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Results from: Notes Author: Inquisitor Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Will Jews make it to heaven? | Rom 9:1 | Inquisitor | 225049 | ||
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2 | Will Jews make it to heaven? | Rom 9:1 | Inquisitor | 225028 | ||
But Brad, You didn't respond to Jesus' Words from the scriptures as quoted in my post. Please give me your interpretation. I await your response. God bless, Inquisitor |
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3 | Lying justified? | Josh 2:5 | Inquisitor | 225022 | ||
Quoted for reference: James 2:25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? This passage in my mind makes it fairly clear that God blesses Rahab and her actions. So how do we reconcile this lying business with God's directives NOT to lie. I'm thinking of another verse that seems applicable. Acts 4:18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Yes, indeed God expects us to live up to high standards which includes being truthful BUT when it involves dealing with evil men who have no intention of following God's Way, then we must choose. Who to follow? God or some person(s) who is bent on disobeying God. Rahab made the right choice and saved her life and her family. AND as has been mentioned, she even became a part of the lineage of Christ. What an honor! So we must conclude that when we're faced with such a contest like so many of God's heros in His Word, then we must do what God says through His designated representatives. That's why we have rebels throughout our world history like George Washington and Patrick Henry who were willing to give all they had and their very lives to a certain goal. Am I saying these men are going to be saved by God and are going to Heaven? No I'm afraid I don't have that information but I'm proud our forefathers were willing to pay such costs as did our hero Rahab. All over the world, we have those rebels who are defying their country's laws and directives because it's pretty clear they go against God's basic laws and their conscience. So they choose to obey their conscience and hopefully the same God we're serving. I hope this clarifys the issue a little more. God bless, Inquisitor |
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4 | Will Jews make it to heaven? | Rom 9:1 | Inquisitor | 225009 | ||
Beja, I can only respond with more words from Jesus... Jn 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. 19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me. Just trying to make sense out of the whole NT. How do you interpret Jesus' Words above? God bless, Inquisitor. |
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5 | is this gentiles? | 1 Pet 2:9 | Inquisitor | 225004 | ||
To understand this passage in Chapter 2, we need to go back to the beginning of this Epistle. 1 Pet 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen. Some scholars agree that Peter is primarily addressing his letter to Jewish christians who had been "dispersed" from Jerusalem because of the tremendous persecution. But also he's applying these words to ALL christians. This is made clear in Coffman's Commentary as quoted here. 1 Peter 1 Verses 1, 2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. As Barclay said, "One of the outstanding things about this passage is that it takes words and conceptions which had originally applied only to Jews and applies them to Christians." F1 These are elect, Chosen, Dispersion, and sojourners. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ ..." End of Quote. So we as christians can see ourselves with many adjectives. I like "peculiar people" from KJV but also sojourners. We really are physical human beings here on earth but God knows our spiritual sides imtimately as He created us. And He wants us back Home with Him so our stay here on earth is temporary as shown in... James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Just my two cents' worth, possibly less. God bless, Inquisitor |
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6 | What is "entering into God's rest?" | NT general | Inquisitor | 224965 | ||
I can only respond with common sense. We're told one thing by Paul in a straight forward letter dealing with problems in his world, his timeframe. But as you say, we're told something quite different by John in a futuristic Book with many figures and many mysterious symbols very difficult to interpret. The main message of Revelation was one of comfort to christians who knew their Old Testament very well and most of those symbols seem to mean something very significant to them. Also notice this mysterious way writing of an Inspired Book this late in that century was addressed to christians who were undergoing tremendous (unimaginable to us today) persecution from the Roman Government and Roman citizens. IF this Book were ever seized by those Romans and correctly interpreted, it would have meant even more severe and unrelenting persecution. Thus the need for this "disgused" form of issuing a message to this poor, practically defenseless christians. The most excellent example of this kind of coded message IMO is from Rev 18:21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Now to us as modern Bible students, we can see that God was clearly referring to the Roman Empire when He used this code word, Babylon. But to the Romans, they would be confused because of the use of past tense in this passage; they would think it meant some other city or empire. Clever, huh? Rev 15:17 Then another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, who had power over fire, and he cried with a loud cry to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Thrust