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Results from: Notes Author: 10ECPreacher Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Hebrew and Greek Old Testament | Bible general Archive 4 | 10ECPreacher | 200960 | ||
Thank you, Doc, for catching my error. I over-zealously paraphrased the following sentence from the Wikipedia entry for Septuagint: "The readily apparent semantic differences result from alternative strategies for interpreting the difficult verse and relate to differences in vowelization and punctuation of the consonantal text." Obviously, the editors "punctuate" our texts today, but you are quite correct in pointing out that the ancient texts had no punctuation marks. Thanks again for making this clarification! In Christ, tdc |
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2 | Questions Concerning Faith | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 32758 | ||
Friends, Please consider the following scriptures in your quest for truth. Remember: we will not be judged as right or wrong based on our opinions or the opinions of others, but by the Word of God alone. "SINCE ALL this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away." [Hebrews 2:1 Amplified] "[Therefore beware] brethren, take care, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart [which refuses to cleave to, trust in, and rely on Him], leading you to turn away and desert or stand aloof from the living God." [Hebrews 3:12 Amplified] "For we have become fellows with Christ (the Messiah) and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end." [Hebrews 3:14 Amplified] "For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance--[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance, for (because, while, as long as) they nail upon the cross the Son of God afresh [as far as they are concerned] and are holding [Him] up to contempt and shame and public disgrace." [Hebrews 6:4-6 Amplified] "But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a counterfeit]." [1 Cor. 9:27 Amplified] "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first. For never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them. There has befallen them the thing spoken of in the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and, The sow is washed only to wallow again in the mire. [Prov. 26:11.]" [2 Peter 2:20-22 Amplified] "[My] brethren, if anyone among you strays from the Truth and falls into error and another [person] brings him back [to God],Let the [latter] one be sure that whoever turns a sinner from his evil course will save [that one's] soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins [procure the pardon of the many sins committed by the convert]." [James 5:19-20 Amplified] "BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized)..." [1 Timothy 4:1-2 Amplified] "For if we go on deliberately and willingly sinning after once acquiring the knowledge of the Truth, there is no longer any sacrifice left to atone for [our] sins [no further offering to which to look forward]. [There is nothing left for us then] but a kind of awful and fearful prospect and expectation of divine judgment and the fury of burning wrath and indignation which will consume those who put themselves in opposition [to God]. [Isa. 26:11.]" [Hebrew 10:26-27 Amplified] There are many more but these came quickly to mind. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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3 | Questions Concerning Faith | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 32770 | ||
Thanks, friend. I too encourage everyone to study diligently the context of each scripture used. I believe that no scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). I also subscribe to the Biblical principle that every fact must be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses. (See 2 Corinthians 13:1.) Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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4 | Any biblical corrolation Atlantis? | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 32878 | ||
Hank, I agree with you concerning our Christian duty, and I regret that I failed to make myself clear enough on that score. "When it comes to God's word, I do not like to deal in myth, theory, or speculation -- nothing beyond what the word of God reveals. If we knew in minute detail all the facts of creation, what does it profit us if we don't know what we must do to be saved?" I definitely agree with you on this point in the sense that the only thing that we can speak with authority is that which has already been spoken by God--i.e., in His Word. I do believe, however, that there are things contained in the Scripture that are not plainly revealed--i.e., they are concealed from the casual observer. Obviously, the Plan of Salvation is not in this category, but some things are. Everyone will not necessarily desire or be able to understand all the hidden mysteries of God and His Kingdom, but some will. Here's something to consider: "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a thing." [Proverbs 25:2 Amplified] This certainly does not give license for idle, mindless speculation. But it is possible that we may better understand and be better prepared for the future if we have a better grasp of the past. "Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away. But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God--[that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence]. None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isa. 64:4; 65:17.] Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man's scrutiny]. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa. 40:13.]" [1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Amplified] Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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5 | Is LAST always FINAL | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 34041 | ||
Greetings again, Praisemaster. You write: "John 3:37 All that it means it's the last day of the feast at that time." My reply: Precisely. And that's exactly how to apply the meaning of "eschatos" in 1 Cor. 15:52--all that it means is that it's the last trumpet call for the believers at that time. You write: "Cor1: 15:8 he was the last apostle...." My reply: the context of 1 Cor. 15:8 begins in verse 5: "and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also." [1 Cor. 15:5-8 NASB] I believe the reference here is to all those who had seen Jesus alive after his resurrection, not just the apostles. I'm not trying to convert you to my point of view. I just want to accurately and fairly represent the Word of God. Any offense is unintended and regretted. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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6 | Is LAST always FINAL | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 34091 | ||
