Results 321 - 340 of 380
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: biblicalman Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
321 | Advice and encouragement | 2 Tim 2:15 | biblicalman | 229476 | ||
Hi Julcol, If the JWs have the Holy Spirit why do they always look in their books for their answers rather than in the Bible? And why have they changed their Bible to suit their beliefs? And why do the beliefs in their books keep changing (and incidentally so does their Bible)? Your husband is worried that if you read the Bible you might not be led into the ideas found in his books, because those ideas are not Biblical. In 1920 the JWs issued a book titled 'Millions Now Living Will Never Die". In 2011 that is begin ning to look a bit of a joke. They don't issue that book any more. I wonder why not? The JWs constantly change their beliefs as one false prophecy after another goes wrong. I remember them coming to my door and insisting that Jesus Christ was coming back to earth visibly in 1977. I am still waiting. So you are wise to read and study your Bible, and as you grow in understanding you will learn more and more why the Watchtower have gone astray. You can be sure that the Holy Spirit is far more likely to guide you through the Bible than He is through Watchtower books. God bless you. |
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322 | What was Christs successful office | Hebrews | biblicalman | 228908 | ||
Hi Shella welcome to the forum. The office you may have in mind is His office as High Priest. This is outlined throughout Hebrews (2.17; 4.14-15; 5.1-10; 6.20 etc) , and is often seen as in mind in John 17. But His offices, which are many include that of Saviour (e.g. 1 peter 1:1); , Mediator (1 tim 2.5); Lord (often); Creator (col 1.16; heb 1.1-3); Sustainer of the universe (col 1.17); Trek Leader (heb 2.10-11); and so on. Best wishes |
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323 | Can I insulate me against negative clima | Hebrews | biblicalman | 228942 | ||
Hi Linni, Welcome to the forum. The way to insulate yourself against a negative climate is by faith in the living God and in our Lord Jesus Christ. If you read Hebrews 11 you wll read of those who insulated themselves against the most negative of climates. No climate can touch us if we are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3.1-3). You must keep your eyes on Him, lookng off to Jesus and running the race that is set before you, and you can be sure that He will be there running with you. Indeed He will be in you (John 14.17). If God be for us, who can be against us? He Who spared not His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Rom 8.37). Best wishes |
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324 | What does begotten mean on this verse? | Heb 1:5 | biblicalman | 229077 | ||
You asked the question, 'how is begotten used in the Bible?' It is used of fathers begetting their sons. This is a direct begetting (as in Heb 1.5). It is used of ancestors 'begetting' descendants (e.g. Matt 1.8 where Uzziah was a descendant of Joram, not hs son). It is probably used in Matt 1.16 of the adoption of a relative as heir (that is how Joseph could have two fathers, and how Jesus could be heir to the throne of Israel). It is also probably use in Psalm 2.7 of the adoption by God of Israel's king as His 'son' (compare 2 Sam 7.14). This as a type of the coming Messiah. No one in the Psalmist's time would have seen it as indicating what it did come to mean. No one was expecting God's own Son to come into the world. But as Seth has pointed out its meaning in Heb 1.5 is determined by the context. It is speaking of One 'begotten' as an only trueborn Son of God. |
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325 | I BEEN SEEING A SPIRIT LIKE FACE | Heb 9:27 | biblicalman | 228350 | ||
The basic answer to your question is that no, people do not come back as spirits when they die. Supposed contact with the dead through mediums is a fake, in many cases brought about through the activity of evil spirite. Attempts to contact the dead through these means are condemned in Scripture (e.g. Isaiah 8.19; Leviticus 19.31; 20.6; Deuteronomy 18.10-11). The idea that the dead are watching over us is mere sentiment. If we are Christians it is angels who watch over us. The appearance of apparitions and ghosts probably has a physical explanation althougb we have not yet fully understood it. But you will notice that such things do not interfere with people physically. Poltergeists are probably evil spirits. We must not discount the activities of such. In 1 Samuel 28 we have the description of how Saul went to a medium to raise up Samuel. She set about raising her familiar spirit to pose as Samuel. But God chose to intervene. He physically sent Samuel to the woman's horror and surprise. But this was because God had a message of His own to give to Saul. It was not a norm. You will note he appeared as a physical human being not as a face or a ghost. Best wishes |
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326 | I would like to know | Heb 11:1 | biblicalman | 227870 | ||
