Results 301 - 320 of 568
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: MJH Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
301 | John's baptism | Luke 7:29 | MJH | 213819 | ||
John's baptism was for repentance, a return to the Law and Teachings of God. It was purposefully for those Israelites who had wondered away from the True Faith to return; to turn back. What did it do for a person? It was a testimony to the person, to witnesses and before God that the person has repented and turned back to God. The act was something done to show what had already taken place. Baptisms occurred after a change in status took place. For example, when those who were ritually unclean for what ever reason, became ritually clean again, they would go through baptism (Mikvah in Hebrew). Archeologists have dug up wealthy homes in Jerusalem with Mikvot in them. Some pious Jews would go through a baptism every day. John’s baptism and ministry prepared the way for the Messiah. By leading people back to living out the commands of God as they were intended, with love, mercy, compassion, and justice, John prepared a large number of people ready to hear Jesus’ message, and ultimately to receive Him as Messiah (Acts 2:41). Today, we practice the same principle, which finds its original teaching in Exodus and Leviticus and is commanded in Matt 28:19. When a person has a change of status from non-believer to being a believer, we perform a baptism. In this case, the change of status is far more extreme and permanent. The person has gone from the Kingdom of death to the Kingdom of eternal Life found in God through faith in Jesus the Messiah. Were they, in John’s baptism, forgiven for their sin but not unto salvation? Yes and no. Only God knows the heart, but anytime a person places their faith in the Messiah, whether before he came or after he came, that person has eternal life in Him. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Salvation before and after the cross came about the same way, through True Faith in the One True God and His Messiah. MJH |
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302 | Risen Saints who appeared to Many | Luke 16:31 | MJH | 213223 | ||
kam, The person with whom you are discussing these things is not open to hearing. Not based on this letter you copied here. I do think that everyone of his points is a good question to ask and worthy of treatment, but the attitude he brings with his comments (not really questions) is hostile. I have found that it is best not to get into specific issues such as these when the main issue is far more important. These issues are merely for the sake of avoiding the primary concern, and that is an open heart. Unfortunately, at least from my theological understanding, only the Holy Spirit can open and soften someone's heart. Rather than engaging in what amounts to a meaningless and endless discussion on secondary issues, I'd pray for his heart. Again, I think that each issue he has is valid to address, and certainly many here on this forum can do so, but going to that much detail is pointless when the person rejects the foundation. That being said: The Bible is exceedingly pro-women, as is of course the God who made them. The Bible is not pro-slavery as in actively promoting it, and certainly not in the way we understand it today. The Bible is not anti-disabled or against bastards, but quite the contrary. Solomon is chastised severely for his many wives and there is not doubt that the Bible claims it to be a sin in his life. And of course Samuel did not (nor did Nathan) threaten David with having his wives raped, but rather said it would happen as a result. The only way this man will have peace with these issues is if he studies the Text with a good community and is open to the Holy Spirit. Sorry I can't simply answer away like you may want, but the logic he uses may sound strong on the service, but it's based on faulty understanding and sometimes it is simply in error. MJH |
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303 | Business and following Lord | Luke 18:22 | MJH | 215126 | ||
All work is sacred. There is no such thing as a profession or business that is better or best. Not even full time ministry or missionary service is "better" than any so-called secular job. Adam was created to do work, even before the fall in Genesis 1-3. God has given you gifts and talents, and what ever you feel "called" to or have a passion for, do it with all your passion as to the Lord. If you work for someone else, do it with conviction, ambition and gratitude. If you work your own business, do it with integrity. If you care for your own children as in a stay-at-home mom/dad, then do it well and with purpose and forethought. But the idea that there is a better job is simply not correct. There may be a better job for you personally, but that is based on your gifts, talents, and passions. Please note: I assume you know that jobs which promote sin are not good in anyway. MJH Col 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. |
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304 | Why did Jesus speak these words? | Luke 23:31 | MJH | 138956 | ||
Check out a book entitled: "Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus" by David Bivin, Roy Blizzard. This verse and many others explained. |
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305 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211597 | ||
