Way - walk in it. I hope this encourages you! Sometimes the Truth is concealed so that we must just trust His Presence in our midst. My prayer for you is that you will be sensitive to the affirmation of the Holy Spirit and KNOW the Truth (even if you don't understand it) of Whom you seek! Blessings! mommapbs PS: I'm going away until 7/26, so I will be unable to respond until then! Stay close to God's Word - search the Scriptures, PRAY(!), ask questions but don't accept the word of men over the Gospel of God! PRAY again for discernment and wisdom to understand what God is saying to YOU! |
||||||
2 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | FytRobert | 89830 | ||
Hi, Are there a few books not included in the Bible? If so, whAT are they and why are they not included in the Bible? Your comments, please. With Love in Christ. FytRobert |
||||||
3 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | EdB | 89854 | ||
FytRobert Actually there are many many books not included in the Bible. I have a library full of them. :-) The reason they are not included is they aren't inspired by God nor intended to be in the Bible. That was a wise guy answer but it contains much truth. People often question the validity of the Bible by stating some books weren't included. That is absolutely right they weren't. None of Shakespear's works was included, why? Because they weren't inspired or intended to be included. Does that make the Bible any less valid? Absolutely not! There are books mentioned in the Bible that aren't included, such as the book of Jasper. Since we don't have a copy of the book we don't know why. If could have been a fictional account, or a secular history book, or just about any kind of book. (before anyone starts and says there is a book of Jasper. Let me say the copy on the internet is nonsense it was "found" mysteriously, translated more mysteriously and only appeared in 1940's or 50's having been lost for 3-5 thousand years) There is also the Apocrypha which are a collection of books judged important but not inspired. In other words they are important enough to keep around but they should not be considered inspired by God for inclusion in the Bible. In a short answer yes there are books not included in the Bible, because they weren't intended by God to be in the Bible. EdB |
||||||
4 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | FytRobert | 89859 | ||
Hi EdB, Thanks for the info but could you please go one step further by telling on what basis the books are considered "aren't inspired by God nor intended to be in the Bible" Your contribution is much appreciated. With Love in Christ FytRobert PS. Is there a world body which can decide what to include and what not to include in the Bible? |
||||||
5 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | EdB | 89864 | ||
fytRoberts No there is not a world body but there was a group of Bible scholars that came together first for the Old Testament and developed a "Canon" (from the Greek word kanon means ‘measuring rod’ ) or set criteria for what should or should not be included in the Old Testament. They or rather 70 other men then translated the Old Testament into Greek which was known as the Septuagint. This Old testament existed when Jesus was alive and He probably used it. If something was missing or should something added that shouldn't have been there Jesus would have mentioned it. In my mind the Old Testament is settled because of this. For the New Testament again a group of Bible scholars came together towards the end of the first century and developed a “Canon” for the New Testament. The process was on going for the next 100 or so years. This was tumultuous process but one that I believe the hand of God can clearly be seen being involved in. Books were admitted as they were recognized, determined to be accurate, authenticated to authorship and etc. Basically if a book was written by an Apostle or direct eyewitness, agreed theologically with previously accept books and found to be factual in all aspects it was included. It should be noted that these books were books and letters already held as scripture by the early church, used in their day to day study and was a source of their doctrine. The canon has been closed for New Testament for nearly 1800 years and I’m sure if the God of creation wanted an addition or subtraction He would have accomplished it by now. I don’t believe God would have allowed us to forget or add anything into His book he didn’t desire there. There are some excellent books on this subject you may want to read for further study. Do a search on Google.com for “New Testament canon” or “Bible canon” also do one on Amazon.com for books on the subject. EdB |
||||||
6 | Searching for the truth | 1 Thess 4:17 | FytRobert | 89949 | ||
Hi EdB, Thanks for the additional info and as advised by you in your last para,I will conduct my search accordingly. With Love in Christ. FytRobert. |
||||||