in the same way as He does with us today, through His word by the Spirit of God | ||||||
327 | Why should I believe Jesus lived? | Heb 11:6 | biblicalman | 228946 | ||
Hi Christinme, The first reason why you can know that Jesus lived is because in 1st century AD a unique moral teaching unlike any ever known before suddenly burst on the world, and by commen consent came from the lips of a man named Jesus. It was teaching that subsequently changed the world, and it unquestionably required a 1st century source. The second reason why you can know that Jesus lived is that four men of different types each wrote a life story of a perfect man whose name was Jesus. Have you ever considered how difficult it is to invent a perfect man whose perfection is recognised by all? If we tried we would soon introduce our own little idiosyncracies. Yet four men achieved it and the only reason they did so was because their stories were all based on the life of Jesus. Had Jesus not lived as the prototype they would never have achieved it. The third reason why we can know that Jesus lived is because a whole new outlook on life and on spiritual things was introduced by Him, far superior to anything previously known. Its source was Palestine and everyone attributed it to a man called Jesus. We could go on, but put these three things together and they are proof positive that Jesus must have lived. How do we know that he was more than a good man? By considering the claims He made about Himself. He was either the most deluded man in history or He was God's only Son, and no deluded man could have taught as Jesus taught. Best wishes |
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328 | pauls and james veiws on faith and works | James | biblicalman | 227388 | ||
both believe that salvation is through faith alone, both believe that it must reveal itself in works. james underlines the latter. | ||||||
329 | satin on earth Why | James 4:7 | biblicalman | 227826 | ||
God did not 'send Satan to earth'. He cast him out of the heavens because of sin and because of his activities. Like all angels Satan was created by God. We do not know why angels fell and sinned (they too had free will) but we have examples in 2 Peter 2.4; Jude 1.6. Satan was clearly one of the chief angels. And he sinned. But we must not see him as 'almost as powerful as God.' Like us he is helpless in God's hands. From the moment he fell he was doomed and he became the enemy of God and of His people. LIke sinful man, sinful angels were not immediately destroyed. That awaits the judgment. But all is made by God to work to fulfil His purposes (Romans 8.28). However, God's true people are protected from Satan's worst excesses, and we can fight him by submitting to God (James 4.7). With Michael the archangel we have to say 'The LORD rebuke you' (Jude 1.9) |
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330 | Asking satan to leave a person alone | James 4:7 | biblicalman | 228404 | ||
One thing you may be sure of and that is that God will not allow Satan to tempt you beyond what you are able to stand (1 Corinthians 10.13). And it is in fact questionable whether you are being tempted by Satan himself, more probably you have been left to his minions (Ephesians 6.11-12). But this is still seen as being tempted 'by the wiles of the Devil' (6.11). Thus the command to resist him (James 4.7). We do this by submitting to God, being strong in the Lord, and putting on the armour of God (James 4.7; Ephesians 6.10 ff). But we do not resist him directly, we say 'the Lord rebuke you' (Jude 9). While he is powerful, we must not see Satan as being omnipresent (Job 1.7). And he is restrained (Matthew 12.29; Mark 3.27; Luke 10.18; 11.22; 2 Thessalonians 2.6; Revelation 9.11; 20.2). Nevertheless he is out to cause problems for God's people (1 Peter 5.8). He is probably to be associated with the Wild Beast of Revelation 17.8-14, who mimicked God by being the one who 'was and is not and will ascend from the bottomless pit and will go into perdition' (Revelation 17.8, 11; contrast 1.8, 17). He is to be allowed 'one hour' (a short time) in which to make his final attempt against God (as also in Revelation 20.3). Jesus is in contrast 'the One Who lives, Who died and Who rose again' and ascended into Heaven (1.17). The way to defeat Satan is to submit to God and thus be under His protection (James 4.7). Then we will be able to resist him from under the shelter of God's wings. We defeat him by being 'strong in the Lord and in the power of His might' and by 'putting on the whole armour of God' (Ephesians 6.10 ff), that is by using and appropriating the word of God. Martin Luther was so conscious of the Devil's activities that he threw an inkwell at him, but he was one of Gods champions. But Satan is subject to God's restraint. Nevertheless his minions wll not leave us alone. That is why we must be immersed in the word of God, and learn to cite Scriptures against him (Matthew 4.1-11). |
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331 | told to be holy | 1 Pet 1:15 | biblicalman | 228905 | ||
