Results 141 - 160 of 350
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Results from: Answers On or After: Thu 12/31/70 Author: Aixen7z4 Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
141 | What must I do to be Saved? | Rom 1:16 | Aixen7z4 | 123814 | ||
What is it about the Gospel? A search of this forum reveals a multitude of references to the topic. One may even find a thread with the title “What Must I Do to be Saved?” But it is apparently not easy to discuss these things. That particular thread elicited only a single response, to wit, “I’m not sure what is your question or if you are just making a statement”. And yet the questioner had been asking, “Is there a clear answer to a seeking sinner should they surf unto this forum?” One would hope that a seeking sinner could find a clear answer to the question about being saved wherever the Bible is in view. One would hope that the question would be boldly displayed and clearly answered. Indeed, this writer will attempt to revive the topic by appending this question to the thread. But one has to be prepared to see it “temporarily restricted from appearing on the homepage”. I have written to the webmasters to ask the question, but there has been no response. What is it about this topic? The Gospel seems to be an often-mentioned topic, here on this forum. And yet, Scripture seems to indicate that it is a divisive thing. The question “Why the Hostility?” dealt with the irony that the one who had come to preach the Gospel (Good News) and to die so that there could be a Gospel for us to preach, was treated with such hostility. The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Paul said he determined to know nothing among them, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified ... that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:2ff). The world in its wisdom does not know God, but it pleases God by the “foolishness” of preaching (of the Gospel) to save them that believe. Some seek a sign, and some look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness. Some can accept Christ, his birth, his life, but not his death (See John 12:34). Some cannot accept the fact that he rose again (See 1 Corinthians 15). But the Gospel insists on both. It also calls for repentance toward God and faith in Christ, and some find it hard to do one or the other (See Luke 13:1-5 and John 12:37). It is easy to say that the Gospel causes uneasiness among those who do not believe, and it divides them from those who do accept it. The one who came with the Gospel said, “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law” (Matthew 10). He also said, “Henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three” (Luke 12). But is it in the nature of the Gospel to also cause division among believers? Some preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will. The one preaches Christ of contention, not sincerely, but the other of love (Philippians 1). Thus there may be divisions even if we have the same gospel. There may be among us envying, and strife, and divisions. For one reason or the other (It is not clear that it has anything to do with the gospel we preach) one saith, “I am of Paul”; and another, “I am of Apollos”. Then there are those who, as in Galatia and Colosse, add to the gospel and make a difference. Then there are those with different views about the need to preach the Gospel. All in all, a lot of division, and tension, and contention. I have heard that there are differences within the religions of the world. But they are not as great, apparently, as among those who have accepted the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This leads me to ask: “Is there something in the nature of the Gospel that it causes this tension and division?” |
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142 | The Gospel the sole means of salvation? | Rom 1:16 | Aixen7z4 | 123810 | ||
I sat and read the entire thread. Such a wonderful discussion! What a disappointment that that it degenerated so, and revealed a hidden agenda to promote the ideas of Calvin again! And yet the originator seemed so open to the idea that the Judge of all the earth would find a way to communicate the necessary Gospel to all men. Since we have heard the Gospel in words such as those recorded in 1 Corinthians 15, it is difficult to imagine how God communicates it to the person who has not heard. Since we learn so much by reading and by hearing, it is difficult to imagine how God can communicate facts to someone who cannot read or to someone who cannot hear. But the Bible assures us that God does communicate to everyone, if not through words, then through nature (Psalm 19) and through conscience (Romans 2:15). God our Savior will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth(1 Timothy 2:3,4). How can that happen when they have not heard? The word is true whether or not they have heard it. God knows the thoughts that he thinks toward them, thoughts of peace, and not of evil. They shall ye call upon him, and they shall go and pray unto him, and he will listen to them. And they shall seek him, and find him, when thy search for him with all their heart. He will be found of them, says the LORD. This applies to all men, not Israel only, for God is not a respecter of persons. