Results 41 - 60 of 119
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Unanswered Bible Questions Author: Bill Mc Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
41 | Is God's forgiveness conditional? | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15195 | ||
Dear forum members, What do you think? Is Matthew 6:15 for Christians? Is forgiveness conditional after the cross? Or is it unconditional? |
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42 | Are we forgiven? Does anyone know? | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15206 | ||
Dear Sandman, Thanks for your comment but I still do not think that it applies after the cross. While we were yet sinners, Christ reconciled us to God, not holding our sins against us - 2 Cor 5:19. Is God still holding your sins against you, Sandman? He says that He is not. Why? Because He held them against Jesus Christ. My Lord became sin for me so that I could become His righteousness. I am not denying my common ground that I was a sinner and needed God's forgiveness. But now, because I am born again from above, I am no longer a sinner, I am a saint who still sins. I know it sounds sacriligeous, but it's not. Most of Paul's letters were written to churches that had severe problems and had "sin in the assembly". But you never see Paul saying, "To the sinners saved by grace at Corinth," "To the sinners saved by grace at Ephesus." I am a new creation in Christ. The old Bill Mc without God's spirit was crucified and I am now a saint, not because of my actions, but because of my new birth. I am a forgiven person in Christ, just as I am a redeemed person in Christ. Forgiveness is not something that we can have apart from Christ. If we have Him, we have forgiveness of sins. Look again at Eph 1:7 and Col 1:14. How is redemption defined there? Forgiveness of sins. It says that we HAVE (present tense) redemption, the forgiveness of sins, does it not? Would I have faith in God if, everytime I sinned, I asked God to redeem me? Would I have faith in God if, every time I sinned, I asked God to save me? No. Faith is taking God at His Word. All I can do is receive it and spend the rest of eternity thanking Him for it. Neither is it faith to ask God to keep forgiving me when He says that, in Christ, He has already done it. That's not faith, that's negating the cross. That's relegating Christ's blood to that of a bull or goat, that can only 'cover' sin until the next time. That's living under the old covenant where you have to keep coming to God and asking for more and more forgiveness and never realizing what He has done. So, could you do me a big favor and respond to my questions? (See my prior post and the associated verses) I would appreciate it. You can't say that 1. God only forgives us IF we forgive others AND 2. All of our sins are forgiven. Both of these statements cannot be true at the same time. They are mutually exclusive. Do you believe Heb 10:17 - that our sins are remembered no more? Let me offer a note of clarification here. I am not saying that because my sins are forgiven, that I can just go on willfully 'sinning' with no consequences. Paul addresses this in Romans 6. If I continue 'practicing sin' I will become a slave to it. Sin will affect my soul (behavior), my body, and most of all, others who I love. It will also misrepresent the wonderful grace in which I stand and exhibit a poor witness to others. So, sin DOES have consequences. I will suffer them if I walk after the flesh and fulfill its lust. BUT, sin does not affect my spiritual relationship to God. My Lord and Savior shed every precious drop of His blood to take away the sin issue between me and God so that I could be reconciled to Him. I DO NOT take that lightly. I've been accused of being 'light on sin.' Hardly, I know exactly what it cost my Lord to purchase my salvation and my ONLY righteousness is that which He gives me. So my goal now is to let Christ live through me and present myself to Him as a living sacrifice. I'm not 'light on sin.' But I can tell you that where sin abounds, grace MUCH MORE abounds. I'm big on God's grace. If that is perceived as a fault or heresy, so be it. In closing, please answer my questions. Me and my convictions are always up to questioning. But God's Word is pretty plain on this issue. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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43 | Is 1 John 1:9 for Christians? | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15238 | ||
Hi Tim, Thanks for the response. To answer your questions, in my opinion: Matthew 6:15 means that, before Christ died to provide the 'taking away of sin' and reconciliation with God that we now enjoy, if you didn't forgive others, then God would not forgive you. This verse is pretty clear. Jesus cited another example of this economy - the man who was forgiven much. 1 John 1:9 answers 1 John 1:8. Look at the charateristics that Paul cites there in verse 8. These people 1) say they have no sin and are 2) thereby self-decieved and 3) the truth is not in them. Verse 10 adds further clarification. These people again 1) say they have not EVER sinned and are 2)thereby calling God a liar (because Rom 3:23 says ALL have sinned) and 3) His word (Who is the Word?) is not in them. Do these characteristics define believers in Christ? Now that the Holy Spirit indwells you, would you: 1) Say you have NO sin? 2) Not have the truth (the Spirit of Christ) in you? (See 2 John 1:2 - the truth abides in us forever) 3) Say you have NEVER sinned? 