Results 301 - 320 of 358
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: meusing Ordered by Date |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
301 | Whose will Jesus or me? | Rom 12:1 | meusing | 40079 | ||
This is where Romans 12:1 and 2 come in : Rom 12:1 I APPEAL to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. note especially the second half of the last verse. Like the psalmist said :"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." We have the promise of God which we can lay hold on to : Ps 32:8 I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Ps 32:9 Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you. |
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302 | RELIGION HOMEWORK HELP | Rom 12:2 | meusing | 40073 | ||
It leaves Him hanging on the cross, Judas work is done. In the play there is no resurrection. | ||||||
303 | jewish dispersion in east and west | James | meusing | 40066 | ||
A good book that answers all these questions is "The Life and Times of Jesus Christ, the Messiah" by Albert Edersheim. that and his other books can be found on www.godrules.net about the dispersion : " When we turn from the Jewish 'dispersion' in the East to that in the West, we seem to breathe quite a different atmosphere. Despite their intense nationalism, all unconsciously to themselves, their mental characteristics and tendencies were in the opposite direction from those of their brethren. With those of the East rested the future of Judaism; with them of the West, in a sense, that of the world. The one represented old Israel, stretching forth its hands to where the dawn of a new day was about to break. These Jews of the West are known by the term Hellenists, from , to conform to the language and manners of the Greeks.[1 Indeed, the word Alnisti (or Alunistin), 'Greek', actually occurs, as in Jer. Sot. 21 b, line 14 from bottom. Bohl (Forsch. n. ein. Volksb. p. 7) quotes Philo (Leg. ad Caj. p. 1023) in proof that he regarded the Eastern dispersion as a branch separate from the Palestinians. But the passage does not convey to me the inference which he draws from it. Dr. Guillemard (Hebraisms in the Greek Test.) on Acts vi. 1, agreeing with Dr. Roberts, argues that the term 'Hellenist' indicated only principles, and not birthplace, and that there were Hebrews and Hellenists in and out of Palestine. But this view is untenable.] " ect from the same chapter ... " From this it would, of course, follow that the Canon of the Old Testament was then practically fixed in Palestine. [1 Comp. here, besides the passages quoted in the previous note, Baba B. 13 b and 14 b; for the cessation of revelation in the Maccabean period, 1 Macc. iv. 46; ix. 27; xiv. 41; and, in general, for the Jewish view on the subject at the time of Christ, Jos. Ag. Ap. i. 8.] That Canon was accepted by the Alexandrian translators, although the more loose views of the Hellenists on 'inspiration,' and the absence of that close watchfulness exercised over the text in Palestine, led to additions and alterations, and ultimately even to the admission of the Apocrypha into the Greek Bible. Unlike the Hebrew arrangement of the tex into the Law, the Prophets, [2 Anterior: Josh., Judg., 1 and 2 Sam. 1 and 2 Kings. Posterior: Major: Is., Jer., and Ezek.; and the Minor Prophets.] and the (sacred) Writings, or Hagiographa, the LXX. arrange them into historical, prophetical, and poetic books, and count twenty-two, after the Hebrew alphabet, instead of twenty-four, as the Hebrews. But perhaps both these may have been later arrangements, since Philo evidently knew the Jewish order of the books. [a De Vita Contempl. section 3.] What text the translators may have used we can only conjecture. It differs in almost innumerable instances from our own, though the more important deviations are comparatively few. [3 They occur chiefly in 1 Kings, the books of Esther, Job, Proverbs, Jeremiah, and Daniel. In the Pentateuch we find them only in four passages in the Book of Exodus.] In the great majority of the lesser variations our Hebrew must be regarded as the correct text. [4 There is also a curious correspondence between the Samaritan version of the Pentateuch and that of the LXX., which in no less than about 2,000 passages agree as against our Hebrew. " |
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304 | RELIGION HOMEWORK HELP | Rom 12:2 | meusing | 39953 | ||
The Play portrays Jesus as having failed. The good news is that Jesus is risen victorious over sin and death. The play shows that Judas was the hero and that the power of evil was too great for Jesus to overcome. |
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305 | RELIGION HOMEWORK HELP | Rom 12:2 | meusing | 39952 | ||
Magdalene's Story He came. That's all I know. He came! When evening shadows darkly fell athwart The stony pavement of the lonely stree, I felt the damps ofnight upon my heart. Grey, dismal clouds draped low the darkening sky; Within my soul sin left its bitter smart; Deep, gushing tears came holy to my eye. And then He came! I heard the footfall of His holy feet Upon the pavement of the quiet street. He knew. That's all I know. He knew! His face was lighted with a look of love So great and true that my weak heart grew strong! Before His presence I could only kneel, As on my head He placed a soothing hand. I could not see His face, but I could feel His virtue in my soul. A soft breexe fanned My aching head. He did not storm nor chide me for the fall-- He drew me to Himself, and that was all. He sopke. That's all I know. He spoke. his voice was soft and low. It brought me rest. I knew that He had missed me -- missed my love; There was a note of sadness in His