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It is fine to ask the questions: How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, (concerning those who have not heard the way that I have heard) “Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world”. Romans 1 and 2 contains so much about those who despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering of God, perhaps because they are the majority of the people. But what of the few who do respond to revelation and seek God? To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, (he gives) eternal life: but unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, (he responds with) indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but (he gives) glory, honor, and peace, to every man that works good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. Apologies to those who would have liked to see the scripture references for all this. One can but hope that the words are familiar enough that we can think of them again as from Romans and Jeremiah and the Psalms and find them as necessary. But let us put them together to see that God created the gospel when he allowed Jesus to die on the cross and raised him from the dead. He has ways of sending this news to the whole world. Some of us may refuse to go, and some who hear may refuse to believe, but God will enlighten every man anyway. Most will reject the good News, but those who accept it and respond with repentance and faith, will be saved. This is just another attempt to encourage our participation in this process. All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. |
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143 | Are there few that be saved? | Luke 13:23 | Aixen7z4 | 123657 | ||
Only a few will be saved, compared to the masses that will be lost. God has chosen to reveal this fact to us, and I would suppose he had a reason to tell us this. As with all other revelation, we should be moved to react to it (Deuteronomy 29:29). Someone will, for God's word will not return to him void. Amen. | ||||||
144 | Can someone help me get to God? | Rom 10:9 | Aixen7z4 | 122622 | ||
Hello. I wonder if you are still interested, and if you still want to "get to God". If you are, then please write again. You may find that he is closer to you than you thought, and that he wants you to get to him. He loves you, and he will let you get to him, right where you are. Please continue to seek the Lord. And tell us where you are now in your search. You may not realize it, but there are actually two Bibles on the Forum. You can look things up by typing in words or references in the area called "Get Bible Text" in the right margin. Try typing the words "seek" and "find" under "Search word(s) or "Jer 29:13" and then "Acts 17:27"under "Book Chapter:verse". There are people here who want to pray for you and help you in your search. Please let us know if you are still interested. |
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145 | 3 heavens | 2 Cor 12:2 | Aixen7z4 | 122489 | ||
Please read this commentary from Matthew Henry and see if it is instructive. (In 2 Corinthians 12:2 Paul is reporting on a personal experience and it seems that)" in some sense he was caught up into the third heaven, the heaven of the blessed, above the aerial heaven, in which the fowls fly, above the starry heaven, which is adorned with those glorious orbs: it was into the third heaven, where God most eminently manifests his glory. We are not capable of knowing all, nor is it fit we should know very much, of the particulars of that glorious place and state; it is our duty and interest to give diligence to make sure to ourselves a mansion there; and, if that be cleared up to us, then we should long to be removed thither, to abide there for ever. This third heaven is called paradise (2Co_12:4), in allusion to the earthly paradise out of which Adam was driven for his transgression; it is called the paradise of God (Rev_2:7), signifying to us that by Christ we are restored to all the joys and honours we lost by sin, yea, to much better". |
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146 | female angels | Matt 22:30 | Aixen7z4 | 122377 | ||
It is apparent that the angels are sexless beings. Though they are referred to always in masculine terms, it does not indicate gender. Jesus said that they are not the type of beings that marry (Mark 12:25). God created them for the purpose of being ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14). They were created individually and they do not reproduce. Isn't it interesting though, that they do not understand the gospel? They are apparently interested, and desire to know about it (1 Peter 1:12) but they can never really know it, because they cannot experience salvation. Most of them have never sinned, and those who did are destined for hell together with the devil (Mat 25:41). They do not have the privilege of repentance. It is interesting also, that folklore usually refers to angels as females. As Jesus would say, they do err, not knowing the scriptures. It is good to know the scriptures, because they make us wise unto salvation (2 Timothy 3:15). This salvation is the main reason we search the scriptures (John 5:39). It is good to know many things, but better to know how to be saved, and best to know that we are saved. |
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147 | A man of God? | NT general Archive 1 | Aixen7z4 | 122290 | ||