4) Call God a liar? 5) Not have His Word in you? (Again, see 2 John 1:2) I don't believe that these are characteristics of a Christian. In fact, in order to become a Christian, we must: 1) Agree (confess) with God that we have a sin nature. 2) Accept the truth (what God says about us) and be indwelt by the Spirit of truth. 3) Agree (confess) with God that we have sinned, all have (except Christ). 4) Recognize that God is the source of all truth and that He is not a liar. 5) Accept His Word and, thereby, allow it to dwell in us. So, Tim, I believe that 1 John 1:9 addresses these people described in verses 8 and 10. John says, "If you confess (agree with God) about your sin nature and your acts of sinning, then God is faithful and just to forgive (why? because of Christ's shed blood) you and He will cleanse you from ALL (not just past, but past, present, future) unrighteousness (sin). Obviously, Tim, I am NOT saying that a Christian does not confess their sins. Confession is agreeing with God. A Christian, by his partaking of the new divine nature, we MUST agree with God concerning the sin issue. But we confess our sins to allow God to renew our minds, not to seek further forgiveness. Please permit me to ask, what is the ONLY thing, in scripture, that provides for the remission (removal) of sin? Hebrews says that without the shedding of blood, there is NO forgiveness. So, if you require further forgiveness of sin between you and God, what will need to happen? Was Christ blood sufficient to forgive ALL your sins or only some? In Him, Bill Mc |
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44 | Are you forgiven? | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15242 | ||
Dear Debbie, I humbly ask, if the foot-washing episode is about more forgiveness and more cleansing, are you going to ask the King of kings and Lord of lords to strip, don a robe, and wash you again when He said that, "It is finished." Permit me to ask, who initiated the foot-washing? Did Peter ask for it? Did he come to God (Jesus) and say, 'Lord, I need cleansing. Please make a servant of Yourself and wash my feet.' Hardly, Christ initiated it. Peter just responded to what Christ was doing. This passage is not about forgiveness, this passage is about servanthood. This passage is about serving one another in Christian love. As for 1 John 1:9, see my other post. Dear Debbie, where do you see in scripture that "the wages of sin is broken fellowship" or that the wages of not sinning is fellowship. If you believe that your fellowship with God is dependant on what you do or don't do, then you are saying that you are stronger than what Christ has done. The Bible says that we HAVE BEEN reconciled to God. That means that ALL hostilities between us and God have ceased. Do you believe that God was in Christ, not holding our sins against us? Do you believe Heb 10:17,18? Christ has brought us into fellowship with God by His blood. The veil was torn in two. We can now enter into God's presence (indeed, He is IN us) through the blood of Christ. I agree that we should thank Him for His forgiveness. And you yourself said that we WERE forgiven. So, are we or not? Either Christ forgave us ALL our sins, as the scripture references I cited earlier say, or He didn't. ALL your sins (and mine) were future when He died on the cross. His blood covers the mercy seat in heaven and it keeps on cleansing us continually from every sin. Not because we ask, but because He offered. You are not out of fellowship with God when you sin, but you are walking after the flesh. See 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 13:14; Phil 2:1; 1 John 1:3. Even 1 John 1:3 says, "our fellowship IS with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ." John does not say, "our fellowship is with the Father...as long as we don't sin." Or "our fellowship is with the Father...as long as we keep on, day after day, time after time, keeping short accounts with God." 1 John 1:7 says that Christ blood cleanses us from ALL sin. This is something He initiated. Confession of sin doesn't KEEP you reconciled to God, only the blood of Christ KEEPS us in fellowship. Forgiveness, for the believer, is something we HAVE, not something we GET. What do you think? In Him, Bill Mc |
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45 | Darkness vs. Light | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15253 | ||
Radioman, Nice quotes out of the Scofield but my Bible doesn't say that (NASB). Neither does your text. Your text says that the wages of sin is death - period. Not broken fellowship. Scofield can say whatever he likes. See these verses: Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 1 Thess 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; 1 Thess 5:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; 1 Pet 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; Look closely at these references: 1) you WERE FORMERLY darkness - NOW you are LIGHT in the Lord 2) He rescued us from the domain of darkness 3) But you, brethren, are not in darkness 4) Him who has called you out of darkness Darkness is not a synonym for 'sinning.' Darkness is a synonym for unbelief in Christ. See Acts 26:18. Jesus said that whoever followed Him will NEVER walk in darkness, did He not? No disrespect for Dr. Scofield, but, how can a Christian walk in darkness. Jesus said that he couldn't. Isn't it interesting, body of Christ, that no one has answered my question concerning one other passage other than 1 John 1:9, where a (supposedly) believer is told to keep on asking for forgiveness from God. Why is that? I thought that scholars say, "One should not build a doctrine around one verse of scripture." So, convince me. Find one other passage where Paul says to keep asking for forgiveness. Or where Paul says what he had to do to stay in fellowship with God. If being out of fellowship with God is such any important doctrine (and it must be because Christians throw out all the other verses dealing with forgiveness), surely Paul or Peter can testify to the necessity of 'keeping yourself forgiven WITHOUT shedding any blood.' Why don't they? Can anyone do this? In Him, Bill Mc |
