God created heaven and earth Ge.1:1) The Spirit of God works Up and Down. It sets the Man component which the Scripture says in this fashion, " He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."(Ep.4:10)
The Covenant promises blessings on man is in his Son. "(God) who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"(Ep.1:3) This man is created in our image and after our likeness" Accordingly seven days stipulate blessings in sequence. The man has fullness or volume since Christ's Advent and Ascension promises him Up Down and Across.
Jesus Christ commissions man with the promise,"and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."(Matt.28:20) Man is therefore equipped with the Spirit of Christ to understand the blessings to be had by abiding in Jesus Christ who is Alpha and Omega. (He.13:8)
What is faith then? It is for bearing fruits in his Son because His word abides in us and we are blessed as the tree "planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season." Notice the word season is used instead of time. Where does this river leads to? The day of Regeneration for the blessed is above while for those who rejected him is on the earth God in his infinite mercy allows pure water of life and the tree of life,"which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."(Re.22:1-2). This is the tree with the seed in itself and the everlasting covenant promises just that. Faith must be as though planted by God so fruits are proof of Christ in us. Gospel preaching does not require falcon jets or ostentatious ensemble to show off prosperity. God is going to give a mighty shaking so heaven shall rolled away like a scroll. Fall of Babylon is not put off indefinitely .Making Babylon great once again is what imposter churches root for.
Differences between God and Satan in terms of the soul
The law of diminishing returns which our natural man itself is subject to means that all pleasures in life at some point apart from the Lord are vanity. God's gifts are from above without variableness or shadow ( James 1:17 loosely translated). The enemy infuses evil spirits to gradually bring men from what appeared at first to be a wonderful experience to one of torment and bondage. No wonder he is described as an angel of light ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Clearly then our enemy doesn't appear like a creature with horns and a pitchfork. His true ugliness isn't from the outer appearance but from the corrupted nature that he has instilled in the world system ( James 3:15). We could say the opposite about the Lord; He doesn't have to show off; and there isn't anything appealing to the flesh in Him. Of course we all will be flat on our faces when He comes but His beauty shows forth to us mainly in righteousness and through the remnant Body of believers who are sold out for Him. Only God knows who are His; but the lukewarm show no clear difference from the world at large and are neither transforming society with salt or light or being any real help to the remnant that are fighting through daily spiritual warfare and not being given aid on the battlefield.
God grants legal authority to Satan based on two things; one as with Job to demonstrate testing and trials on a righteous man to exalt him further in the end or two the most common thing someone has sin in their lives allowing the enemy to continue to work on holding someone in bondage so that he is rendered ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
The Lord makes it clear; that He is Lord and Master as well as Savior; that He doesn't tolerate any others in charge over His subjects. The sooner we realize that true freedom comes through serving the Lord and not to being served what the world offers the better off we will be. (see Luke 14:28).
My heart is not working properly and my liver I lost my smell do to CoviiSinus pressure in my head and face the real bad please pray that God will restore me to get off a man my face is getting weak
Difference between God and Satan: Transformation of the soul
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ( Psalm 103:2).
The scripture states in detail and multiple passages that we are to be crucified in Christ ( Gal. 2:20); the illustration of a seed from a dying plant going into the ground and renewing life ( John 12:24) and other verses on putting to death the old man and putting on the new ( Romans 8:12-13).
Nonetheless unlike the mindset of the world dying to self doesn't detract from our uniqueness or individuality. Our spirit testifies with His Spirit that we are children of God ( Romans 8:16).
I am not going to delve into whether the soul dies and the spirit lives upon death; in any case we are dead spiritually until salvation then alive after death ( 2 Cor. 5:8).
As with my last posting; the enemy has a plethora of "experiences" where it appears that some prophetic implications have been verified; other times there are parts of things often proven false and with enough delusion it seems some of the mega churches believe things that prove blatently false they are so deceived. Here are some things we often see.
1. Dreams or visions seem to come to pass. The enemy clearly has some insight on the future and can be involved in the lives of other people as well to bring about what appears to be our "soul mates" as a common tactic. The methodology to even the slightest discerning individual clearly is an attempt to lead one astray (as often is the case when people drift into affairs). Bringing someone what they want in what appears to be the exact thing we desire means we likely are ignoring James 4:3 in particular. The Lord doesn't work like a genie in a bottle to consume ourselves with our own lusts. He gives us what we truly need and teaches us to want things that He provides and reject cheap substitutes that have no lasting value for the Kingdom.
This shows we must heed Matthew 6:33 rather than putting ourselves first.
Difference between God and His angels and Satan and his legion: Miracles
In MacBeth Shakespeare says in a famous quote "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That is the basic view of meaninglessness much as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes of all the pleasures of the world apart from God.