Serenetime, Sorry for the miscue. I copied a line from the post by Praisemaster and didn't notice the typo. John 3:37 should have read John 7:37. I have studied this subject now for over 20 years, so I have looked this up a few times. :) But, just for the fun of it I have looked it up again. I am including part of the definition of Trump (as in Last Trump) here for your consideration. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words Topic: Trump, Trumpet A-1,Noun,4536,salpinx is used (1) of the natural instrument, 1 Cor. 14:8; (2) of the supernatural accompaniment of Divine interpositions, (a) at Sinai, Heb. 12:19; (b) of the acts of angels at the Second Advent of Christ, Matt. 24:31; (c) of their acts in the period of Divine judgments preceding this, Rev. 8:2,6,13; 9:14; (d) of a summons to John to the presence of God, Rev. 1:10; 4:1; (e) of the act of the Lord in raising from the dead the saints who have fallen asleep and changing the bodies of those who are living, at the Rapture of all to meet Him in the air, 1 Cor. 15:52, where "the last trump" is a military allusion, familiar to Greek readers, and has no connection with the series in Rev. 8:6 to 11:15; there is a possible allusion to Num. 10:2-6, with reference to the same event, 1 Thess. 4:16, "the (lit., a) trump of God" (the absence of the article suggests the meaning "a trumpet such as is used in God's service"). I'm glad I looked it up again. :) Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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7 | Is LAST always FINAL | Bible general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 34092 | ||
Searcher56, I agree with you--"of the list given, Paul was the last one He appeared to." That is exactly the point if am VERY UNSUCCESSFULLY trying to make. (Sorry--I didn't mean to yell at you; just wanted to emphasize the fact that I am well aware of just how poor a job I have done in trying to explain a very simple concept.) To hold that the word last ('eschatos') invariably means the absolute unconditional final one is inconsistent with the way the word is used in Scripture. 1 Cor. 15:8 and John 7:37 are two verses where the word 'eschatos' is used to indicate the final one in a certain domain or set of items. Paul was the last to see Jesus of those mentioned, not the last who ever will see him. Jesus stood and cried on the last day, the great day of the Feast of Tabernacles (the eighth day). The Bible says on "the last day"--meaning the last day of a certain set of days, not the last day that would ever be. I know that "day" does not always refer to a 24-hour period, but I would be surprised if anyone tries to argue that that is the way it is being used in John 7:37. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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8 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | 10ECPreacher | 201165 | ||
Hi, rb8. You stated, "As we celibrate Easter, remember that Chist's death an resurrection is sufficient." I would like to point out that in conjunction with the death and resurrection of Christ, the Bible also teaches that the burial of Christ is also a vital component in our salvation experience. The Gospel, according the scriptures, is comprised of three steps: 1. The Death of Jesus 2. The Burial of Jesus 3. The Resurrection of Jesus 1 Cor. 15:1-4 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, Romans 10:16 tells us that not everyone has "obeyed the gospel." The three points of the Gospel, as stated in 1 Cor. 15, correspond to the instructions given by the apostle Peter in Acts 2:38: 1. Repent [Death] 2. Be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins [Burial] 3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Resurrection] According to Rom. 6:4 and Col. 2:12, we are buried with Christ by baptism. In Christ, tdc |
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9 | Question about Genesis 6:6 | Genesis | 10ECPreacher | 32777 | ||
Friends, I wholeheartedly agree with your answer, Curt. I would also like to point out that the Apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, made the following observation: "But these [people]! Like unreasoning beasts, mere creatures of instinct, born [only] to be captured and destroyed, railing at things of which they are ignorant, they shall utterly perish in their [own] corruption [in their destroying they shall surely be destroyed]..." [2 Peter 2:12 Amplified] Apparently, some things were made by God just to be destroyed. Just think of the how many thousands of animals and plants were destroyed today just to sustain life on this planet! A caveat: this does not justify the abuse of animals. Anybody that would deliberately mistreat an animal is sick (scriptural term:fool). "A [consistently] righteous man regards the life of his beast, but even the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel. [Deut. 25:4.]" [Proverbs 12:10 Amplified] The animal rights activists, however, are definitely promoting humanist propaganda. This is just another "old lie" of the "new age" movement. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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10 | Where was the spirit of man before conce | Gen 2:7 | 10ECPreacher | 200428 | ||
Proverbs 20:27 Amplified "The spirit of man [that factor in human personality which proceeds immediately from God] is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts." Ecclesiastes 3:21 Amplified "Who knows the spirit of man, whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?" Zechariah 12:1 Amplified "THE BURDEN or oracle (the thing to be lifted up) of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus says the Lord, Who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundation of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him:" 1 Corinthians 2:11 Amplified "For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man's thoughts except the man's own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." These scriptures teach that man does possess a spirit before he is born again -- it is the spirit (breath, natural life) of man, however, which is not to be confused with God's Spirit. When we are born again of the water and spirit (John 3:3,5,7-8) we do indeed receive the Holy Spirit of God and become "new creations" (2 Cor. 5:17). 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Amplified "And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)." Hope this helps... In Christ, tdc |