hi welcome to the forum the equivalent phrase occurs in lev 11.44; 19.2; 1 pet 1.15 best wishes |
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332 | is this gentiles? | 1 Pet 2:9 | biblicalman | 225045 | ||
Yes and no. It means strictly that all who truly believe in Jesus Christ form the true Israel, the 'Israel of God' of Galatians 6.16. Jesus said He had come to form a new congregation (of Israel) - Matthew 16.18. Elswhere He calls Himself the true vine, the genuine Israel, as opposed to the false vine, unbelieving Israel (John 15.1-6). All who are truly abiding in Him are Israel. Romans 11 tells us that into the olive tree of Israel Gentiles were incorporated, while unbelieving Jews were cut off. see also Galatians 3.29; Ephesians 2.11-22 where the building of the true Israel is described |
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333 | In Christ | 1 Pet 2:24 | biblicalman | 229360 | ||
Hi Penni The simple answer is, by truly believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Fist you must acknowledge to Him your sinfulness, and that you are deserving of His judgment (1 John 1.8) Then you must recognise that He died on the cross to take the punishment for your sins (1 Peter 2.24). Then you must open your life to Him and ask Him to be your Saviour because of what He did for you on the cross. Then you must trust Him to fulfil His promise to forgive you and save you. Once you are forgiven and 'saved' you are in Christ. Best wishes |
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334 | hell | 2 Pet 3:9 | biblicalman | 228355 | ||
you have only to read the teaching of Jesus which came before the church was founded to discover how foolish such claims are. see for example on Gehenna Matthew 10.28; Mark 9.42-48. on Hades Luke 16.23 | ||||||
335 | what does with out blemish or wrinkles m | 1 John | biblicalman | 227724 | ||
We will be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing and holy without blemish on the day when Christ, having purified us, presents us perfect to Himself (Ephesians 5.27). It is not a condition we can enjoy in this life in reality, although it is how God sees us through Christ in that we are 'accounted as righteous' (Romans 3.24-25) through His shed blood and the application to us of His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5.21). | ||||||
336 | what does it say about god | 1 John | biblicalman | 229636 | ||
Hi Lex, Welcome to the forum. 1 John has two main important stresses about God. In 1.5 he reminds us that God is light In 4.16 he reminds us that God is love. The two must always be seen together. God's love can only be finally revealed to those who come to His light. Best wishes |
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337 | Is sinless perfection possible on earth? | 1 John 1:8 | biblicalman | 228591 | ||
To fall short of the glory of God is sin (Romans 3.23). Not to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength is sin (Deut.6.5). To know to do good and do it not is sin (James 4.17). Not to love the stranger as ourselves is sin (Lev 19.34). To fail to do to others what we would have them do to us is sin (Matthew 7.12). Can anyone really say they observe all of these? I have met people who believed in sinless perfection, but I observed sin in them when they did not observe it themselves. And I have never known anyone who lived by the standards described above. That is why John said, 'if we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us' (1 John 1.8). Compare James 3.2, 8; Jeremiah 2.35. It is possible in the power of the risen Christ to achieve a state where we live for a while without known sin, in the sense of avoiding what we know to be sin. But that is very different from being sinless. Indeed Isaiah said, 'all our righteousnesses are as defiled rags'. That is why Paul could say, 'I am carnal. Sold under sin.' (Romans 7.14). He was not speaking of what we might call sin. His sins were probably a failure sometimes in prayer or the overlooking of an individual's needs. But it was still sin. To come short of total perfection is sin. If such a man lived his prayers would be so powerful that the world would see and know. But such a man would be aware of the deceitfulness of his own heart. Thus yes our aim should be total sinlessness, total positive perfection, but we will never totslly achieve it in this life. |
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338 | Is sinless perfection possible on earth? | 1 John 1:8 | biblicalman | 228622 | ||
Just to add a few thoughts on Romans 7.7-8.2 (the section where Paul speaks in the singular). A perusal of the passage divides it into three parts, that expressed in the past tense (7.7-13), that expressed in the present tense (7.14-25), and a final summary in 8.1-2. It appears to me that unless we ignore what Scripture says in order to support our own positions this makes quite clear that in 7.7-13 Paul is speaking of past experience, and in 7.14-25 he is speaking of present experience. How we then interpret what he says is another question. But we must not avoid what Scripture makes clear. But it is noticeable that he concludes the section by declaring that, in spite of what is carnal within him, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made him free from the law of sin and death. He then goes on to explain why. |
