Results 181 - 200 of 499
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: Scribe Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
181 | Predestination question? | 1 Tim 2:4 | Scribe | 84669 | ||
John, You state " Are all men justified by the "one act of righteousness". No! Are all men born condemned by "the transgression of the one"? Yes!" In my opinion you are missing the clear meaning of the verse. But not just this one. As you have stated there are many more that Paul preached that we could us to add to it. More so than the ones that might seem to say otherwise at first glance. But I will save the list for another time. Sticking to this one passage it does indeed declare that ALL men are justified by one act of righteousness. All they have to do is appropriate it by faith. This is why it is not called works. The work is already done. When you were saved Jesus did not do a new work that day for you to save you. He did not get back on the cross for you on that day. He had already done it at the cross. And the great and glorious mystery of God is that He had already finished it at the foundations of the world. But it did you no good until you had faith. So Yes all men are justifed by the Act of One Jesus Christ. And most of the time both sides of this question will end up saying similar if not the same things. No not all men will repent and be born again. But all men will only have themselves to blame becuase they can pursue good, and if they do, God will lead them into more light, eventually into saving faith. If they choose evil, they will be driven to darkness. And those that are in darkness destined to desctrucion, becuase they choose death, even they God will use to fulfill his purposes. So repeating again. Are all men justified by the one act of righteousness? I say Yes. This is the Good News.. go Herald it from the mountain tops.. some will hear and have faith and cry out to God in adoration and praise at so great and undeserved a salvation.. Others will thumb their noses at it and say "eh! I don't believe it" and they will go into perdition and the believers will be made holy and enter life. God Bless you as you study the Word. |
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182 | Predestination question? | 1 Tim 2:4 | Scribe | 84667 | ||
“Romans 5:18 connects the two clauses with the comparative 'even so'. If the extent in the first clause is universal, why then would the extent in the second clause be limited?” Very well said, Tim. You have, in one sentence made crystal clear what I saw in my time of meditation. I am still dwelling on the vast and glorious implications of the universal application of the "..the righteousness of one and the justification of life coming upon all men that believe..". . going forth not just as to all men that will be born and believe (as in Adam all dieing because of sin).. but how that this righteous is EVEN greater and Goes backwards along the history of mankind and is applied to all men that believe. The justification went forth at the Death Burial and Resurrection, to all future men that will believe, and is extended to them all without reservation, and extends backwards upon all them that have believed in times past all the way back to Adam himself. Universal? the half has never yet been told. |
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183 | Don't understand Jesus's view on alcohol | Prov 20:1 | Scribe | 84581 | ||
There are some excellent books written that use many historians, and agricultural writters who wrote about wine making, preserving wine, etc during the time of Christ. One is Wine in the The Bible: A biblical study in the use of alchoholic beverages. By Samuele Bacchiocchi. There are others and even an ancient encyclopedia from an expert of the time. When all the facts of the culture and customs are examined there is a huge amount of evidence that the common folks were known to dilute wine and to take great precautions to try and keep their wine from fermenting as long as possible. So there is more evidence that the water turned to wine at the wedding was non alcoholic than not. And there is more evidence that the accusations of being a winebibber did not mean He drank alcoholic wine but only that false accusations were being launched. I personally believe after studying many of the historians of the time and agricultural books written on wine at the time that it would be more honest to assume that the pattern fit the norm of society at the time and so it was either non fermented or diluted to a degree that it would take considerable effort to get intoxicated. I do not say that about ever reference to wine in the whole bible. There are references that are talking about non diluted wine, but I do not believe Jesus partook of that type. There is no way to prove it. I have to walk in the light that I have been given. With my knowledge of both the scriptures condemning wine, and my knowledge on many extra biblical texts written at the time describing the common culture of diluting the wine and taking great pains and methods to try to keep it from fermenting as long as possible, that the wine that was like our “ice tea” used by many families and common people, was more often diluted or not fermented, so that for me I feel I am on more solid truth to think that this was the kind that Jesus and the apostles drank at the Lords Supper, and therefore I would not have confidence and be lieing against my conscience of truth if I were to use the store bought wine for the Lord’s Supper, I would feel more confident in using either grape juice (which is wine) or diluted wine (such as non alcoholic wine). But what is the will of the Lord for you? Ephesians 5:17-18 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; |