word Of pardon, as it fell upon my ear. A wondrous impulse in my bosom stirred; A strain from some bright angel's song came near. My Master spoke. The brassy skies were rent above my head; It seemed I had been ransomed from the dead! He loved. That's all I know. He loved! Suppose a flame of wrath had swept His face--! Suppose God's thunder should have filled His voice --! If He had cried God's judgements on my home -- Had called the fire from off the Great White Throne On my dark, tangled garden in the gloam, So weird and apectral, with weeds overgrown-- He had been just! Instead, He did not speak of my disgrace; He only brought me back to God's embrace! He helps. That's all I know. He helps! Still down the quiet, narrow street He comes To visit, when the day gets old and grey-- When evening star lights up its modest lamp. Through night and day I hear His faithful feet Walk softly in the home. And though I tramp To distant towns and tread some crowded street. I meet Him there, HE HELPS ME DAILY BEAT BACK THE NIGHT! He leads me on to everlasting light! ---Philip J Cleveland |
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306 | What is a Christian? | Luke 9:32 | meusing | 39948 | ||
"He will then Judge our sins, not forgive them. " Then why does He say : John 3:17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] Jesus said the basis of His judgement is : John 5:24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. Since Jesus is the Truth, and obidience to the good news is to believe it and disobeience is to reject it then yes Rom 2:6 For He will render to every man according to his works [justly, as his deeds deserve]: [Ps. 62:12.] 7 To those who by patient persistence in well-doing [springing from piety] seek [unseen but sure] glory and honor and [the eternal blessedness of] immortality, He will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and self-willed and disobedient to the Truth but responsive to wickedness, there will be indignation and wrath. 9 [And] there will be tribulation and anguish and calamity and constraint for every soul of man who [habitually] does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek (Gentile). But, Praise the Lord : Rom 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, |
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307 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39935 | ||
Jesus is not God the Father. God the Father spoke while Jesus was on earth. Jesus talked to God the Father. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as another person not Himself. Yes the Father has spoken to us through His son. He is not his son. his son is not his father. The Father said "This is my Son hear Him." You refuse to hear what Jesus said for your own theories. In other words you are disobeying God the Father. By your own words you deny everything Jesus said in John 14-17. He does not say I am the Father, He says "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the sake of the [very] works themselves. [If you cannot trust Me,at least let these works that I do in My Father's name convince you.] Anyone who does not [really] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. See, he is not speaking about himself John 14:26 But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. He is not speaking of the Holy Spirit as being himself. But you do not believe Him. Jesus was With the Father before he became a man. Jesus was with the Holy Spirit before He became a man. |
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308 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39786 | ||
What you just wrote directly denies the word of Jesus. It also denies the words of the Father. look at John 1 :1 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was God Himself. [Isa. 9:6.] 2. He was present originally WITH God. Mt 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Lu 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. The Scripture is clear, Jesus is not the Father or the Holy Spirit. Mt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 1 Cor 15:27 For He [the Father] has put all things in subjection under His [Christ's] feet. But when it says, All things are put in subjection [under Him], it is evident that He [Himself] is excepted Who does the subjecting of all things to Him. [Ps. 8:6.] 28 However, when everything is subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also subject Himself to [the Father] Who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all [be everything to everyone, supreme, the indwelling and controlling factor of life]. |
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309 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39748 | ||
I think we should like Jesus, submit ourselves to Him. He does not call Himself the Father. He does not call Himself the Holy Spirit. We should belive Him when He speaks of them as separate persons. Other wise we are saying that Jesus is a liar. Jesus: I will pray to the Father that He will send the Holy Spirit" You: No, you will pray to yourself that you will send yourself. Who is right? Jesus is not the Father. Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. |
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310 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39661 | ||
you say "Matthew 28:19 States clearly that christians are babtize in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit." you also said "Yes,And that is why he is called the Holy Spirit. He is also the Father," Matt 28.19 does not say that Jesus is the Father, not does it say that Jesus is the Holy Spirit. |
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311 | is God and Jesus are one person? | Heb 1:8 | meusing | 39660 | ||