When viewing Christ and His early miracles before He was to be revealed to the world and the ensuing factors that would essentially speed up the events leading to the crucifixion many times people were to tell no one who He was ( Mark 8:30; Matt. 16:20). The Pharisees were asking Him for a sign; which was not granted. The many miracles He performed were not accepted as from God and they were well aware of this; fearing that they would lose their position and nation ( John 11:48). He weeded out would be disciples with hard sayings (see John 6:66). Jesus knew that no man could even know who He was without Divine intervention ( John 6:44).
The enemy uses the opposite approach; Revelation 13 in particular shows how false signs and wonders deceive the masses. The enemy never holds back unless God Himself restricts him. We see many phenomenon which to an undiscerning mind cannot be differentiated from the truth; namely fire that appears to come down from heaven; a miraculous healing of a deadly wound; and a false prophet that no doubt uses whatever religion a person adheres to to convince someone that they are the ultimate fulfillment-hence their messiah.
Only the Lord can create anything from nothing; and that is seen in His miracles when on earth. He will continue as well with the new heaven and earth and our resurrection bodies. One could argue that the elements burning up in Peter merely means a reconfiguration of already existing matter; nonetheless our old world is destroyed and anew one commences. Exactly how our new bodies are made is a mystery but they will be immortal and incorruptible.
Simon was not merely a man of the street but was looked up as somebody in Samaria. "Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. " He was there to make Samaria great again.
When he saw the baptism of Spirit his mercantile spirit had to have it. So his belief was disconnected from reality and he offered them (the apostles) money. Simon Peter "said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money./Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God./ Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee./ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."(8:20-23)
What did Simon really believe in? Jesus Christ who humbled himself had the power and Authority and his obedience was the cement that made the Gospel take root. Faith it is called where no bond of iniquity can tie believer down. Where God gives him freely joy and peace there can be no room for bitterness. That is what faith with works do. Simon believed only in himself though his Jesus talk impressed the people of Samaria. It is same as many celebrity TV preachers catch head lines after some scandal and fall in disgrace, one gets to see that his belief was only in himself. This is what studying the word of God without faith has produced. Without light in you what witnessing can you possibly do? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."(Ph.2:15)
"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."
This chapter sets the Spirit leading Evangelist Philip in spreading the gospel of God. Gospel of God is one. When Jesus came from heaven he was the Lord of heaven and he gave how the Gospel shall spead. " He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."(Matt.10:40) In Lucan gospel the same Principle of Association is set in terms of hearing."He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16). Up and Down Gospel came as the Word become flesh. Now how the same Gospel reaches the outer most parts is by the power and authority of the risen Christ. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth./Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." Evangelist Philip was as much effective as the apostles because he was led by the Spirit.
Failure of Simon teaches the vital error of what went wrong with churches of our times. He who hears the word must hear with the ear of faith. Constantine the great heard the Gospel but he only heard it so he may succeed to the mantle of the Imperial Rome. He delayed baptism till the last moment so he would have bth cake and eat it as well. Hie ear of faith was tightly shut to hear the great joy his conversion caused among Devil and in his kingdom of darkness. Now the foolish shepherds have continued from where Caesar Constantine stopped and brought about so many heresies along with it, it is vital to examine what really went wrong.
None shall question Simon who himself believed so his baptism, unlike that of the Roman emperor, in good faith. Faith however did not connect with the authority and power of the risen Christ. He had to make money here and now.
"The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him."( John 12:29)All the blessings God promised in his Son were wasted on the nation. Having the Law Moses but without faith it was as though they were thrust out into the outer darkness. This is what the Parable teaches? The Age of Apostles began with such signs and wonders have now become rogue what with false shepherds going into politics! We who believer in our Saviour Lord ought to say, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Those planted by God shall be gathered for new heavens and the new earth. Those who belong to the outer darkness shall be cast out for the wrath of the Lamb. Of which those who find salvation shall be found on the earth and for them the light of the Lamb shall set their lives. "for the healing of the nations," they shall need the tree of life. Instead everlasting life their lives shall be covered according to months. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb./In midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."(Re.22:1-2
River of time brings this who were first to the last. How did it happen? Many are called but few are chosen since they did not gather with Christ. Even what they had they lost/
"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath./And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
What is darkness? Absence of light, of course. God separated light from darkness. John applies it to the nation of Israel. And the darkness comprehended it not." ( John 1:4) refers to the verse below. "He (Jesus Christ) came unto his own, and his own received him not." (1:10-11)The world and Israel in particular, did not receive for the reason they did not have the light in themselves. It is to which Jesus referred,"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"(Matt.6:23). In them the word as a seed meant nothing so it was as though God did not plant them at all. For this reason what fruits they could have produced? They were thistles and thorns only fit for fire.