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184 | Why 3rd person? | John 17:1 | Scribe | 84519 | ||
John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. A mark of divine utterance. The fact that this would be recorded and that we might preach it to all the world is a good reason to have spoken in this manner. Now we may say "It is written..this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." The beauty and perfection of the wording of this prayer of John 17 reveals the divine inspiration of the writing. |
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185 | Why didn't Jesus perform baptisms? | John 4:2 | Scribe | 84507 | ||
Hello Ray, Acts 15 is well connected with Acts 10. As the discussion of the need for circumcision among the gentiles that are christians is being raised, the example of gentiles converted that are given as the basis of Peters argument is that of the house of Cornelius. The very quote you mention is by Peter in reference to what he had experienced in the house of Cornelius Acts 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now if you read the story of the conversion of the gentiles in Cornelius house they are all saved by faith and have evidence of such by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and even the gift of tongues. Then afterwards they are baptized in water. This baptism in water is after their hearts have been cleansed by faith, and yet they still follow through with water baptism. Why? We could discuss it until Jesus comes again but I think that based on the verse we have on baptism we conclude that there are two major points in obeying this command. 1) It is an ACT of faith that is external and not just internal, by doing it we make ourselves accountable. We put the world and the devil on notice, that we are following Christ. It is all about Following the Lord Jesus Christ and not just saying we believe in GOD. We are not just saying we are going to get religious. We are not even just saying that we are following the God of Abraham. We are stating by baptism that we believe in JESUS CHRIST and that there is no other way than the death burial and resurrection of JESUS CHRIST that a man is saved. It is a declaration that THIS is the true salvation and no other. It is also a way of making ourselves accountable. When the enemy comes against us to discount what God has done, the public confession of baptism gives you the fortitude of character to follow through with your decision. An action on the part of the new convert such as water baptism can make the difference between a short lived emotional experience and a true "going all the way" laying down your life walk day by day following Jesus Christ salvation that we all want. The only problem I have with modern day baptism in protestant evangelical churches is that it is not frequent enough. If I pastored a church I would baptize every week and if not I would wonder why we were not getting anyone saved. |
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186 | Did Jesus decend into hell? | 1 Pet 3:18 | Scribe | 84506 | ||
The real foundation of the doctrine comes (as all doctrine does) from the Old Testament as well as the New Testament. It is not a doctrine that Peter began of his own revelation, but Peter spoke about that which was revealed to him about Christ in the Old Testament. Acts 2:27-31 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. And so we see from this Old Testament Prophesy what Peter understood by the Holy Spirit and the teaching of Christ (who showed them in all the prophets the things concerning the Christ) that it was prophesied that during those three days his soul would be in hell. Now as the Emmaus has already posted Peter also spoke of what Christ did during that time. And we also have the words of Paul who states that the act of descending into the lower parts of the earth was necessary to lead captivity captive. Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. God Bless you as you study His Word. |
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187 | Predestination question? | 1 Tim 2:4 | Scribe | 84505 | ||
Unfortunately this verse will not end the debate between men on this question. Partly because the question is so often misunderstood. Two well meaning saints end up debating at length when all the while they believe relatively the same thing, but their suspicions of one another will not allow the other any good intent. This debate has been raging for four hundred years and there is no indication that is coming to a close anytime soon. There is evidence that the question has taken new shapes and forms by those that have taken up entirely new arguments than that which Calvin or others ever proposed. However as both sides (among evangelicals) agree, the Word of God is our final authority. Therefore this verse plays an important role in giving us the complete understanding of the terminology scripture uses. I will submit another verse not often used, at least not by many that enter into this discussion. Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. The doctrine of the utter depravity of man is often used as a foundation to teach the doctrine of predestination and the sovereignty of God in regards to our salvation. These passages by Paul are often used among others. But the real debth of the doctrine in Rom 5:18 is often skimmed over at a high rate of speed reading. The verse (and the surrounding text supports it) says that JUST as we say that ALL men WITHOUT exception have inherited through ADAM sin and death by sin.. so in the SAME universal total inclusion ALL MEN are offered the Free Gift of righteousness, and justification of Life. There is no way doctrinally to remove ALL MEN from this saying. Therefore, you must conclude one of two things. Either all men are saved already, regardless of lifestyle as a result of the work of Christ. Or ALL men CAN be saved if they have faith. From the intellectual and philosophical, as well as the critical reasoning (so loved among the champions of this question,) this is an undeniable explanation that it cannot be just that 1 Timothy 2:4 is saying that God will have all men to be saved (who are going to be saved, at the exclusion of those that God has not destined to be saved) but by comparing 1 Tim 2:4 with Rom 5:18 we see that by contrasting the “as ALL MEN who inherit death and sin through Adam (an no champion of this discussion argues against all men having sinned) In the same way ALL MEN can receive righteousness and Life. And it cannot be in this instance allowed to insert a (all men who are destined to be saved) because the very logic of the comparison with the all men of the fall prohibits it. In this verse if the offence of one came upon all men, cannot be made to mean (all men destined) but inclusively all men who ever lived or will live (except for Christ by reason of the virgin birth), then it HAS to be that by the words EVEN SO, that the free gift came upon all men to justification of life means ALL men and not just those (destined to receive it) Now if that be the conclusion and all fair means of logic says it is must be, then are we to say that all men are saved and justified? No. Then we must conclude that all men Can be. All men without exception can be. To pick out a person in the Bible like a Judas to teach that all men are not destined to be because of the prophesy about him is not going to change the doctrine that all men are born into sin, and neither should it change the doctrine that the Justification of Life wrought by Jesus Christ extends to all men without exception.. if they will but believe. May God Bless you in your study of His Word. |
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188 | "Lost books" of the Bible? | Bible general Archive 1 | Scribe | 84502 | ||
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189 | What causes a holier than thou attitude? | James 4:4 | Scribe | 84499 | ||
Part 2 of 2 Those that give mental assent to these doctrines will not be in the Light, or part of this “company of the Light bearers” they will simply have more knowledge and this knowledge itself will be their judge in that day. Those that come to the Light daily and in humble repentance ask the Lord Christ to expose any area of darkness and give them grace to overcome all things that may grieve the Lord, will be given great Grace and Glory and will shine with the Light of the Spirit, they will grow spiritually, their illumination by the Spirit will be unhindered and they will grow into the image of Christ day by day. There is nothing more irritating to a religious man who does not truly walk with God than to see a poor and humble saint who has no formal education in religious matters being used by God in the ministry of the Word bearing the fruit of holiness in both their own life and the lives of those that they minister to. It becomes imperative to the “Pharisee” to find fault in the area of religious doctrine in order to justify their own darkness, and to discount the Light that is undeniable in the ministry of the saint not called by man but by God. In the same way the world will hate the holy saint because a “Christian” they can tolerate, and the world especially delights in the “Christian” that will run with them to the same excess of riot, for in these they find a consolation for their own darkness and a temporary quieting of their conscience, not so much as you may think, (because they conclude that if the Christian sees no fault with it must be ok) that is the mind of the children of light who are under temptatioin to sin, no, the children of the darkness are usually thinking more in terms of (“just as I thought.. this ‘christian’ is not better than me.. I knew he was not for real, “holier than thou” that’s all he is.) And so the world accuses the compromising Christian, the one that actually runs with them to the same excess of riot as being the one who is “holier than thou.” Those that walk in true holiness, who know their God, who Love with the Love of Christ, who are not afraid to touch and converse with sinners, but who will always seek to please God at any cost, these holy saints are not so often accused of having “holier than thou attitudes” at the compromisers are. The truly holy rather strike fear and terror in the heart of the world and the world would rather silence their witness altogether and so the world has attempted to do this from the blood of righteous Able extending not only to the blood of Zacharias, but also the blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ and every martyr since the birth of the Church. The Lord is coming soon for a Bride without spot and wrinkle, who’s eye is single in devotion to Jesus Christ and who as a result of that single eye is full of Light. Shine Forth my brothers and sisters and without trying you will indeed reprove the world of darkness, this is of God and not of us, and has a redemptive purpose for those that will come to the Light, and a just and judgment purpose for those that will reject that Light. |
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190 | What causes a holier than thou attitude? | James 4:4 | Scribe | 84498 | ||