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46 | Where are the scriptures, believers? | Matt 6:15 | Bill Mc | 15254 | ||
Dear fellow believers, Please humor me for a moment. Permit me to say, that 1 John 1:9 is NOT for believers. Temporarily pretend that it is NOT in the scriptures. Now, where else after Christ death on the cross (that provided forgiveness and taking away of sins) does any believer mention asking God to forgive their sins? Please show me a passage. The evangelical doctrine of 'keep on asking for forgiveness when you sin' surely MUST have more than just one verse to substantiate it. So where is it? Surely Paul, Peter, James or the writer of Hebrews substantiated John's assertion that believers are NOT completely forgiven (according to some). Where is the scripture to back it up? Please show me where, other that 1 John, the wages of sin in ANYONE's life is anything other that death. Can anyone do this? Thank you, In Christ, Bill Mc |
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47 | Blessings IN Christ | Matt 10:5 | Bill Mc | 12778 | ||
Dear WDC, One last note. I'm not trying to trivialize your question but, what would you rather have - a long physical life IF (key word) you keep ALL the commands OR an eternal life found only by faith in Jesus Christ apart from works? Christ came to give us life and life more abundant. But it is only found IN Him. It is not something He dispenses apart from Himself. It is Himself. Christ told the Pharisees (who were DOING everything right and their best to keep the law), "You search the Scriptures (OT) because you think that that's where life is. But they (OT Scriptures) all point to ME. But you won't come to Me." They were too wrapped up in self-righteousness to see their need for Christ. He doesn't just give us life, He IS our life. Paul said (not verbatim), 'The life I live in the body, I live BY FAITH (not works) in the Son of God who loved and gave Himself up for me. I no longer live but Christ lives IN ME.' See these verses - Rom 8:32; Eph 1:3; Phil 4:19; 2 Pet 1:3. God has given us Christ Himself through the indwelling Spirit. What more do we need? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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48 | Should we shake the dust from our feet? | Matt 10:14 | Bill Mc | 16859 | ||
Should we use this verse as justification to pull our missionaries out of countries like Afghanastan, Pakistan, or China where Christians are in danger of being killed or persecuted? There are many countries in the world that are hostile to Christians and the gospel message that salvation is found in Christ alone. Why do we maintain a missionary presence there if Jesus has told us that if we are not received, then we should leave and not come back? Also, would Matthew 7:6 apply? Jesus said not to throw your pearls before swine or they would turn and tear us to pieces? Is this what we are seeing with the terrorists' attacks on America? | ||||||
49 | So what does this passage mean? | Matt 10:14 | Bill Mc | 16912 | ||
So what did Christ mean in this passage? There are those on this forum that insist that everything Christ said applies to Christians in the here and now. Christ did say this to His disciples. Does this passage apply to Christians? If so, how do we know when enough is enough and to 'shake the dust off'? If Christ said to do this, then how can we negate it? |
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50 | Where do we draw the line? | Matt 10:14 | Bill Mc | 16915 | ||
Dear charis, Thanks for the response. You said that you think that this verse CAN be applied to countries and religions but only with individuals and households can we discern this. I'm not sure what you mean by this statement. Is it a typo? But how should we respond to countries that are ready to kill and have killed missionaries? Should we just say, "Well, they knew the risk"? Do we continue to send in more people into harm's way into countries that see Christians as the enemy? We have missionaries on trial right now that could be executed for sharing the gospel. It is illegal to share the gospel there. How do we reconcile this with the admonishion to obey the laws of the land that the Bible speaks of? I've heard that some missionaries even have to have a 'cover' so that they can still stay in the country and share the gospel. Does God condone us telling lies to the foreign governments in order to accomplish a 'higher goal'? If we followed what this verse says, it would eliminate some of these problems. Why did Jesus say this if He didn't intend for it to be followed? Granted, if we literally follow this verse, then many more will also die without God. So, is there a balance? If so, where? Also, why do you say that 'don't throw pearls' and 'shake off the dust' are not permanent? Thanks, in Christ, Bill MC |
