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NASB | Hebrews 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us. |
Subject: Superior Hope |
Bible Note: Ancient The point of this exercise? Was it not just as I said it would be. I answered you on each point. Then you rebutted the ones you could rebut, however I must say that you used convoluted and illogical reasoning. In the statements you couldn't directly rebut you dismissed. Just as I said you would do. A command to do something has a parameter (as you are so hung up on) that parameter is doing what your told to do. In this case we are told to assemble together to exhort, encourage and edify each other. The command is to assemble the parameters are together and to exhort. You then ask how often, I think this is nature of our Lord, He learned long ago if he said once we would do it once, if He said 5 times we would do it five times. He said do it and left the decision of how often to us. Perhaps how often is in direct proportion to our love for Him. The examples I gave are just a few of the many commands Jesus gave. Yet you summarily reject them. Jesus called us to holiness, to righteousness, and to love, He commanded us to go into the world and be his witness, He commanded us to be wise and not to be deceived by those that would come into our midst, Yes He commanded us to love, first God and then our neighbors, but he also commanded us to serve God and worship God. He commanded us to respect the Law and to honor the law and to live by its standards and precepts. Admittedly love is the activator of us doing this since we are no longer under the threat of eternal damnation however love is vehicle, the attitude not the action. If I just loved you and never told you, you were wrong on this subject would that fulfilling what Jesus called us to do? No Jesus said if we see someone in error we should go to him and tell him he is in error and help him find his way. That is love. Ancient the more I learn of your position on this subject, I see your problem is not really with the command to assemble together but rather your problem is with the church itself. You see the church as corrupt, you see the church as the instigator of sin and crime and you see the church filled with hypocrisy. Somewhere you have been hurt by the church or rather by people within the church. It was wrong and I wish I could correct that situation however neither you or I can, however forsaking of the church is not the answer. The church is made of people and people sin, therefore the church on earth is going to sin from time to time. That does not change the fact Jesus started the church and the church is what has carried Christianity through the ages. While churches have done things wrong they have also done many good things most of the colleges were founded by the church. Most hospitals, orphanages, retirement homes are church backed or at the very least started by the church. churches are involved in recovery centers, head-start programs, rehabilitation center, food and can clothing centers. All of these represent ways the church members can get directly involved in ministering to others. Jesus commanded us to go and teach and make disciples He provided no other parameters other than that. I take it to mean that we are to constantly to minister to the needs and cares of others, telling them the wonderful truths of God’s love for us and how His Son came to this earth and died for us. I also take to mean that whenever we see someone that says we don’t have to attend church, the very entity Jesus established here on earth, we are to also tell them they are wrong. I feel you have a very definite problem with authority, you like to be the authority in you home Bible study (which by the way is assembling together) but you don’t want to under the authority of others. God created authority also and put each one of us is under some kind of authority. Jesus then taught that authority was for our good and that we should learn to live under it not chaff under it. Along with authority you reject teaching quoting 1 John 2:27 yet we know God ordained teachers, pastor, evangelist, prophets and apostles to teach his truths. Therefore you interpretation that you have no need of teachers is incorrect. We all must learn and God uses ministry offices especially teachers and pastors to teach us. EdB |