Part 1 of 2 Thank you for your words of encouragement. Yes we are that Incense and it is the Holy Spirit in us that makes us so. The words of Christ that.. "... every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." [John 3:20]..tells us that if we indeed walk in the light - if we abide in the True Vine - we will become like the Light and like the Vine, shining with the same Light of truth and holiness. It is not an attitude we push forward to "appear" as though we are in the Light, this would never reprove the darkness. A "holier than thou attitude" reproves only the person doing it, as not having any Light. The Light of the Lord is the Love of the Lord (full of Grace and Truth) and this Love itself will cause those that do not want to stop sinning to hate you. He who has a "holier than thou attitude" is in need of an understanding of what holiness (biblical new testament holiness,) really is. It is not that of being uncompromisingly strict in a list of rules and regulations dictated by a particular consensus of men of which "laws" are applicaple today (line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little,). This is not the true meaning of holiness. To walk in the light as He is in the Light has everything to do with intimacy with Christ Himself and to be completely controlled by His Love shed abroad in your heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. This produces an uncompromising act of devotion, a transformation of the inner man that would rather die than to deliberately grieve God's heart with sin. The Holy Spirit, the Illuminator gives you Light and you know what is and is not pleasing to God. Any hint of grieving the Spirit within and your Love for the Lord (given to you by the Spirit) causes you to shrink back in horror at the thought. Then also this Love for others will cause you to be sensitive to their lack of knowledge and without condemning them in their ignorance and darkness you will nevertheless refrain from partaking of so many of this present worlds "innocent amusements" which are not innocent at all. This will cause you to be labeled a "puritan", "holier than thou", and many other things, and yet you have said nothing "with words" to reprove the world, but simply because you do not run with them to the same excess of riot, that will be cause enough for them to speak evil of you. The very act of abiding in the vine will produce in you the fruit of the Divine stamp. This will make you different than the world. A friend to the world? As in loving those that are in the world? Of course. No better friend does a man have than a saint who knows what it means to be uncompromisingly holy. Will the world receive you as a friend? Remember what Jesus said. “ If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” And also John writes in his epistle.. “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” And this he said in context of loving your brother. The more you love those that are in the world, the more you walk in the light, the more you shine, the more you reprove the darkness (not with words but by your very life and not you but the Spirit in you), and the more they will hate you. Those that are called, and those that choose Life will come to the Light, they will see in you the Way to Life and will want to have their deeds exposed. They will come to have their bad deeds exposed so that they can find the remedy, and they will come so that they might find Good Deeds to do, which it is in their heart to do, but they know not how. |
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191 | What causes a holier than thou attitude? | James 4:4 | Scribe | 84497 | ||
Part 2 of 2 Those that give mental assent to these doctrines will not be in the Light, or part of this “company of the Light bearers” they will simply have more knowledge and this knowledge itself will be their judge in that day. Those that come to the Light daily and in humble repentance ask the Lord Christ to expose any area of darkness and give them grace to overcome all things that may grieve the Lord, will be given great Grace and Glory and will shine with the Light of the Spirit, they will grow spiritually, their illumination by the Spirit will be unhindered and they will grow into the image of Christ day by day. There is nothing more irritating to a religious man who does not truly walk with God than to see a poor and humble saint who has no formal education in religious matters being used by God in the ministry of the Word bearing the fruit of holiness in both their own life and the lives of those that they minister to. It becomes imperative to the “Pharisee” to find fault in the area of religious doctrine in order to justify their own darkness, and to discount the Light that is undeniable in the ministry of the saint not called by man but by God. In the same way the world will hate the holy saint because a “Christian” they can tolerate, and the world especially delights in the “Christian” that will run with them to the same excess of riot, for in these they find a consolation for their own darkness and a temporary quieting of their conscience, not so much as you may think, (because they conclude that if the Christian sees no fault with it must be ok) that is the mind of the children of light who are under temptatioin to sin, no, the children of the darkness are usually thinking more in terms of (“just as I thought.. this ‘christian’ is not better than me.. I knew he was not for real, “holier than thou” that’s all he is.) And so the world accuses the compromising Christian, the one that actually runs with them to the same excess of riot as being the one who is “holier than thou.” Those that walk in true holiness, who know their God, who Love with the Love of Christ, who are not afraid to touch and converse with sinners, but who will always seek to please God at any cost, these holy saints are not so often accused of having “holier than thou attitudes” at the compromisers are. The truly holy rather strike fear and terror in the heart of the world and the world would rather silence their witness altogether and so the world has attempted to do this from the blood of righteous Able extending not only to the blood of Zacharias, but also the blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ and every martyr since the birth of the Church. The Lord is coming soon for a Bride without spot and wrinkle, who’s eye is single in devotion to Jesus Christ and who as a result of that single eye is full of Light. Shine Forth my brothers and sisters and without trying you will indeed reprove the world of darkness, this is of God and not of us, and has a redemptive purpose for those that will come to the Light, and a just and judgment purpose for those that will reject that Light. |