Illustrations we can see how Israel became synonymous with outer darkness.
In Ex.24:3 Israel vows, "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do." They also saw God, " and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."(24:10) "In his clearness" was in effect was blind since they did not comprehend the true Light when he walked among the. In him was the light of men but where did they fail? "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."( 1 John 2:11).
Another time they said,"And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."(Ex.20:19) Did that help them when a voice from heaven sounded, "The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him."( John 12:29)
Hi Chris: Thank you for this response. I appreciate the time and thought that went into it. Your friend who changed the word sheep to pig, I'm sure did the best she thought she could but then didn't she have to do that when the bible talks about Jesus being a sacrificial Lamb? Anyway, we can continue these discussions but since my answer will always be "every jot and tittle in the KJB is written by God." Ephisians 1:1-23 This chapter is talking to the Church as being predestined. Anyway, it's late so we can talk some more tomorrow.
Wow! Jesse: You have me totally confused. Our whole discussion started because you said you believed the original writing were pure, which I took to mean inspired by the Holy Spirit but then when it comes to the KJB and other translations there is a problem and that is basically when we began our discussions on the matter. You know I believed that the KJB is inspired by the Holy Spirit so if you believe that also, what were we discussing? Also, I have been following the thread of our discussions through my email and I can tell you, Jesse, there hasn't been a single posting of your 37 parts on the comparison your doing. Are you sure sent them to me? So I guess we're not quite done, afterall. LOL. God Bless :)
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/ Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" What we read in the Book of Exodus illustrates this. Nevertheless the nation of Israel rehected his Son when he came into his own. Jesus speaks his 'woe to ye'' discourse in Matthew "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out./ And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."
In the day of Regeneration children of the kingdom shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel which were cast out into the outer darkness by Jesus. What is left on the earth the Gentiles and the Jews alike are part of a mixed race. There is no difference in Jesus Christ. It applies to those who are saved and they walk under the light of the Lamb. Re.21:24. The twelve tribes they shall be in eternity..
Ex.24:11 " Also they saw God, and did eat and drink."
The superscription refers to Re.19:17. The Day of Regeneration is called the supper of God to which the blessed of God are called and it is also by invitation, as God invited Moses and a select body to 'come up unto the Lord."
Before this let us discuss this passage from the Gospel of St Luke.
Having said a parable in Ch.13 Jesus tells the Jews thus, "Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets," he goes on to prophesy a great gathering "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."( Luke 13:29). Background of this is set forth in the Book of Exodus. He referred to the time the Israelites supped in the presence of God which we shall first consider. This event was by invitation and God commanded Moses,
"Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off." The Spirit is setting two days from the Day decreed for his Son. (Ps.2:6-7) So we are looking the two from the Alpha and Omega aspect of Jesus Christ.
Gospel of Salvation has its judgment upon the disobedient,and the day of Regeneration runs simultaneously. This is what new birth means. They are in the forever mode. God revealed himself first through the Law. And I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." The law is compared to the face. 'The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters-'Ge.1:2.It has the body of heaven, "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."(24:10) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
How sad, that from a translation, whether the KJB or RSV (as Urdu Bibles are taken from), believers are missing out on the richness of certain words. And to reiterate, this will always happen, for that is the nature of languages when translated (unless copious notes are also included to further explain or expand).
Sorry Momsage to hit you with such a long response, even though you probably were not looking for one from me. But thought to share in some detail, to show that what brother Jesse is meticulously reading & bringing out for us from the original Greek, should not only be helpful to us in our reading & study, but also to confirm that no translation (even our beloved KJB) can be a perfect rendering of the original. It's one of the best, though not perfect.
Now to Calvinism! No, I won't burden you with that also, but just to say, there are aspects of Calvin's beliefs (otherwise, summarized in those 5 points (five articles of faith: TULIP) accepted by the Synod of Dort in 1618 AD as being the "Rule of Faith" rather than accepting the presentation by the Arminians); that some aspects of Calvin's beliefs are worthy of consideration & acceptance, thereby not throwing out 'baby with the bath water'. Again, it all boils down to, how we read & understand the Scriptures. Thanks for your concern & input on these matters - they are read diligently. Every blessing Momsage.