It is a grand topic, and we should thank our brother for raising it. I have thought of it a long time. I have read what others have said as well. I would like to share a few thoughts, including this one that someone has written: “’O man of God,’ … That is a remarkable word… That title combines two remarkable concepts: Man, in his weakness, confusion, blindness and failure, and God, in his majesty, his greatness and power. To be "a man of God" is the greatest title that could be bestowed upon Timothy. Every one who has the Spirit of God indwelling him has the desire to claim that title for himself -- to be a man …of God, not a man of the world, not a man of the flesh, but a man of God”. I associate myself with those remarks. As our brother Hank has noted, the term is used much more in the Old Testament than the New. Overall it is used more than 70 times in the King James Version, but it is used only two times in the New Testament and both of these refer to Timothy. Experience seems to show it is similarly held in reserve today, being applied now and then to “the pastor” and now and then to “the speaker for this occasion”. The idea is that this person speaks for God. The times the term is “a man of God”. Fifty-five times the term is “the man of God” and full half a dozen of these refer to Moses. Four times one is addressed as “You man of God”. Most of the references are in the Kings and Chronicles and refer to men like Elijah and Elisha. Sometimes, as in “a man of God”, the title is used instead of the person’s name. One time (1 Samuel 9) he is described as an honorable man. One time (2Ki 4:9) the man of God is described as holy. One time the “man of God” is actually an angel, and possibly the pre-incarnate Christ (Judges 13). And yet there is no indication that I have found as to what qualifies a person for the title “man of God”, except perhaps it is in 1 and 2 Timothy. In 1 Kings 13 he seems to be more than a prophet, as there is both an “old prophet” and a “man of God” in that story. But paul seems to be commending Timothy for being a man of God and motivating him to be more of that. For that, he should “flee these things (pride, ‘perverse disputing, the love of money); and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness (1 Tim 6:11). In 2 Timothy 3 Timothy is called to be a man of God in the midst of perilous times. Others will do other things “but you” (v. 10) know differently. “But you” (v.14) must “continue in the things you have learned”. He is referring to things Timothy has learned from Scripture and from seeing them in action in the life of Paul as he applied the Scripture to his life. And “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works”. All in all this seems to be saying that there is a path to follow by which a man can become a man of God, or otherwise to show oneself worthy of the title. Two other thoughts. It may be useful to consider how a “man of God” may be related to “a man sent from God” (John 1:6) and also to being one of the “children of God” (as in Galatians 3:26). This may also relate to the idea of being “a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21). It may be that a man of God is a man who is always ready to be used of God. |
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148 | Can the word of God be imprisoned? | 2 Tim 2:9 | Aixen7z4 | 122238 | ||
It cannot be trussed up or bottled up. It seems that nothing can stop it. It may be one reason it is called the everlasting Gospel. I am impressed, and very much encouraged by this statement, that the Gospel is not bound. It suggests to me that there is no stopping it and am glad to hear that. Now this may sound like a sermon, I warn you, but here are several points I hoped that others would have added. I would have preferred to try to elicit these with questions, but I will say them and move on. Sometimes it seems that God is not speaking at all. But he has spoken (Hebrews 1:1) even as he had said that he would speak (Ezekiel 12:25) “I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass”. The sense one gets from the Hebrews passage is that the word which has been spoken, especially that spoken by Jesus, will stand. God’s word is also inexorable, in that it cannot be stopped. It will go out, as God sends it out, and it will accomplish what God implies or promises in it (Isa 55:11). It turneth not back unto him empty, but hath done that which he desired, and prosperously effected that for which he sent it (YLT). The word of God cannot be chained, because it is not a physical thing. For that same reason, it cannot be burned, or shredded, or otherwise destroyed. The word of God is more than ink and paper. It is what God has spoken, and it will go forth, whether in writing, or in actions, by the spoken word. Much of it is spoken through nature and in man’s conscience. It is also seen in the works that Jesus did, and in the actions of God’s people. It is the fact that God loves us and wants us to love him and each other. It can be seen and read of all men, including those who do not know letters. When we do what God says, then our actions speak, and they do speak louder than words. Men see our good works and they glorify our Father (Matthew 5:16) because they see him and they hear him through the good things we do. Yet wet sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and remain ready always to give an answer to every man that asks us a reason of the