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192 | Friendship TO the world not WITH it? | James 4:4 | Scribe | 84456 | ||
It is hardly possible for one born from above to ever be the "friend" of the world. Those that once took you in as one of their own will no longer own you as their friend. If you walk in the Light your witness will expose their darkness and this, they will hate you for. There is nothing you can do to change this, nor should you try. In all your interaction with the world it should be obvious that you love them but also obvious that you are uncompromisingly devoted to Christ and the way of holiness. This will cause you to constantly reproove their deeds by your very lifestyle of refraining from doing the same things they do. Loving them enough to turn down all invitations to questionable activities will cause them to either consider you unsociable (as they did the first church) or to convict them of their unlawful deeds. However even ..."When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up." Psalms 27:10 May God Bless you and keep you in the fulness of His Spirit. |
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193 | "Lost books" of the Bible? | Bible general Archive 1 | Scribe | 84450 | ||
There is no evidence that there are any "lost books." There are references to books in the bible but the reference to the book does not say that the said book was ever considered scripture. To mention a book does not mean that there are any missing scriptures. | ||||||
194 | WHAT DOES HOLY HILL MEANS? | Ps 2:6 | Scribe | 64735 | ||
It is an interesting question and I think the answer lies in doing a comparison of all the passages that speak of the Holy Hill, Holy Mount, Mount of God, Mountain of God. Using a concordance or bible software search on these words. You will find a pattern that goes all the way back to the garden of Eden. It is stated that the Mountain of God was in Eden. This is why Jews in Israel believe that the place where Adam was created was somewhere on the temple mount. These things are speculative but very interesting to consider. I think the most important truth that God is trying to convey to us from Psalms 15:1...LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? Is that of the Heavenly Mount Zion, the Heavenly Temple, the invisible one not the visible one. This is the one that seems too hard for David to comprehend obtaining. This is the one that Paul said he had not yet apprehended, but knew that he would. The question is answered... Psalms 15:2-5 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. |
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195 | What is the literal Greek translation? | Matt 22:37 | Scribe | 64731 | ||
These are good thoughts. I don't think any serious bible student suggests that we should not be concerned with baptism, I think the debate occurs when the idea is suggested that someone in a prison in a country that will not allow baptism to be performed (and yes this happens and even in the US) that the prisoner is not saved if he has expressed faith in Christ and has a testimony of being born again. It might be as much as 8 months or more before he is allowed to be baptized by a chaplain in jailhous infirmary bathtub. Is he saved during the 8 months? Yes of course I was :) and I had the fruit of a changed life as well as the baptism of the Holy Spirit to proove it. Did I have the right to dismiss the need for baptism? Of course not. As soon as I was able I jumped at the chance. And yet I was saved an on my way to Heaven and leading others to christ preaching the Gospel under the annointing of the Holy Spirit for months. Some would say, I should not make up such scenarios becuase they do not happen, but that is not true, if you are in prison ministry you know that it is a daily issue, do you affirm that the young men you are ministering to are born again, and teach them the doctrine of eternal security in Christ as you do other saints or do you leave them in doubt until the baptism of water when it could be months before that occurs? Yes I know that they allow baptism in water by chaplains, but it is planned and often in many institutions very infrequent. This raises another question I have. Why don't we seek to baptize people as fast as Peter did. Why do we seem so ho hum about baptizing when the next "baptismal service" is scheduled on the church calendar? As stated I believe that in cases like prison the new believer is just as saved and born again as anyone else if he has faith in Christ, even though he has not yet been baptized in water. However if the opportunity is there, what gives us the idea we should not be as urgent about finding water as they did in ACTS. I am a firm believer that despite the challenges and problems we see in the first church the book of Acts is our pattern, it is no a changeable pattern to be modified to fit our day. If they saw baptism in water as urgent so should we. If I pastored I would seek to baptize the same day someone repented, I don't care if the church service lasts longer, and all the half baked get mad and leave, the real saints will be left rejoicing as we baptize the new believer impromptu and forget about this sending out cards to family members and bringing your video camera. We have become quite wierd in our complacent and indifferent attitude toward the eternal things of a Holy God. |