in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for her grapes are fully ripe.” 19 So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs. In this earlier passage, we can see the Lord is going to take His time in "crushing" and destroying the Roman Empire, like as He's pressing it for their blood instead of grape juice in a winepress. Remember Rome didn't actually fall until 476 AD. So the bottom line in my conclusion is to NOT put so much stock for us as modern christians in the Book of Revelation and instead go with the straight forward language of the other NT writers. Please don't misunderstand my meaning. The most important message we as modern christians can glean from Revelation is that God has already won the war. We just need to choose whose side we want to be on, the winning side with God or the losing side with Satan. I could provide some commentaries from Bible scholars that support this position if you'd be interested. God bless, Inquisitor |
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7 | What is "entering into God's rest?" | NT general | Inquisitor | 224962 | ||
I can only respond with God's Word... Heb 9:26 He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, 28 so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation. God bless, Inquisitor |
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8 | please explain proverbs 31:26 | Prov 31:26 | Inquisitor | 224943 | ||
It seems obvious that I was trying to get the questioner to give us his thoughts. It also seems obvious this question could have been someone's assignment or classwork. God bless, Inquisitor |
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9 | acts of loving kindness | Proverbs | Inquisitor | 224941 | ||
I can't think of a thing to say; it seems your post says it all. God bless, Inquisitor |
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10 | acts of loving kindness | Proverbs | Inquisitor | 224936 | ||
In my mind the best answer comes from the Lord Himself with His Parable on the Good Samaritan. It's instructive to read the background or what motivated Him to expound with the Parable. Lk 10:25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” 27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.” 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” 37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Whenever and wherever we see our fellow man in need, we should feel motivated to share with him whatever we have. Otherwise how could we obey and fulfill these two Commands above from our Lord. Clearly the priest and the Levite didn't have love in their hearts and chose to disobey God's Commands. Tell me what you think? And God bless, Inquisitor |
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11 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224891 | ||
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12 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224890 | ||
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13 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224880 | ||
Quoted from BradK, Therefore, logically, there cannot be "Innocence of Children" and Original Sin! Where are the supposed many sciptures that support this concept! To what scriptures do you refer? They were cited in 224842. I'd be interested in how you reconcile these verses with the ones about "Original Sin." But I really don't want to debate the issue but I will be watching resulting posts. I sincerely appreciate your interest in this discussion. God bless, Inquisitor |
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14 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224878 | ||
Beja, Searcher, Tim, Doc, Ariel and Azure: I knew this was going to be a very, VERY controversial subject. I agree, there are some very difficult scriptures from God's Word leading one to conclude certain things about this idea/concept of "Original Sin" from Adam and its inheritance to all men. But don't you see just as I tried to explain in my previous post, 224842 to Beja, there are just as many scriptures in support of this other concept, "Innocence of Children" before God. In addition, there are many, many christians who believe just as I do on this matter. Are we to conclude that God is a God of contradiction and confusion. "No and may it never be." We just don't have a clear interpretation of the whole. When I look at a child and think about this problem logically, I must spend much time in prayer asking for God's help to understand this conundrum. I must agree that we'll probably never agree and thus I'll probably never persuade any of you but I must state the Truth as I understand It and as I've been taught by some great Bible students, just as you all have stated. As far as I'm concerned, I'm ready and willing to close this very difficult thread of discussion but I'm still praying God's richest blessings on you all. Inquisitor |
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15 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224844 | ||