It is interesting that you appeal to the scriptures while denying what they say. you say that philippians sais that Jesus was not equal with God. while it says that He was. Phil 2:6 Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this EQUALITY with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, 7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. notice he took the guise of a servant (voluntarily) He submitted Himself EVEN THOUGH HE WAS EQUAL WITH THE FATHER. the Jews understood that. John 5:18 why must you keep harping on His statement that he forgot his second comming when he showed that He submitted himself to the Father even though he was equal. You take John 13:16 out of context. Jesus is addresing his desciples, telling them they are not greater that he. He is not decalring that He is not EQUAL with the Father. He is saying that the apostle is not GREATER (or MORE IMPORTANT) than he is. yes, I believe Him. I beleive Him when He said : John 5:23 So that all men may give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who has sent Him. A. T. Robertson said : That all may honour the Son (ina panteß timwsin ton uion). Purpose clause with ina and present active subjunctive of timaw (may keep on honouring the Son). He that honoureth not the Son (o mh timwn ton uion). Articular present active participle of timaw with negative mh. Jesus claims here the same right to worship from men that the Father has. Dishonouring Jesus is dishonouring the Father who sent him (Matthew 8:49; Matthew 12:26; Matthew 15:23; 1 John 2:23). See also Luke 10:16. There is small comfort here for those who praise Jesus as teacher and yet deny his claims to worship. The Gospel of John carries this high place for Christ throughout, but so do the other Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. |
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312 | What about those who have never heard? | Rom 1:16 | meusing | 39451 | ||
Meusing here, you asked "The problem as I see it is: If people are told that their salvation rests on their choosing Christ as their saviour and they bring up the question of those who never get to choose, how are they to be answered? What NT (or OT for that matter) text can we point them to? " Peter asked a question like that of Jesus, about John and Jesus said "what is that to you? you must follow me." John 21.23 Peter later said : Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved. |
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313 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39441 | ||
We all deserve punishment. That is why Jesus came. Is 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. [Matt. 8:17.] 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. that is why Jesus could say : John 3:18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] |
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314 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39440 | ||
We all deserve punishment. That is why Jesus came. Is 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. [Matt. 8:17.] 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. that is why Jesus could say : John 3:18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] |
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315 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39439 | ||
We all deserve punishment. That is why Jesus came. Is 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy]. [Matt. 8:17.] 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole. Rom 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been revealed independently and altogether apart from the Law, although actually it is attested by the Law and the Prophets, 22 Namely, the righteousness of God which comes by believing with personal trust and confident reliance on Jesus Christ (the Messiah). [And it is meant] for all who believe. For there is no distinction, 23 Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor and glory which God bestows and receives. 24 [All] are justified and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously by His grace (His unmerited favor and mercy), through the redemption which is [provided] in Christ Jesus, 25 Whom God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. 26 It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. that is why Jesus could say : John 3:18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.] |
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316 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39437 | ||
Heb 2:14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death--that is, the devil-- 15 And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives. 16 For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand]. [Isa. 41:8, 9.] 17 So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people's sins. 18 For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering]. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. |
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317 | HOW COULD JESUS BE A DESCENDANT OF DAVID | Bible general Archive 1 | meusing | 39435 | ||
What you just posted denies everything that Jesus said about the Holy Spirit and the Father. I thought that when we posted something here that we agreed that what we posted was biblicly based. He was NEVER called the Holy Spirit. He talked about the Holy Spirit as a separate person. Read John 14:16-20 He is not the Father because He taught us to pray to the Father, not Him. He told us to talk to the Father in His name. Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit. John 14:16 |