Robbert, It is rather unfortunate that there is a division between the pre-Jesus scriptures and the post. As if the "old" means no longer applicable or worthy. OR that the "new" means better and different. Deut. 12:32 - 13:18 clearly state that no laws are to be added or subtracted from the Law God gave Moses. It then says that even if a miracle worker tells you something that doesn't agree with this, he is a false prophet. Also, Numbers 15:16 "There is to be one Law and one ordinance for you [Israel] and for the alien [gentile] who sojourns with you." If we make Jesus or Paul teach a different Law than God taught through Moses, then we make them false prophets. There is no two ways to salvation. One before the cross and one after. All who are in the World to Come arrive the same way, through the Faith of Abraham, the faith in the Messiah who would be/has been the ultimate sacrifice, the sacrifice that effects us for the world to come, the new heaven and the new earth. MJH too much to write exhaustively on. See Tim Hegg, "The Letter Writer: Paul's Background and Torah Perspective" I am just about finished and it is very excellent. Very well documented book with primary sources and careful logic. |
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306 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211632 | ||
Doc, Tim Hegg is anything but evasive. Quite the contrary, he's very up front with what he believes and he has written a lot. No closet faith statement there :-) Anyway, we've been down this road before, but I just can't seem to let it go. Hey, I'm Dutch, it goes with the territory. Of course when you quote Scripture, I am only going to agree whole heartedly. You might even add the word MUCH before better. It is after all a MUCH better covenant! You are most certainly aware that the New Covenant is spelled out in Jeremiah. And while there are other promises which are apart of this covenant, the main one we speak of generally is the Law written on the heart. Paul speaks about it a lot. When the Spirit writes the Torah on the heart, you’re a member of the family of God, a part of the covenant assembly and assured a place in the World to Come. The Old Covenant is the Law still written on stone. Same law, different place. When something is external and not a part of you, it is simply rules and regulations. I’m guessing you’ve seen it in the churches. Members who attend, but they simply go through the motions of faith, but it isn’t there on their hearts. To them, these Christian things are simply rules to follow. Do the right things and say the right words and you’ll look spiritual. But looks are deceiving. The more you know them, the more you realize they are simply “playing by the rules.” My wife was really into the “Christian” thing. Now she is really struggling with faith. I can’t count the number of times I hear her say to me, “Oh, that’s one of those “rules” you Christians have to follow.” (This doesn’t have anything to do with Torah.) We’ve been in traditional Christian churches since we married over 12 years ago. Her beef is with these good churches. And they really are good churches despite their flaws. But right now all she sees are the flaws because she was taught the “rules.” Pray this much at these times. Read the Bible this much and volunteer that often. Smile and never admit problems or struggles, because we are Christians and we are all just fine. Oh, and those people are going to Hell to burn forever, aren’t we so much better than them.” You get the drift. The point is, even so called Christians can fail to have the Law written on their heart; love, joy, peace, etc… (My wife is struggling, but I see it as a good struggle, because on the other side is genuine faith…which see has, but when things don’t happen the way people have taught you they would, it tends to shatter false beliefs and that is always painful. God is patient.) ...so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a BETTER covenant. (Hebrews 7:22 NASB) This section of Hebrews if so fascinating when you understand why the priest needed to do what they did. and how drawing near to God in the Tabernacle occurred when God dwelt among the Israelites in the wilderness. I have absolutely fallen in love with this book. I’ve spent several months studying this book and Leviticus this past season, and find it to be truly a marvel. I’d love more than ever to teach it, but I don’t have the mastery of it quite yet. Thanks for your faithfulness to this forum. You have a gift. It would drive me nuts! MJH PS – I’m wondering why you’re opposed to following the Law. What about it is bad to do? |
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307 | Thoughts on Hegg? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211633 | ||
Cheri, I'm curious what you don't like about Hegg? Writing style? Speaking style? Theology? Just curious, because he is so good at backing things up and even being overly willing to spell out other scholars thoughts that don't agree. I don't see him as trying to force people to follow him or agree, but rather studying a lot and presenting in as clear and concise a manner as possible what and why he believes. (well, maybe not concise) Now I sound like a sycophant. Sorry. But hey, he is a Calvinist, and that's where I came from too...gotta love that! MJH |
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308 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211652 | ||
