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NASB | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. [Heb 11:3] |
Subject: Free Will |
Bible Note: Dear YenisaRap, Things may seem very similar, but their nature ultimate nature manifests itself. It cannot to do otherwise. Christ once rhetorically asked, "Grapes aren't gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?" (Matthew 7:16b; cf Jeremiah 13:23 and Proverbs 27:22) Not even someone from the big city would expect to find apples on a chestnut tree. Interesting that we struggle with this sort of thing so much when it comes to people. The Scripture gives us so many contrasts: slave and free, dead and living, wheat and tares, light and darkness, spirit and flesh, goat and sheep, children of God and children of the devil, sons of Sarah and sons of Hagar, to name just a few. I have posted these few observations of John 15 in order to help people understand that our faith is observable. (It is clear from many other passages, hence we are called to examine ourselves to see if we be in the faith.) It fits in this discussion, because we can clearly see the distinguishing marks of a believer. v8 Disciples bear much fruit (John 15:16; Colossians 1:10) v9 Disciples abide in the Father and Son's love (John 14:21; Jude 21) v10 Disciples keep Christ's commandments (John 15:14, 20; 1 John 5:3) v11 Disciples can rejoice in the midst of adversity (James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:13) v12 Disciples love one another (John 15:17) v13 Disciples are characterized by self-abnegating love (John 13:35; Romans 12:10; Hebrews 10:24) v14 Disciples know and love the Word (Psalm 119; John 10:27, 14:21; 2 Timothy 3:15; 2 Peter 3:16) v16 Disciples petition the Father through the Son (1 Corinthians 1:2; Ephesians 5:20) v15 Disciples are taught by God (Psalm 71:17; John 14:26; Ephesians 1:17) v18 Disciples are hated by the world (John 17:14; 1 John 3:13) v19 Disciples are not of the world (1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 4:3-5; Ephesians 2:2) v20 Disciples are persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12) v26 Disciples have the Holy Spirit (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Jude 20) v27 Disciples self propagate (Mathew 28:18-20; Acts 6:7) The Scripture repeatedly emphasizes those identifiable characteristics of God's own. We ought not be fuzzy about this. In Him, Doc |