Dear Beja, It's difficult to respond to so many questions in one post but I'll try. ALTHOUGH I notice you didn't respond to the scriptures in my previous post as I did to your's. Quoted from Beja... Q1.So you agree that our basic nature is to rebel? That means the problem is not at the level of our actions, but of our very nature or disposition which then leads to our actions. Children have this flaw as much as any man does. As the father of a 3 year old I can assure you of that. As a father and grandfather, I can agree that our kids can be a major pain when they don't get their way. But don't you see, they don't see anything wrong with that screaming, hollering and misbehaving. All they know they're not getting what they consider they gotta have. But later on, maybe as soon 10, 11 or 12 years of age, they begin to put two and two together and see the difference between right and wrong. So this growing and learning is a process through which all of us mankind go, in our maturing. Q2. I deny that adam and eve had this same flaw. I could not tell from your post if you agree with that point. However, if that also is granted then what shall we say? Every one with us are born with the natural inclination to sin and rebel, and that we inherit from Adam. God doesn't create ANYTHING with a sinful or evil nature in it. Don't you see that in the Creation account of Genesis? EVERYTHING Created by God "was good" and He was satisfied with His Creation including His newly created Adam and Eve. BUT they grew in knowledge and learned about the attractiveness of sin and disobeyed God. That's where we ALL go wrong. We ALL violate our conscience. We all look at the options/choices in our lives and weigh the advantages of making the good vs bad decisions. Good decisions almost always include a sacrifice of some kind and thus one child chooses NOT to share his cookie or his toys with his sibling. And on it goes in spite of the teaching and spanking from the parents. The child learns to conceal his decisions and the consequences thereof. Don't you see, the initial birth of a child from God (just like His Creation in the Beginning) is perfectly innocent from all sin. That child has no consciousness about right from wrong; how could anyone argue against this? Q3.And when did Adam obtain this flaw? When he first chose to sin. How can we but say that each and every one of us are cursed with this rebelious and sinful nature as a result of Adam's sin? I tried to explain this above but one has to see that this spirit of rebiliousness varies from one person to another. We all have different parents and different environments from which we learn right and wrong. BUT we can also learn to be clever and get away with our rebellious life for a little while. But sooner or later, either mankind or God will catch up with that person and he will "reap what he sows," either in this life or the one hereafter. Q4.So the end result is that even a newborn infant, because of the sin of Adam is a little sin factory. By nature even that infant is deep down inclined to sin. NO, NO, NO...that's what I've been saying. The child is innocent but he learns to be sinful and rebellious against the good things in life and later on against God's Good Will. Q5.They don't have to wait and make a choice to have that inclination. And is that inclination itself not sinful? Our very disposition is sinful, not merely our actions. This inclination as you're referring to above is true but it doesn't manifest itself in a child with actual intent until his early teens or maybe 11 or 12. He doesn't actually start scheming and hatching "evil" plans to get his way until this stage of his life. This is what I'm trying to get across to you. How can you possibly look into the face of a sweet, innocent two month old baby and call that sweet child evil, down deep inside? God forbid. Please tell me you don't really believe this way. Azure, do you have anything to say about this? Do you have some way of reconciling the conflicting verses I've provided in my previous post? I'm anxiously awaiting such responses from both of you, Beja and Azure. I do hope you and all who are reading might respond with their thoughts. Please do. God bless all of you, Inquisitor |
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16 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224842 | ||
Dear Beja, Response to Psalms: In God's Eyes, all of mankind are like "children of wrath" in that our basic nature is to rebel. Look at the history of the whole world. War is the most recurring theme throughout our history. Reponse to Romans: As described by Paul, all mankind has indeed inherited the consequences of the fall of man and woman in the Garden of Eden. But that "fall" for each and every single one of us is re-confirmed when we reach the age of accountability (varies from person to person) and first decide to do or say or NOT do or say against what our awakening conscience tells us. This is just another example of one of God's basic laws of "reaping what we sow." It is inherent in man- and woman-kind for we can't possibly get away from our weak and sinful nature. That was proven by Adam and Eve; they had the very presence of God Himself and could come face to Face with Him, only because at that time they had no sin. (Notice this is one more proof that it is possible for a human being to be completely innocent and free of sin, absolutelly proven in the Face of God Himself.) But once they sinned, they could not face God and none of us have been able to do so since that day. Scriptures in support... Deut 24:16 “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin. 2 Ki 14:5 Now it happened, as soon as the kingdom was established in his hand, that he executed his servants who had murdered his father the king. 6 But the children of the murderers he did not execute, according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, in which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall be put to death for his own sin.” 2 Chron 25:4 4 However he did not execute their children, but did as it is written in the Law in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, saying, “The fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for their fathers; but a person shall die for his own sin.” And Repeated in 2 Kings 14:5...Repeated by God for emphasis? Who knows but God