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318 | So, to honor lies in married adulthood? | Matt 23:9 | meusing | 39405 | ||
Calvin said : The true meaning therefore is, that the honor of a father is falsely ascribed to men, when it obscures the glory of God. we are to honor our parents, but not as substitutes for God. We still have an obligation to our parents, even it they turn agaist us. We can offer them up to God, and serve them as if they are in God's keeping. |
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319 | The Gospel the sole means of salvation? | Rom 1:16 | meusing | 39403 | ||
Meusing here, Before Christ God chose Abraham and the Children of Israel to show His name to all men. In Christ he has given the world the church, or rather He has given the Church the world. It is our resposibility that the world HAS the oportunity to hear the Gospel. Think, it was His will that Ninevah (a heathen city) be saved, so he sent Jonah to preach repentance. It was upon Jonah's obedience in preaching repentance that the people of Ninivah repented and God was able to spare them. God uses us to bear the good news. there is life and salvation in no other than Jesus. It is an awsome responsibility, so we should figure out how we are going to present Christ to the lost rather than try to figgure out how God can save them without our obediance. just my meusings. |
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320 | what is does Jesus mean in matt 7:6? | Matthew | meusing | 39399 | ||
I like how John Calvin explained this : 6. Give not that which is holy. It is unnecessary to repeat oftener, that Matthew gives us here detached sentences, which ought not to be viewed as a continued discourse. The present instruction is not at all connected with what came immediately before, but is entirely separate from it. Christ reminds the Apostles, and, through them, all the teachers of the Gospel, to reserve the treasure of heavenly wisdom for the children of God alone, and not to expose it to unworthy and profane despisers of his word. But here a question arises: for he afterwards commanded to preach the Gospel to every creature, (Mark 16:15;) and Paul says, that the preaching of it is a deadly savor to wicked men, ( 2 Corinthians 2:16;) and nothing is more certain than that it is every day held out to unbelievers, by the command of God, for a testimony, that they may be rendered the more inexcusable. I reply: As the ministers of the Gospel, and those who are called to the office of teaching, cannot distinguish between the children of God and swine, it is their duty to present the doctrine of salvation indiscriminately to all. Though many may appear to them, at first, to be hardened and unyielding, yet charity forbids that such persons should be immediately pronounced to be desperate. It ought to be understood, that dogs and swine are names given not to every kind of debauched men, or to those who are destitute of the fear of God and of true godliness, but to those who, by clear evidences, have manifested a hardened contempt of God, so that their disease appears to be incurable. In another passage, Christ places the dogs in contrast with the elect people of God and the household of faith, It is not proper to take the children's bread, and give it to dogs, ( Matthew 15:27.) But by dogs and swine he means here those who are so thoroughly imbued with a wicked contempt of God, that they refuse to accept any remedy. Hence it is evident, how grievously the words of Christ are tortured by those who think that he limits the doctrine of the Gospel to those only who are teachable and well-prepared. For what will be the consequence, if nobody is invited by pious teachers, until by his obedience he has anticipated the grace of God? On the contrary, we are all by nature unholy, and prone to rebellion. The remedy of salvation must be refused to none, till they have rejected it so basely when offered to them, as to make it evident that they are reprobate and self-condemned, (aujtokata kritoi,) as Paul says of heretics, ( Titus 3:11.) There are two reasons, why Christ forbade that the Gospel should be offered to lost despisers. It is an open profanation of the mysteries of God to expose them to the taunts of wicked men. Another reason is, that Christ intended to comfort his disciples, that they might not cease to bestow their labors on the elect of God in teaching the Gospel, though they saw it wantonly rejected by wicked and ungodly men. His meaning is lest this inestimable treasure should be held in little estimation, swine and dogs must not be permitted to approach it. There are two designations which Christ bestows on the doctrine of salvation: he calls it holy, and compares it to pearls. Hence we learn how highly we ought to esteem this doctrine. Lest these trample them under their feet. Christ appears to distinguish between the swine and the dogs: attributing brutal stupidity to the swine, and rage to the dogs. And certainly, experience shows, that there are two such classes of despisers of God. Whatever is taught in Scripture, for instance, about the corrupt nature of man, free justification, and eternal election, is turned by many into an encouragement to sloth and to carnal indulgence. Such persons are fitly and justly pronounced to be swine. Others, again, tear the pure doctrine, and its ministers, with sacrilegious reproaches, as if they threw away all desire to do well, all fear of God, and all care for their salvation. Although he employs both names to describe the incurable opponents of the Word of God, yet, by a twofold comparison, he points out briefly in what respect the one differs from the other. |
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