hope that is in us with meekness and fear. Our actions can cause them to want to hear more. When they ask, what we want to tell them is the Gospel. So it is that while Paul was in prison the Gospel could have free course. When we are willing to suffer for the Gospel, even our suffering speaks for itself. It speaks to those who persecute us. It also speaks to our brethren, moving them to take our place as preachers of the spoken word. It may cause them to run away, but wherever they go, they take with them the word of God. It is in their hearts (They’ve hidden it there, as they were directed to do in Psalm 119:11) and it’s in their mouth (Deuteronomy 30:4;Romans 10:8). No one can stop the Gospel, not even if they lock up or lock out the preacher. They cannot stop his preaching, even if they cut out his tongue. Even when we die, if we die for the Gospel, then we continue to preach the Gospel. We can leave a legacy of faith and it will be said, as it was said of Abel, that by it he/she being dead yet speaketh. Whereas the Gospel is other than physical, and cannot be destroyed. Whereas it cannot be taken out of a living preacher. If imprisoning the preacher only causes it to be seen and heard even more, in him and through his brethren, brave or coward, loving or envious, then how can the Gospel ever be stopped? It is like an unquenchable fire. And it can be a fire in our bones (as in Jeremiah 20:7), moving us to speak it. Knowing its power, that it can regenerate and energize the hearer who receives it and passes it on, we are led to pass it on. I have wondered if we will say it in heaven and I cannot see why not. It is there that they sing, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev 5:9). We say, “I deliver unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”. We say it. And those who hear it say it. It will go on forever. That may be the reason why John refers to it, in Revelation 14:6, as the everlasting Gospel. |
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149 | I need Help!! | Bible general Archive 2 | Aixen7z4 | 122197 | ||
Please add that he is the Savior. He says(Isaiah 43:11)"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. Also, in Hosea 13:4 he says, "I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me". Mary said (Luke 1:47) And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. I hope your group will do that as well. |
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150 | the belly of a whore,what scripture | Gen 38:9 | Aixen7z4 | 122124 | ||
There is no scripture suggesting it is OK to have sex with a prostitute. On the contrary, we have 1 Corinthians 6:15. "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid". The unthinkableness of that idea is reflected on in the following verses. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. |
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151 | Laws of the Spirit of Life | Rom 8:2 | Aixen7z4 | 122123 | ||
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. What the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. |
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152 | Is Hell fire literal that burns forever? | John 5:24 | Aixen7z4 | 122075 | ||
Jesus had a way of saying, “Fear not”. It is another way of saying that we should trust in him. Jesus says that hell is forever. He spoke of a fire “that never shall be quenched” (Mark 9:44). He says that we should avoid that place at all cost. It is a place “where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”. What drastic measures we need to take to avoid that dreadful place! “If thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”. There are some who will explain these words away, distinguishing between “literal” and not “figurative”, and it may take all fear of hell away. But Jesus seems to be saying that hell is a place to be feared. The interesting thing is that believers in the Lord Jesus Christ have no fear of hell at all. The reason is that he says he will make sure we don’t go there. We have to believe him and trust him. He says he will take us to heaven (See John 14). Again there are those who will drain that promise of all the joyful anticipation that Jesus built into it. But that was his promise. Like that helicopter over the volcano, like the bridge over troubled water, like the baby in the arms of his mother, we can trust and feel safe. But these are poor comparisons. In Jesus, we are safe because he is true and able. We trust in his promises. “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). He is able (2 Timothy 1:12). So we can trust in him completely and have no fear at all. God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9). We are in him, and he will not go to hell. Fear not, therefore. There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in Jesus. In his Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, he would have told us. He has gone to prepare a place for us. And he will come again, and receive you unto himself; that where he is, there you may be also. |
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153 | What evidences are there ? | John 4:26 | Aixen7z4 | 122053 | ||