Himself. Jer 31:30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge. Eze 18:19-20 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. As I mentioned to Azure, this is indeed a very, VERY controversial subject which has been going on for a thousand years or more. How can either one of us, you or me reconcile these verses. How about if you take a shot and explain the reconcilation to me? Please I would beg of you. Please be sure to explain the ideas/thoughts behind your words as quoted below: We must be very careful with this doctrine, because at the heart of Christianity lies this presupposition: A man can be judged by the merits or failures of another. If we take away that concept we have taken away the very gospel we preach. How and why would our God judge one person by the merits or failures of another? Please explain as thoroughly as you can why this concept is so important to the "very gospel we preach." Looking forward to your response and God bless, Inquisitor PS: I'm praying for you and Azure in this discussion. |
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17 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224839 | ||
Dear and precious Azure, I can only respond with what I see in my Bible, NKJV, my preference: Jesus Blesses Little Children (This heading copied from the NKJV) Matt 19:13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. As you say, looking at the context as in reading a newspaper, we see the first word "Then" in verse 13 which seems to endorse the heading and the separation of this story from the previous "paragraph. (Yes I know, the original Greek didn't have paragraphs or chapters or verses. That's a modern innovation.) But I think my point is made. For assistance, I can only call on Matthew Henry's Commentary as follows Commentary on Matthew 19:13-15 It is well when we come to Christ ourselves, and bring our children. Little children may be brought to Christ as needing, and being capable of receiving blessings from him, and having an interest in his intercession. We can but beg a blessing for them: Christ only can command the blessing. It is well for us, that Christ has more love and tenderness in him than the best of his disciples have. And let us learn of him not to discountenance any willing, well-meaning souls, in their seeking after Christ, though they are but weak. Those who are given to Christ, as part of his purchase, he will in no wise cast out. Therefore he takes it ill of all who forbid, and try to shut out those whom he has received. And all Christians should bring their children to the Saviour that he may bless them with spiritual blessings. End of Quote In conclusion, it only makes sense for us as parents to look at our small children (as in my grandchildren) and readily admit that it is non-sensical to think that a small baby is born with this inherited sin and is therefore a candidate for Hell. This would be true since they're not able to obey God's Commands for Salvation. No, I'm sorry, I just cannot believe in this interpretation about Inherited Sin. But I'm still praying for God's blessings on you and your studies, Inquisitor |
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18 | Why the children? | Num 33:55 | Inquisitor | 224837 | ||
You're referring to a very old and continuing controversy, "the inheritance of original sin," in which I don't believe. I've been taught that these passages are referring to the fact that we're all human and will eventually need the saving Grace from our Lord upon obeying his Commands for Salvation. How do you rationalize and make these verse harmonize with each other (Matt 19:14) and God's Word? Tough controversy but I'm certain God's Word will prevail. God bless, Inquisitor |
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19 | The error addressed in 2 Peter | Bible general Archive 4 | Inquisitor | 224835 | ||
Doc, What can I say but that I'm in full agreement. Thanks again and God bless ALL those who study God's Word with the resolution of obeying Him. It's a pleasure exchanging God's Truths with you. God bless you throughout your life, Inquisitor |
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20 | The error addressed in 2 Peter | Bible general Archive 4 | Inquisitor | 224817 | ||
Doc, I appreciate your contribution to this discussion; it's most enlightening. But in my simple way of looking at the various subjects of the Bible, I always first and prefer to use the Bible as its own best Commentary. So it seems to me this antinomian group as referred to by Peter is just another group of people who are in error compared to God's Word. Similarly, Paul refers to Alexander the coppersmith in 2 Tim 4, Phygellus and Hermogenes in 2 Tim 1. Paul deals rather harshly (and justly) with Hymenaeus and Alexander in 1 Tim 1. God addresses a great many with all manner of sins in the first chapter of Romans with Paul summmarizing their fate in Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; The Bible is quite literally filled with those who deviate from God's Word, occasionally through no fault of their own and are easily corrected. Such was the case of Apollos corrected by Aquila and Priscilla in Acts 18. Those that are NOT inclined to following His Word ultimately receive their just reward, i.e. Achan in Josh 7. To me personally, it's easier to study God's Word with the resolve to follow Joshua's advice, "deter neither to the left nor to the right." But I do appreciate the efforts of scholars like yourself, Beja and all the rest. I do think God endorses the "whole team" effect in 1 Cor 12. Me? I'm just a simple student of His Word. In appreciation and God bless, Inquisitor |
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