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339 | Is sinless perfection possible on earth? | 1 John 1:8 | biblicalman | 228627 | ||
When Paul says that man has been 'made free from the law of sin and death' (Rom 8.2) he does not mean that sin and death no longer affect him. For we will all die (assuming that Christ does not come first). What we are delivered from is the final effect of death, because Christ will give us life. In the same way it does not mean that sin will not affect us, it means that finally we will have victory over sin. Sin is vey much a determining factor in our lives. It is constantly at work within us seeking to bring us down ('it is not I but sin which dwells in me' - Rom 7.20). But thsnks be to God we can obtain victory over known sin through our Lord Jesus Christ Rom 7.25). Our sins do not count against us before God because Christ has been made our righteousness (Rom 3.24-25; 1 Cor 1.30). But they certainly count in daily living. To sin is to shame Christ. 'How shall you who are dead to sin, live any longer in it?' (Rom 6.2). But they did. Paul says we are dead to sin, not that sin is dead. Sin is very much alive. But we have to reckon ourselves as dead to sin and alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 6.11). Thus we are to see ourselves as dead to sin. This 'death' is something thst we have to work out in the power of the risen Christ. We should recognise thst we are dead and should therefore allow Christ to live through us. In this way we will overcome known sin. But the principle of sin is deep underneath. it is constantly seeking to make itself felt. In some it tempts to adultery. In others it tempts to be careless in prayer. In others it persuades them away from the study of God's word. All are sin. In others it tempts to complacency. This too is sin. There is no perfect man who does not sin, only in context of the discussion, one who conquers known sin. But we will never be free from sin because our carnal nature prevents us achieving perfection. It prevents us from loving God with heart, soul, mind and strength. It prevents us from always doing what is positively right. As we grow nearer to God we recognise as sin what others see simply as problems of life. None of us will ever live in the perfection in which Jesus Christ lived with His full awareness of the Father and of the Father's will. We are slowly growing into that awareness. Paul's consciousness of his sinful nature expressing itself was not with what we would call sins. It was with his recognition that He was not yet fully like Christ in every aspect of His life. And it grieved him. He recognised that he came short and constantly strove to be more like Christ. But he 'strove' by submission to Christ as the One Who was living through him. We are believers in experiencing salvation. And salvation is not just a once for all forgiveness through the righteousness of Christ (although it is that), it is also a process of being daily transformed by the Spirit from one degree of glory to another (2 Corinthians 3.18). The final aim is to bring us up to the glory of God. But while we live in this life we will always fall short of that glory (Rom 3.23). To Paul sin within was very much alive. What he dealt with was our response to that sin which was by dying with Christ, and experiencing His risen life through our own lives |
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340 | Is sinless perfection possible on earth? | 1 John 1:8 | biblicalman | 228646 | ||
Hi Tim, YOU SAY : There is in Greek an historical present, were the present tense can be used to describe past events or actions. Not everyone agrees that Romans 7:14-25 is an historical present, but it is possible. Thus, tense alone will not answer this question. :-) MY REPLY IS: It is true that sometimes the present can be viewed historically, but not when it is specifically contrasted with the past in the same context. Then the contrast emphasises the true nature of the present tense. Thus in this passage I consider it incontrovertible that in using the present Paul is speaking of the present. We cannot just switch tenses around at will. We can equally say that the past tense can mean the present. What then is the value of tenses? The answer is that they must be interpreted in context. Paul was writing knowing that his letter would be read out to the Roman churches. He would expect them to be able to follow his meaning as they went along. And when he therefore in the same context switched from the past to the present he would expect them to see it accordingly. The historic present cannot then come into account, unless language is to be meaningless. Why do people not like the present tense here? It is because what Paul says does not fit in with their preconceptions. We would do better to ask, given that he is spsaking of the present, what does he mean? Best wishes |
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