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51 | So ALL who believe in Christ are saved? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15765 | ||
Dear Steve, Please permit me to ask a young Christian's questions then: It is a historical fact the Peter denied Christ. Not just once, but three times. So, when Peter did this, was he saved? What if he had died after denying that he knew Christ? Would he have gone to hell? We know that he had, at some point, 'believed in the Lord Jesus Christ'. He actually said to Jesus, "You are the Christ." So was Peter saved when he denied Christ? How about Satan? He believes that the Lord Jesus Christ exists. The demons believe that God exists and tremble. Acts 16:31 says, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved...' Are they saved? Why or why not? The angels believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Are they saved? The Jehovah's Witnesses believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as well as the Mormons. Are they saved? Muslims believe that Jesus existed and was a prophet. Are they saved? Isn't then, everyone who 'believes in the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31) saved? That is what the scripture says. Is it true? In Christ, Bill Mc |
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52 | Where to offer the commanded sacrifice? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15768 | ||
Dear Steve, Here is another young Christian's question: Matthew 5:23,24 says, "Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering." So isn't Jesus saying that we, as Christians, need to still be bringing our lambs, goats, and bulls to the altar to be sacrificed? This is an offering for sin, isn't it? And Jesus did say that if I don't forgive my brother, that God will not forgive me. So it makes sense. I need to make sure I forgive my brother (or God won't forgive me) and then bring my sin offering to the altar. Steve, where can I find the altar to bring my sin offering to? The Jews no longer have temple sacrifice and I want to be obedient to the Lord's commands. Jesus did say, 'come and present your offering.' I want to do what the Lord has commanded of me. He said if I love Him then I will keep His commands. Can you help me be obedient here? Under law, Bill Mc :) |
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53 | Is saved and Christian the same thing? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15809 | ||
Dear forum readers, I agree that the Old Testament saints were 'saved by faith.' Hebrews chapter 11 makes that indisputably clear. I believe that they were saved by putting genuine faith in whatever God's word to them was at the time. However, in these last days, God's Word to us is Jesus Christ. He, and He alone, is where we must have faith. What I disagree with is that it is being implied that they (OT saints), as well as Christ's disciples before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, were 'Christians.' The word 'Christian' was not used until Antioch and it was used to speak specifically of the followers of Christ (not Judaism) who, I believe, because of Romans 8:9, have the Spirit of Christ (the Spirit of God) in them. My 'beef' was with the way the original question was worded. I was not trying to be nit-picky. I was trying to say, if you will read my original reply, that some people take everything that Christ said as a mandate for Christians (those IN Christ with Christ IN them). I was then trying to demonstrate, through subsequent posts, how that type of theology is dangerous. Not every command of Christ while He was physically here on earth is a mandate for the Christian. We must allow the Spirit of Christ to help us discern what is and is not applicable to the 'saved' Christian. Otherwise we will be so caught up in rules and regulations that we begin to think that Christians are defined by what they do or do not do. This, I believe, is dangerous. Christians are defined, in scripture, as those who have put their faith in Christ and what He did. Because of that faith, Christ ACTUALLY indwells us by His Spirit. We were born dead in trespasses and sin, but He has now made us ALIVE by His Spirit. If you don't have Christ's Spirit in you, you DO NOT belong to Him. It doesn't matter what you do right or what you don't do wrong as far as your identity is concerned. If keeping the Law is 'Christianity', then the Pharisees were the best Christians of all. The Holy Spirit will guide your actions as you walk in Him, but it is from inward motivation, an actual change in who you ARE at your deepest level, your spirit, not because you are trying to measure up to external regulations. So were the disciples Christians? I don't believe that they were until the Holy Spirit indwelt them at Pentecost. I do believe they were called of Christ and that He knew they would soon, after His death, be indwelt by Him. In fact, He told them specifically to wait for the Holy Spirit. But, for reasons, that I have stated, I, personally, would not call them 'Christians' before the Spirit indwelt them. In conclusion, were the disciples Christians before they were indwelt by God? I don't believe so. Were they saved by faith in Christ before Christ died? Yes, I believe so. Is there a difference between Christians and OT saints? Yes, I believe so. Would do you, dear readers, think? Am I being too nit-picky? In Him, Bill Mc |
