Results 1 - 3 of 3
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: seeking wisdom Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Phil 4:10-11What does this mean? | Phil 3:10 | seeking wisdom | 80438 | ||
There is a confusing understanding and teaching in the church today that being a follower of Christ is only about peace, joy, and our personal happiness and fulfillment. Your Question: "If we HAVE to go through sickness, opression etc, why did He die?" He died to make a Way for us to God the Father. He didn't die to end sickness, oppression, war, etc., although we do look forward to the time when these things will be no more in the day of Christ. Romans 5:1 states: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" There are those who have refered to such verses as meaning that as Christians our lives should be peaceful. This is an incorrect understanding. This is refering to peace with God, our sins having been justified by the sacrifice and blood of Jesus, means our relationship with God can be one of peace. This does not mean our lives will be peaceful. Paul's life as reflected in Acts and in many of his letters was not "peaceful"; he suffered persecutions, shipwrecks, imprisonment, etc. But his relationship with the God of all creation was one of complete peace, thanks to Jesus Christ, his Lord and ours!!! In fact, Jesus promises us problems in this life--He says, "In the world you have tribulation" (John 16:33); and He speaks of the world "hating us" (John 15:18; 17:14; 1 John 3:13) In this way we "share in His sufferings" and this is what Paul refers to. THE GOOD NEWS IS: John 16:33 "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD" and 1 John 5:4,5 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" Take courage, but don't misunderstand--We don't overcome the world by being removed from the reach of sickness and oppression, we overcome the world by going through such things clinging to the blood and promises of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that the Holy Spirit which Jesus sent to us will guide your heart and mind in understanding. |
||||||
2 | Living with the world's hatred?? | John 17:14 | seeking wisdom | 80430 | ||
A DIFFERENT RELATED ? --isn't it odd that we aren't more hated by this world when Jesus tells us over and over again that the world will treat us like it treated Him!!! Perhaps we are living too much like the world, and too little like our Lord?!?! | ||||||
3 | Word of Truth or word of truth? (#78193) | John 17:14 | seeking wisdom | 80429 | ||
That is a difficult distinction to make. Of the 3 occurances I find of word, the last is the easiest: v.20-"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those alo who believe in Me through their word." This is clearly referring to the word or testimony of those who were physically there with Jesus--the writings of the disciples and apostles. Jesus is clearly THE TRUTH; and I believe He is referring both to Himself and to the Scriptures we now are privileged to have access to. v. 17-"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" refers in fullness to the word/Word of God. It seems to encompass the idea of Jesus as Word/Truth and yet clearly this is applicable to both Scripture and Jesus Himself--we are sancified through Jesus Himself, but also by means of the written or spoken word known as the Bible. v.19-"For their sakes I sanctify Myself that they themselves also may be sanctified in truth." Jesus here seems to use the word "truth" to refer back to Himself. He is the only man in history who could ever say, "I sanctify Myself"--and we come to Him for our sanctification. v.14-"I have given them Your word...." Jesus came that we might know God (see v. 3 of this chapter). All that He did and said when He walked this planet was from God the Father-all that He said and did and His very being is the Word of God. He gave us Scripture; He gave us Himself; both are clearly and uniquely tied together--You cannot really separate the word of God from the WORD of God. |
||||||