In John chapter 4, Jesus said he was the Messiah. If we believe in him, then we will believe that. If we do not believe in him, then we take him to be a liar. But Jesus is not only the Messiah, he is the Truth (John 14:6). If that is true, and if we fail to believe it, then we will die in our sins (John 8:24). Jesus is everything the prophets said he would be. The Samaritan woman he met at the well could see it. For one thing, he was a prophet himself (John 4:19). In this he was fulfilling one of the prophecies of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15,18). But he went beyond that to fulfill all the other prophecies that the prophets had spoken concerning the Messiah (Luke 24:27). The second part of the question is beyond my capacity to answer. By itself it seems to ask: “What evidences are there that the biblical documents we have on him are true?” For me, the fact that we do have biblical documents is enough. The fact they are so many and they agree and support each other is impressive. Whether that makes each of them true, I do not know. It is interesting to me, however, that the woman at the well was convinced, and so were the others who heard him (John 4:42). The Bible does not expect that we will be convinced by a multitude of references. John wrote one account of the life of Christ. He wrote it, he said, so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, so we might trust in him and be saved (John 20:31). There are many other signs that Jesus did in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in that book. But many who read that book say it is enough. The see that many who had been in his presence and believed and they decide that they will believe on him themselves even if they have not seen (John 20:29). Hearing alone causes them to believe (Romans 10:17). It is not possible to tell whether one would ask these questions out of academic interest or because one is looking for a reason to believe on Jesus. But the woman at the well said she believed because he told her everything that she had done. He does know our hearts, and he says, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). So anyone can prove it to himself. Do you want to do the will of God? Then you will know if what Jesus said is true, including the fact he is the Messiah. And what is the will of God? Someone asked him. Then said they unto him, “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said unto them, “This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:28,29). He is the Messiah, and we ought to believe on him. |
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154 | disciple that Jesus loved | 1 John 4:10 | Aixen7z4 | 121949 | ||
It would be interesting, but probably not convincing, to know what you have heard different. It is clear that Jesus loved all the disciples (See John 13). But there was a special place for Peter and James and John and there was a very special place for John. John may have been somewhat embarrassed by the special attention (I use the word advisedly and not to draw response) and he was disinclined to identify himself by name. But there was one who “which also leaned on his breast at supper” (John 21:20). We should not be surprised if he is the same one writing about Jesus as “that which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1 John 1:1). He is also the only one known to refer to Jesus as “the Word”, though I do not know why that came out, except it be that he was close enough to have heard his every word. For all that, he seems to have always had his eyes fixed on Jesus. The love was mutual. With all that, it was not so important to John that he loved Jesus, though he did (1 John 4:19) but that Jesus loved him, and us (Revelation 1:5). |
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155 | Will we have a body in heaven | 1 Cor 15:44 | Aixen7z4 | 121943 | ||
We will have a spiritual body. Those who know the language tell us that a spiritual body is first of all a body. The verses in 1 Corinthians 15 tell us how that body is formed. "This corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality" (verse 54). | ||||||
156 | 'Lone rangers' and spiritual discernment | 1 Cor 12:12 | Aixen7z4 | 121912 | ||
It is hard to keep from praising you for this piece, my brother. It is well thought out and it deserves a thoughtful response. I am not sure I can do it that justice, but I have a thought. The phenomenon of the lone ranger has long intrigued me, because it seems to be not of God. God does not delight in lone rangers, it seems to me from Scripture, because the spotlight is to be on him. The life of the lone ranger is lonely, and it has always been true that it is not good for a man to be alone. So, it is not good for the individual, and it is not good for the Lord. The analogy of the body seems quite apt. The eye, as important as it is, is of no use by itself. In Matthew 6:22 Jesus says, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light”. The purpose of the eye is to bring light into the body, and the purpose of the body is to function for the glory of its creator. The same may be said for every other member of the body. Also, no man lives to himself (Romans 14:). Then why does a member of the body find itself alone? I offer to you that it is a symptom, and something is wrong with the body. When the body is functioning properly, then the members work together (Ephesians 4:16). When there is competition and envying and fighting, then the body is not functioning properly. That said, it seems that the body has always operated at a less than optimum level, and that may be because of sin. They