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54 | Is this an accurate translation? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15820 | ||
Steve, can you verify this? Dr. John Best of Dallas Theological Seminary teaches Greek. He says that the literal translation of verse 22 says, "Jesus breathed (sighed) and said, "Receive (future tense - when it comes) the Holy Spirit." I have not verified this through another source. Can you add or clarify this verse any? In Him, Bill Mc |
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55 | My question is still open, PLEASE help? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15827 | ||
Dear kalos, No. I don't believe the question is out of line. I have spoken with John Best. And he really seems to know his Greek (runs my poor brain in circles). However, as anyone who has studied Greek can tell you, English is much more imprecise and there can often be more than one translation. So I was soliciting to see if any one else could confirm or deny what I have been told. I have been told this information. I do not know Greek and therefore must 'trust' someone to inform me. And I try to stay open to other's interpretations. So, come on, you Greekoids, help me out here. In Him, Bill Mc |
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56 | What resources would you recommend? | Matt 10:33 | Bill Mc | 15921 | ||
Dear Tim, Thanks for your input. I've stated elsewhere that the Holy Spirit is the true interpreter of God's Word and that I don't believe that a believer has to know Greek in order to understand God's Word. That being said, there are times in my studies that I wish I did know some of the original language to help complete my understanding. What would you recommend for the layperson who would has an interest in learning more of the donor language but cannot take a 4 year course in Greek? I've heard that "a little knowledge of Greek is a dangerous thing." I assure you, I am not out to write my own translation. But, as there are so many resources out there, is there a few that you could recommend that would help the "average" Christian to understand God's Word a little better? Or would it just be more helpful to use more than one translation? I use my NASB for "serious" study, my NIV for general passage comprehension, and my New Living Translation for "casual" reading. I've found that they generally agree (in meaning) 95 percent of the time. The other 5 percent leave me scratching my head as to what the original manuscripts say and meant. I have Vine's Expos Dict and an interlinear but they aren't always that helpful. (I will often look up a word and it will say, 'This word could be rendered in English in 5 different ways...') So, is there 3 or 4 resources that lay people would find helpful? What do you think? In Him, Bill Mc |
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57 | What is Christ's rest? | Matt 11:28 | Bill Mc | 12979 | ||
What is the rest that Christ offers here? Why were people 'heavy-laden and weary?' Vs. 29 - What is Christ's yoke? Vs. 30 - How is His yoke easy and His burden light? See also Hebrews 4:1 - How can we come short of entering God's rest? Hebrews 4:9-11 - What is this Sabbath rest? Please use scripture to support your answer. |
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58 | Did the Holy Spirit depart from Christ? | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 18923 | ||
Did the Holy Spirit depart from Christ when He was made sin on our behalf? Did He suffer spiritual death (separation from God) on our behalf? Also, do you think the Holy Spirit always indwelt Jesus while He was on earth or did He enter Christ at His baptism? Thanks for your answers. In Christ, Bill Mc |
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59 | Please help the ignorant and arrogant... | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 19038 | ||
Then are you both saying that Christ was not separated from His Father? If He was separated from His Father, what does that entail? How did the separation take place? What was the link, is They were separated, that was broken? If God did forsake Him temporarily, what does this mean? What does it mean that God forsook Him if He didn't leave, vacate Christ? I've looked up the word 'forsaken' in my Vines, and it says that it is the strongest form of 'to leave, to abandon.' Any thoughts? | ||||||
60 | Yes, but what happened back then? | Matt 27:46 | Bill Mc | 19053 | ||
Dear Ezekiel, thanks for your reply but despite it, my question was still not answered. I'd like to know why Jesus said this. I agree that it was a fulfillment of the verse in Psalms, but, by its very nature, a fulfillment is a literal in-time occurence of something that is foretold before-hand. In other words, if a prophecy is fulfilled, then it happens just as it was prophesied. So, what is the meaning behind the prophecy? To just state that Christ was fulfilling prophecy in and of itself is circular reasoning. I.e. It was foretold throughout the OT that Messiah would suffer and die. Isaiah 53 is an excellent passage that Christ fulfilled. But Christ did not fulfill Isaiah 53 just to fulfill Isaiah 53. He died to provide reconciliation and forgiveness of sins. So, although I agree that He fulfilled the 'forsaken' prophecy, what actually happened when God forsook Him? That is my question. |
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