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196 | Is this just a fable or is there any sub | Ex 28:35 | Scribe | 64730 | ||
Thanks for the information EdB. I also noticed that if a person responds to an often asked question with a particular verse in the proper scripture field, then that becomes part of the notes on that verse. This is a wonderful way to collect different views on scripture. It is very refreshing to read these views that are not constrained by trained ways of thinking. Keep up the good work. | ||||||
197 | 2 Cor. 12:1-6 | Num 33:55 | Scribe | 64641 | ||
Considering Paul's Mastery of Old Testament Scripture and the way he constantly referred to them in his speach even when he did not specifically say "it is written" I am of the persuasion that Paul was speaking of the Old Testement application of this phrase Thorn in the flesh. Numbers 33:55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Joshua 23:13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. Judges 2:3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. If so then Paul is speaking of the ungodly or a man that is bent on giving Paul grief. This man is being used by satan though he may not know it and is bent on making Paul's life miserable.. Or.. it could be spiritual attacks but it was such that Paul was suffering from it. Either he was suffering physically as in getting imprisoned or having already been imprisoned, this man was trying to make sure Paul would not come out... so that when maybe Paul would have been released he was kept in only becuase of this messenger of satan. Paul could have been very aware of this messenger of satan being the direct reason for his suffering and yet, the Lord is telling Paul " You don't see the whole plan but trust me.. in your moment of weakness and suffering I am doing things in you that would not be done otherwise" |
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198 | Is this just a fable or is there any sub | Ex 28:35 | Scribe | 64631 | ||
Is this just a fable or is there any substance to it? Yes thank you Ray, It has been asked, however it is good to consider why it is a popular tradition. I see that the answer.. It is tradition.. has been given but I thought someone might now more about it. By the way.. on a side note for all those that might read this post.. It would be helpful if you did not try and tell people to look up a verse .. it has been answered before... If you have noticed you will be doing that until Jesus Comes. People will ask the common questions and it is good to keep answering them in different ways. I know you do not think one or two answers is sufficient for most of the common questions, it that were the case the questions would not be nearly as common as they are. The benefit of this board is such that a large database of answers on a question can be built overtime, and one might read a wide variety of opinions. When you answer the question someone posts with.."search on such and such verse it has been answered before" ... you then remove the possibility of someone posting an answer that has different insight than those already posted. I would suggest you resist temptation to answer a question that you feel as been beaten to death and allow those that want to beat on it some more the opportunity to do so. Posting "this has been answered" is far more useless to the board than it having the question asked over and over and answered different ways. I am smiling so please do not take this as a rebuke, it is a suggestion to enhance the content of the board. Now concerning this issue of the tradition of the rope to pull out a dead priest... Is it possible that this is a harmful view of God and theology? I was considering the concept of a High Priest that might drop dead at any given point... Would you volunteer for the job? Knowing that we are to take serving the Lord with sober seriousness, and understand the eternal consequences of being faithless.. Is it God's character or are we to think of God as one that kills his obedient High Priest upon the smallest infraction of duties. I mean this rope tradition has us imagining the High Priest behind the veil while his fellow priest wait with rope in hand.. .if the bells stop, they are are ready to pull him out finding him toasted by the wrath of God. The idea of it being always done makes us think that it was common for High Priest to die. Now this is not the case. We know that we have stories of the "rebellious" getting smitten, and even in the New Testament we have Ananias and Saphira killed for lying to the Holy Spirit, but they are set forth as an example, many more have lied to the church since then and were not killed on the spot. I wonder if this concept of God is going to kill you if you mess up..instead of intilling the fear of God it rather makes one want to avoid the service of God? I have lost count of the young men that told me "I do not want to preach becuase the bible says I would receive greater judgement if I mess up" They clearly do not understand the point of that passage of which they refer, but see how this is NOT the fear of God? The Fear of God is going to make you steer clear of sin that is certain but it will drive you toward ministry because the Fear of God makes you want to be busy doing eternal things in the light of the soon coming of the Lord. This idea of drawing back lest you "mess up" is clearly other than faith and worse than messing up in our human weaknesses. God is full of mercy and Grace and I see that God did not kill men when they were of a heart of faith serving God in the Law, even the priesthood and even if they did not do it exactly according to the pattern shown on the mount. I can show these examples in another post if anyone is interested. |