Steve, I wouldn't expect most here to agree. You said: "1) There was never a question of whether Gentiles could become Christians. That had been answered Acts 11:1-8." -- Tim is speaking of Rabbinic theology in the first century that existed along side the Christian movement. It's fairly well established that his statement is true in that regard based on extant sources from that date. E.P. Sanders has done extensive work in this area as has NT Wright. As for the Apostles, after Peter's vision, you are correct, and here along side with Acts 11, we see them make it clear in their ruling. Your second point I will leave to his article and his other writings. Or you can email him. I think he is quite clear on what and why he thinks the way he does. Thanks for your note. MJH |
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309 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211660 | ||
Thanks for the reply BradK, I agree 100 percent with your post. Of course, that is easy when it is Scripture. :-) 1. Rom. 8:3-4, "For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son . . ., 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." (NASB) ---- this Text makes my original post's point very well. The Law was weak "in the flesh." We WALK, not according to the flesh, but the Spirit." Jeremiah 31:32-33: "...not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law [Torah in Hebrew] within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (ESV) We have the Law written on the heart through the Spirit. God writes it there. We therefore walk according to God’s ways by His strength. The walk is the same walk as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David, Jesus (though he did it perfectly), Peter, Paul, and many many others, yourself included. Even Enoch, Noah, and Abraham walk with God according to the same Torah that wasn’t even given in its fullest yet. Even Moses walked according to it even though for him it wasn’t fully revealed until Messiah. But they all, and we all, see the Messiah who is the goal to which it all points, and therefore since we love him, we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome (Matt 11:30; Deut 30:11) 2. Gal 2:16- , "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified" (NASB) --- This one is obvious regardless of how you interpret the phrase “works or the Law.” We are justified by faith. But does that mean we live like hell? I, in these posts, am not speaking of how one is saved and how one enters the Kingdom of God, but rather, how one lives within that Kingdom. There is only one Law. You already follow the vast majority of it. Jesus came to shed his blood for a new covenant, not a new Law. --- But since you mention “works of the Law”. There is a wonderful find in the Dead Sea scrolls that sheds a lot of light on this phrase. The gentiles were not “justified” (brought into the covenant people and in right relationship with God) by following some “works of the Law.” But gentiles (or Jews) also were not justified by following the Law. It’s the same faith of Abraham that justifies. Paul mentions Abraham’s faith coming before circumcision because circumcision was the means (among 2-3 other things) for a gentile to enter the covenant family according to the teachings of the Jews in that day. But Abraham’s faith also came before the Law which was given at Mt Sinai. So our teaching that faith is apart form the Law is absolutely spot on. 3. Phil 3:9- Dito above. I appreciate the dialogue. MJH |
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310 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211664 | ||
See my post to BradK.... I don't disagree with anything that you said. Most of it is Scripture so that is somewhat easy. If you are trying to be justified apart from Faith, then the curse of the Law (many many curses for those who disobey listed) would apply. But now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. The Galatians were not being yelled at by Paul because they had the gull to follow the Laws of God. They were being yelled at because they were accepting the idea that they needed to go through this ritual conversion in order to get saved...to be IN the group. If salvation comes through works of the law, then where is faith? It is gone, and then we are without hope. I desire to follow the Law because I love Jesus and want to obey His commandments. While not perfectly, I desire to live as he would desire, and trust in him that he paid the penalty for my transgressions. In the world to come I will be welcomed on his account. I think you're confusing me with someone who thinks you need to follow the Law in order to be saved. Nothing could be further from the truth. MJH |
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311 | Thoughts on Hegg? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211665 | ||
You are correct. I did not think that through well enough. Thanks for not answering the question. MJH |
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312 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211677 | ||