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11 | Who was the one to be sacrificed? | Gen 22:12 | 10ECPreacher | 36163 | ||
Greetings, Mist and Tim. The NT reference to this event may shed a little light on this discussion: "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;" [Heb. 11:17 NASB] The Greek "monogenes" is translated "only begotten" here as well as in John 3:16, etc. This word means "single of its kind" but also bears the connotation of "dearly loved". The French use the term "fils unique" to denote a son that is loved in a special way. I would further posit that the Koran has no claim to being "God-breathed". Even if the NT didn't explicitly bear out the OT record that it was Isaac that was offered by Abraham (as opposed to Ishmael), I would not even be remotely tempted to believe the record of the Koran over that of the Bible. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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12 | Who was the one to be sacrificed? | Gen 22:12 | 10ECPreacher | 36453 | ||
Greetings, Mist. I submit the following scriptures for your consideration in your pursuit of truth. "So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." [John 8:31-32 NASB] 'Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."' [John 14:6 NASB] 'Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."' [John 18:37 NASB] "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." [1 John 4:1-6 NASB] "For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." [Phil. 3:18-21 NASB] "If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement. For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings." [2 John 1:10-11 Amplified] I am convinced that any message, gospel or doctrine that does not present Jesus Christ-- crucified, resurrected, glorified--is an insult to the Cross, and ultimately insulting to all who believe in Christ. I would strongly urge all who are sincerely seeking truth to go to the Cross of Jesus Christ. You will need look no further. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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13 | Double portion is really only two-thirds | 2 Kin 2:9 | 10ECPreacher | 33895 | ||
Greetings, Curt and charis. Who said God doesn't have a sense of humor? :O) Actually, when I finished laughing it dawned on me that I left out the fact that after dividing the total inheritance into three equal parts and giving the firstborn two of the three parts, the remaining one part was then divided equally among the remaining heirs. So, if there was only one heir he would get the double portion and the remaining portion, also. If there were two heirs, the firstborn would get the double portion (two parts) and the remaining heir would get the entire remaining part (single portion). If there were three heirs, the firstborn would get the double portion (two parts) and the remaining two heirs would each get one half of the remaining part. Et cetera, ad infinitum, ad nauseum... Thanks for your very uplifting posts! I've heard of splitting theological hairs, but this is the first time I've been involved with splitting theological heirs. (Sorry--I couldn't resist.) Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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14 | What did Yeshua notice? | John 1:49 | 10ECPreacher | 200503 | ||
parpar, Your answer is very well put. This story has fascinated me for years, and I never cease to marvel at it. It is remarkable that Jesus in this passage clearly identified Himself as the very “ladder” that Jacob had seen in his dream many hundreds of years before: Genesis 28:12-13 12 And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it! 13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. . . .” We can reasonably infer from Jesus’ words in v.51 that Nathanael was at least contemplating if not fervently desiring the coming of Messiah, of which Jacob’s dream was clearly a prophecy. In Jacob’s dream, the angels of God were “ascending and descending” on the ladder, which stood upon the earth and yet its top reached heaven. The symbolic reference here is plain: Messiah will walk on earth as a man, and yet He will also be God (v.13 “The LORD stood” at its top). Jesus said in v.51 they would see the angels of God “ascending and descending” on “the Son of Man”, a term that was a clear reference to Himself as Messiah. Nathanael had just exclaimed, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” when Jesus revealed that He had seen him under the fig tree. (Such an exclamation rivals the inspired words of Simon in Matt. 16:16 – “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God!”) In the words of the illustrious apostle Paul in 1 Tim. 3:16 Amplified: “And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.” In Christ, tdc |
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15 | Is Jesus the source? | John 7:38 | 10ECPreacher | 33853 | ||
Thanks, Ray (and others who answered)... One of my study Bibles is called the Companion Study Bible, by Kregel Publications, (c)1990. The margin notes for these verses indicate that the first phrase of v.38 is connected with the last part of v.37. "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and let him drink that believes on Me. According as the Scripture has said [concerning Me], 'Out of His innermost being (which is to say, out of Him) will flow rivers of living water." In no way am I trying to be sarcastic, but I would like to point out that even a very big and highly motivated well could scarcely be considered a river. Jesus Christ is the river or fountain of living waters. Those who thirst and drink of (i.e., believe on) Him become wells of living water. In other words, they are essentially conduits of the Spirit of Christ (which is the Holy Spirit). I trust that my struggles to articulate my position have not been offensive to all who have stated positions that are different than mine. Kind regards to all, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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16 | Is Jesus the source? | John 7:38 | 10ECPreacher | 34028 | ||