physical body is subject to sickness, and soreness, and weakness here and there, and it has always impressed me how the common cold can sideline a powerful athlete. The best tennis player will retire because of soreness in the little toe. You do not realize the importance of the little toe in the foot opposite the serving hand until you try to serve with a sore toe. It will have to be, in a sense, isolated, and nursed back to health before the body can accomplish the required task. Someone will surely say that an athlete must learn to play with pain. Yes. And the world goes on. And the church rolls on. But the individual members hurt and things are not right in the world, and the man in the crowd feels alone. And the believer in the church feels alone. I do not advise a person to leave a church. It is true, in some sense, that we cannot leave the church, for if you are a believer then you are the church. And eye plucked from the body will die, as will any other part. In the church it cannot happen. If we try to do it we cause pain and suffering. The life strings are stretched, but never severed and restoration is the only remedy indicated. What if the eye sees things that are wrong or dangerous? Have you noticed that in the body its only job is to relay that message to the brain? The brain must send the necessary message to the other parts of the body. But then again it is the brain that directs the eye in the first place and interprets the message that the eye sends. In a similar way it is only God who directs us, even if we are sensory organs, and it is only he who knows what the stimuli really are. It may well be that we are carrying the analogy too far and getting too far away from Scripture. But I confess it is 1 Corinthians 12 that is in mind as I write. I think that it presents the ideal of the body working as each part functions interactive with the others. In practice, however, the church often says to a believer, “We have no need of you”, and a believer often withdraws from fellowship with the church. In either case, the individual suffers and the church suffers. Part of the problem seems to lie in the fact that the body which is suffering does not feel the pain. We have not learned that “whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it (1 Corinthians 12:26). We feel free to ignore, and exclude, and hurt each other, without realizing that we are hurting ourselves, the church, and the Lord. So I would offer that there have been and there will be lone rangers, but it is not good. The chief lesson that we learn in isolation is that we have to work together. What we learn alone we have to share, if not in full (2 Cor 12), then in some fashion. There should not even be factions in the church, but it seems the bigger parts don’t feel the pain. The finer you cut it the more pain, and when it comes down to the individual member, it really hurts. We should probably be wise to bind up the wounds and put the pieces back together, but the ears are apparently not working well, ‘cause the message is not getting through. Spiritual discernment is like hearing, is it not? |
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157 | When was Saul's name changed to Paul? | Phil 3:13 | Aixen7z4 | 121852 | ||
The apostle's name was Saul until the writer of Acts suddenly tells us that he is the same person "(who also is called Paul)" (Acts 13:9). From then on the writer refers to him as Paul. The apostle also refers to himself as Paul, from then on, except for the times when he quotes others as having called him by that other name. See Acts 22 and Acts 26. When was the name actually changed, and by whom? We do not know. What might be signified in the meaning of those names is left for others to say. It is apparent, however, that Paul wanted to move on in the new life with a new name, "forgetting those things which are behind (including that old name and all that was associated with it), and reaching forth unto those things which are before (Philippians 3:13). It is interesting to note that Jesus had changed Simon Peter’s name to Cephas (John 1:42) . It seems that Paul was also in the habit of referring to his fellow-apostle by that new name. (See 1Co 1:12, 3:22, 9:5, 15:5. Also Galatians 2:9). Peter also refers to him as “our beloved brother Paul” (2Pe 3:15). These men seem to be focused not only on the new names, but on the new life we have in Christ. Peter: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Peter 1:23). Paul: “Henceforth know we no man after the flesh. If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Co 5:16,17). |
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158 | eager to preach the gospel to believers? | Rom 1:15 | Aixen7z4 | 121831 | ||