How to do you reconcile that statement with Deut 12:32? And that verse should be the first verse of Chapter 13 which goes on to state "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, [Jesus did this] and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, [it did] . . . “ Chapter 13 describes just what you said. So if Jesus deleted 1 as you say, and added several, then we seem to have a serious problem. He would be classifies as a false prophet. Beyond that, it seems odd that any law would need to be deleted. What would the purpose be for God to change his mind about 1 or several laws? And the Mosaic Law has far more than 10 specific laws. Also, the law to love God and love thy neighbor is from the Mosaic Law which Jesus quotes, not new laws. All during the first century there has been among the sages the question, "How many laws sum up the whole of the Law?" They quote the prophets reducing the summation of the law from 613 to 10 down to 1. The last “one law” that summed up the whole was "the righteous shall live by faith." Jesus of course summed it up in the two most common in his day, and Peter and Paul summed them up to just Love. Of course one needs to ask, “What does it mean to Love?” and then you go backwards right into spelling out the Law again. In short, just because the Law can be summed up in two laws, one law, or even one word, does not mean the laws stop. (Mat 5:17-19) MJH |
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313 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211683 | ||
Nope, it's all right in there in the Bible as I quoted. MJH |
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314 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211684 | ||
Hmmm, can't agree with you there. I don't see anywhere that Paul says they are "trying to please God by obeying Him." The whole issue is how one enters the covenant family. MJH |
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315 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211685 | ||
I'm confussed. You didn't address the question I asked. MJH |
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316 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211687 | ||
hee hee hee..... yeah, I didn't include Dunn because he'd probably get nailed on this forum. Not a big fan even though he has some things right. I read half of a Wright book and had to stop. Just drove me nuts. But I know he's popular and not a stupid man, so maybe some may accept my premise more if they know Wright and Sanders do. MJH |
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317 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211689 | ||
Yes on the donkey thing. Commands can contradict, and a choice has to be made. Anyway, Paul wrote Romans 14, not Jesus...but of course Paul writes from the Spirit so it may be a fine point. I know Romans 14 is used to say, stop following the Sabbath on the Sabbath, but I have yet to read any commentary (that wants to be honest) say that Paul was speaking of the 7th day Sabbath in that text. Not even those who think we don't need to follow the Sabbath make that claim in the end. They like Colossians 2 much more. If God can simply "erase anything he wants" then how can we call him faithful? Be careful about what you make God do. It is impossible for God to lie. He can not do anything. MJH |
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318 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211692 | ||
By the way, welcome to the forum. (I think I noticed your new?) You'll have to find the text that says you need to wash you hands before eating..... Anyway, I never said if you fail to follow a command you go to hell. We are saved not by our ability to follow commands, but by Faith in Jesus. We follow commands because we love him. So don't quite :-) your hands are fine...I hope. MJH |
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319 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211709 | ||
I choose to live under Grace and follow the commands of God. The tooth for tooth laws were laws of a gracious God. They never meant to gouge an eye out if you did that to your neighbor. How would that be helpful for your neighbor? It meant 1) don't kill a man for gouging an eye....that is not fair punishment; 2) don't neglect punishment, that isn't fair compensation. If you gouge an eye, you pay that person for their loss, no more, no less. The laws read in context seem clear since this passage follows the laws of compensation. It's a summation of judging fairly that helps the victim as much as punishes the wrong doer. The victim always has the right to no prosecute. The victim can choose to show love for the offender rather seek justice. This would be placing the command to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus does not through out the law (he just said he didn’t in Matt 5:17-19 that precedes this statement). He is providing a clearer understanding of the law and how to live it out. MJH |
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320 | Gospels are OT books? | John 1:1 | MJH | 211710 | ||
God has never changed a covenant. Paul even states in Galatians, “A later covenant can not do away with an earlier one.” That would be to lie. He can have a conversation with Abraham and Moses. Because He says, "step back so I can destroy them." is not the same as saying, "I declare that this is going to happen." A promise and a conversation are two separate things. God “ta’shuva”ing [repenting] is not the same as him changing. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Deut 12:32 and Deut 4:2 are very clear. By the way, these discussions God has with Abraham and Moses over what he will do are essential to understanding how he can reconcile his justice and mercy at the same time. They teach us a lot about the character of God. The talk with Moses after the Golden Calf is monumental in his revealing his attributes. It's an awesome portion of scripture! It's a huge picture of Jesus work on our behalf. MJH |
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