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199 | why pomegranates | Ex 28:35 | Scribe | 64625 | ||
This is a good question and one I have asked myself. I do not pretend to have it conclusivly figured out but I will attempt to offer what I think is the most logical and safest application. When I say "safest" I am thinking in terms of standing before the Lord and answering for the doctrine that I taught as one called to teach the Word of God. I know that if my application is in context with the WHOLE body of scripture and in line with certain clearly define "truth patterns" we see in scripture (some call this theology) then I know that I have a clear conscience that I have not used the word deceitfully and that I have done my best to not go beyond what is written while still digging into the treasure of truth that is contained therein. When we see Paul apply certain Levitical Priesthood ordinances and practices to the Gospel and to Christ we can pickup on a certain pattern of application. And in my opinion that pattern is usually one that is the most obvious and clearly seen as a logical application. In this example of the pomegranates, and in comparing all the instance of Paul's mention of the the levitical priesthood, you see him apply things such as the truth of the High Priest being a shadow of Christ and also the priests being a shadow of all saints. Therefore we might attempt an application to Christ, or to saints. In applying it to saints, then we see that there is both a sound of the bells, and a fruit alternately laid on the hem of the garment. I cannot help but think of all the scriptures in the New Testament that emphasis the importance of fruitfulness, and the bells seem to speak of something concerning sweet sounds, or graces, or gifts of the Holy Spirit. So the shadow I see right away with very little research is that of the graces and gifts, and fruit of the Spirit in our lives BEING VISIBLE, and BEING HEARD by those we come in contact with. As we go about our priestly duties of interceding for the saints and being servants the fruit of the Spirit will be seen upon us. |
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200 | What is the literal Greek translation? | Matt 22:37 | Scribe | 64619 | ||
...and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit... Now comparing what Peter said here and then seeing how Cornelius and his house recieved the Holy Spirit and spake in tongues before they were baptized, we conclude that the order is not the point. This is a good example of how zeroing in on the literal greek is not as important as seeing the big picture. Collecting all the passages we see a clear picture. Since Cornelius and the house full of seeking gentiles there recieved the Holy Spirit before they were baptized then we know that there is no contradiction to what Peter is saying her if we get our eyes off the order of what Peter is saying it in and focus rather on the idea or concept of actually doing it as an act of faith. God does not concern himself with the order of the visible outward activities but rather is moving in the realm of the invisible realities of what we cannot see concerning repentance, baptism in water, or even praying words we utter. Those things we do in faith but they are not the realities, they are outward visible signs that our spirit man is being changed in the invisible. Faith is evidence of things not seen. We do not see the spirit washed by renewing and regeneration, we only see the water baptism part, but God does not limit it to the moment we get dunked, My personal opinion, is that it is more like a process.. a moment of time might apply,.. but most of us have testimonies that are more like a slower awakening over a period of days rather than a one time altar call. By the time most people are baptized in water today they have been born again and are growing in Christ and bearing the fruit of repentance. Rarely will you find a church that operates like the book of Acts and the same day someone confesses faith in Christ, go find water and baptize them. If that happened it would be more accurate to say that they experience the rebirth at baptism. Since indeed, whenever this "event" that we might think is a moment in time occurs, it would occur the same day we confessed faith in Christ and since being born again is like the wind.. you cannot see it,.. the actual rebirth of the spirit is invisible.. but like the wind you can see the force it exerts on other things,.. or you will see that evidence of the wind... you will also know that one is born again by the change.. this change takes over.. howbeit it is rare that a person is a sinner on Monday and has quit every single solitary habit, such as how he uses his tongue etc.. on Tuesday. But over time.. and it might be a short time relatively speaking.. such as two weeks. He has quit all bad habits that we can see outwardly. Most like to see this as being born again and then getting cleaned up. I am leaning toward the whole change itself being part of the rebirth, even though it has nothing to do with being on probation or earning the rebirth, the change is evidence that you are being born again, not that the changed life is making you born again. | ||||||
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