Hello, Ray. When I read John 3:34 my mind jumped to Col. 2:9. "For since He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God [proclaims God's own message], God does not give Him His Spirit sparingly or by measure, but boundless is the gift God makes of His Spirit! [Deut. 18:18.]" [John 3:34 Amplified] "For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;" [Col. 2:9-10 NASB] I like to think that the Giver is one and the same with the Gift. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." [John 14:15-18 NASB] "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." [John 14:26 NASB] "When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me," [John 15:26 NASB] "But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you." [John 16:7 NASB] What a Gift! What a Giver! Which leads us to one of the most profound verses in the Bible: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich." [2 Cor. 8:9 NASB] Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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17 | Is Salvation only through Jesus Christ? | Acts 4:12 | 10ECPreacher | 37066 | ||
Greetings, Johnny. I was specifically referring to the present day--i.e., the time after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. My question asked "Can salvation be attained...?" That means "is it now possible to be saved any other way than through Jesus Christ?" I agree that God is sovereign, but the Bible tells us that God cannot lie. (See Titus 1:2.) Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that He will not operate in a manner that is incompatible with what has been written in His Word. 'And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned."' [Mark 16:15-16 NASB] 'And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."' [Luke 13:23-24 NASB] "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." [Matt. 7:13-14 NASB] "For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?" [1 Pet. 4:17-18 NASB] Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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18 | Is Salvation only through Jesus Christ? | Acts 4:12 | 10ECPreacher | 37265 | ||
Greetings, Johnny. In addition to the other very excellent answers to your question, I would add this. After the sacrifice of the Lamb of God on the cross at Calvary, there is no longer any efficacy in the blood of animals--which was what Israel used under the Law of Moses in the Old Testament. I think the book of Hebrews sheds a fair amount of light on this topic. "For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. ... For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. ... He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ... Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; ... For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ... Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?" [Hebrews 10 NASB] Salvation is available today to anyone who will accept the gospel of Jesus Christ--Jews included. The covenant God made with Abraham is still in force through Christ. Christ descended from Abraham in the flesh. Everyone who is born of Christ becomes a descendant of Abraham by faith, and thus heirs of the covenant. "and he [Abraham] received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised. For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;" [Romans 4:11-13 NASB] Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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19 | Did sin bring death into the world? | Rom 5:12 | 10ECPreacher | 200337 | ||
Mr. Mel, I have given this subject much thought over the years. In my opinion, the death spoken of in this text (Rom. 5:12) cannot be physical death if life before "the fall" was physical life as we now know it. According to some scholars, death begins the moment life begins. In order for life as we know it to be sustained, living things must constantly die. Big animals eat little animals; little animals eat insects and plants. Big fish eat little fish; little fish eat plankton and algae, etc. Even plants need the decaying matter of other organic things in order to live. It is my understanding that the cells in the human body are constantly being replaced by new cells in the cycle of life and living -- old cells die and new cells take their place (with the exception of certain brain cells). Apparently, the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden was the source of man's "eternality" before the fall. After the fall, the Lord drove man from the Garden and prevented him from having access to the Tree of Life (Gen. 2:9, 3:22-24). My understand of the Bible message of Salvation is that Jesus Christ, by virtue of His sinless death on the Cross and subsequent resurrection from the dead, opened up the way to the "Tree of Life" (compare Rev. 2:7, 22:2,14); and as a result, whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In summary, I don't believe the scripture supports the position that there was no "physical" death before "the fall". Blessings! |
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20 | what is the state of the dead in Christ? | 1 Cor 5:8 | 10ECPreacher | 36299 | ||
Greetings, Mommapbs. I would like to point out a scripture for consideration on this topic. "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. ... All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." [Heb. 11:5, NASB] Even though Enoch did not "see" death (i.e., he lived a scant 365 years compared to 969 of Methusaleh), the Bible records that he indeed "died in faith". I believe Elijah died in a similar manner, when he was "taken up" by God in a whirlwind, accompanied by "a chariot of fire and horses of fire". See 2 Kings 2:11-12. In order for the resurrected Jesus Christ to be the first to have eternal life, no one could be said to possess it before Him. Before Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave, eternal life, though a theological certainty for the future, was not yet an actual possibility. There were many resuscitations or restoring back to life from the dead in the Bible (such as Lazarus), but all of these people eventually did die again. Kind regards, Tim D. Cormier Tennessee Preacher |
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