With such a good question, it would be interesting to know if the person who asked it was satisfied with the answers given. I was glad to see the idea that the gospel should be preached to those who have already received it, and I am aware of a few reasons for this. First of all, we need to be reminded. Paul reminded the Corinthians. In 1 Corinthians 15 he says, “Brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you”. Peter also expressed a need to remind his audience of things they had already known. He says, “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance (2 Peter 1:12,13). Secondly, it is God’s way to put the truth in writing. God told his prophets to write. That is an essential feature of his message to us. And now we can say, as Jesus said, “It is written”. The written word is more reliable than the spoken word, because it does not change. Thirdly, there is always a mixed multitude in the church. They can be addressed in a general way as believers, but there will be some among them that are not saved. This is especially true as Paul is writing to an entire city. We know that when he eventually went to Rome (Acts 28) he met many who had not believed. One other reason is that the letter was intended not only for those who would receive it, but also for those who would come later. It was not only for the Romans, it was for everyone. It is for us. And we are blessed in understanding God’s plan of salvation. Most of us do not understand it fully when we receive it, and it was likely the same for those Romans. God thought it good to have it spelled out for us, in writing. |
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159 | purpose of Romans? | Rom 1:15 | Aixen7z4 | 121828 | ||
The purpose for the book of Romans can perhaps be deduced from chapter 1, verse 15. It says, “I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome”. With that, we know that Paul had a desire to preach the Gospel there as he had done elsewhere. Did he actually carry out that purpose as he wrote the letter? Let us see. The message of the Gospel is “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4). Paul says that there is no other Gospel (Galatians 1:6,7). There are false “gospels”, but Paul was not interested in promoting them for if he did he would be, according to his own words, anathema, accursed (Galatians 1:8,9). So what did he say to the Romans in that letter? 1. We are sinners - This he showed in chapters 1 to 3. 2. Christ died for our sins - This is seen in 3:25, 5:6-8, 8:3, and 8:32 3. He was buried - This is presented in chapter 6 4. He rose again - Also in chapter 6 All along he shows that we are justified, made righteous (3:24), through faith in Christ (See especially chapter 4). But God leads the sinner through repentance (chapter 2, verse 4) to faith (3:26). In chapter 10 it shows how a sinner hears the gospel, believes in Christ and calls upon him. Whoever does that is saved (10:13). Why did he not stop at chapter 10, then? He goes on to praise God for the wonderful plan by which sinners can be saved. Then he tells us we should be so grateful that we should give our whole lives in obedience to him. The latter three chapters shows us practical ways and areas in which that is to be done. We may say that the purpose of the letter to the Romans was to present the Gospel. And now we know what the Gospel is and how Paul presented it to them. |
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160 | abraham second lie sarah really sister | Gen 20:12 | Aixen7z4 | 121720 | ||
It is a difficult task we have, to determine whether a prophet is serious and yet, at the same time, lying. The fact is, we do not know whether Abraham was lying when he said for the second time that Sarah was his sister. He was saying that he had married his half-sister, and we do not have enough information to say whether that was a lie. The first mention of Abraham and Sarah, in Genesis 11, also gives information about his brother. We know from Genesis 11:29 that Nahor married his brother’s daughter. We are not told of a familial relationship between Abraham and his wife. In fact, we are not told anything about Sarah’s family. Was she a half sister, as Abraham claimed? We do not know, and it seems unnecessary to conclude that she was not, or that Abraham was persisting in his lie. We might hope that Abraham was not continuing to lie, since the Lord had owned him as his prophet (Genesis 20:7). God had said that Abraham would pray and that his prayer would be heard (Genesis 20:7). But other scriptures tell us that sin is a hindrance to prayer (See Psalm 66:18;Isaiah 59:2). This might lead us to conclude that Abraham was not continuing in the sin of lying. Abraham may well have felt that he had not lied the time before (in Genesis 20:2) or the time before that (Genesis 12:13,19). He may have chosen, for his purposes, to highlight one part of the truth. And many a Christian man today may feel that he is not lying if he says his wife is his sister, for in a sense, she is. We may think that he is not serious if he refers in that way to their spiritual relationship. But a man may do that if he wants to turn the conversation somehow to spiritual matters. He may say it to an unsaved person, hoping they would question it, hoping for an opportunity to give the Gospel to them. Abraham was motivated by fear, but we may have another reason to shift the conversation to another matter that we may judge to be more useful. Doing this, we may have to admit that we have some sinful tendencies. But then, Christ died for our sins. If we have repented and trusted in him, then we have forgiveness for our sins, and we are saved. The means we use to get these opportunities may seem questionable, but we have an urge to give the message. In researching this question I have read some terrible indictments of Abraham. But is it not interesting that God does not condemn him? (See Hebrews 11:8-17; Romans 4: 16). Abraham was justified in God’s eyes, because of his faith. |
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