If I might relate two examples (shared here a long while ago) with just word-for-word difficulties. A language translator missionary (I personally know her) doing her work amongst a tribal group in Papua New Guinea, came across Isaiah 53:6 as part of her work: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all". She couldn't get a word for 'sheep' in her target language, simply because they knew nothing of sheep/never seen one. Her dilemma: should she be faithful to the Word and use sheep, maybe giving them some type of picture & their habits to help them, or should she substitute the word for another. If she described a sheep to those with her now, others in later years reading the Bible, may not have the same benefit of her present teaching/translation. So she changed the word to 'pig' ('all we like pigs have gone astray'). Pigs they knew, for they herded them & seen them in the wild, with their propensity to wander off if left unwatched.
A personal example, when sharing from the Word in Pakistan with a Church group. Not having a good grip on Urdu (Pakistan's national language), I used a translator & as is always good practise, to go through the message with him so that he too can be prepared. I referred to 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins". 'Propitiation' is a big word even for English-speakers, so asked my translator for the Urdu word for it & how he understood it. He gave the word as 'kaffara', which simply means 'atonement'. I asked, "was that all it meant to him (& by extension to all Christians in Pakistan)?" He replied, "Yes, that is how we all read that verse", because they have no word for 'propitiation' = to appease, or satisfy God's Anger. Obviously, I had to explain further to both him & the congregation, its meaning.
Likewise, did Timothy & Titus also understand it in that way? Rather, we have a large group of translators (KJB), in the 17th Century AD, unable to render any other meaning to the Gk, episkopos (which is a superintendent, an overseer, an elder), simply because 'episkopos' was a bishop in the church of that day, but for us in the evangelical community, that is not how we should read it, as it gives us an incorrect understanding. Many of the recent translations change it to 'overseer' - I'm unsure whether any of them use 'elder'.
Now when we look at Acts 14:23 for example, the Gk, word for 'elder' is 'presbuteros', from which we get 'presbytery' (a body of Church elders & ministers). Yet, the KJB translators, being faithful to the Greek had to differentiate between the two (episkopos & presbuteros), which would have been meaningful to those of their day & Church structure, but forces us to re-word those passages to fit our present evangelical Church structure. Were the KJB translators or other modern translators wrong in what they've understood & translated? I don't believe so, they just did what they understood & from the material they had before them. So then back to the old question: how then do we decide which translation is the most accurate & inspired? Is it seen from the original manuscripts/original writings, or just believing that the KJB can be the only one from God for us today? For me, I only read & study from the KJB: it's the one I grew up with, memorized from & love. However, since it didn't come to us in English/modern English, I am constantly on guard to ensure that I am reading the Scriptures as originally given, without the culture & era of the translators impeding on my understanding. Yes, they were inspired to translate, but did so within the limitations of their time & with the understanding that no translation from one language to another can ever be perfect (differences in grammar, syntax, nuances, etc. always apply). Onto Page 2.
Dear Momsage. Thank you for your kind sentiments expressed here. I know that you, and so many others here, love the Lord with all their hearts & your desire is to bring forward your understanding from the Bible, and where there is a difference of opinion, then a good, hearty & loving discussion can ensue. I don't believe that a topic being discussed at great length as 'being run into the ground', since a discussion is as good as those who are prepared to engage in it & want to keep it going. If exchanges cease, then the topic ends, and as often is the case, without agreement, whether in full or part.
Concerning the inspiration of the KJB translation, I believe that brother Jesse has explained it very well, in that inspiration came in the original writings, when holy men of God & prophets had direct interactions with the LORD, or as in the case of Genesis, where Moses was so directed to pen those words or to access other writings from those preceding him, giving us the history. What we have now in our modern translations (including the KJB), is wholly dependent on the texts that they have derived from & the quality of the translators. Does this mean that those translators of the NIV, NASB, etc. were not inspired or diligent in their work? Or rather, their source material, though older, may not necessarily be the more reliable (for they even differ between each other, depending on which one is used or used in combination with the others).
Just as an example concerning the translators themselves: take 1 Timothy 3:1 or Titus 1:7, focussing on the word 'bishop'. Today, we envision a bishop as a senior member of a clergy, maybe in charge of a diocese & one who confers 'holy' orders to his parishes. As well, he robes himself in a long embroidered gown with a mitre on his head. Do you feel that Paul when writing those words in his letters pictured such an official person in the Church, so admirably dressed to lead Christ's Church? Onto Page 2.
Travel mercies and protection for Sarah R. and BW now and as they go out of town and back tomorrow and throughout the weekend, no weapon formed against them shall prosper, Lord keep them safe and happy, cancel all plans of the enemy against them and my family and I, in Jesus Name, Amen.
Another way that God's transcendence is expressed is in His royal and exalted glory and power.
Ps. 57:5, 97:9 speak of God being exalted above all else. He always is in the most high position from creation.
Deut. 4:39; Eccl. 5:2 speaks of God dwelling in heaven above, even the highest heavens. ) Ps 8:1, 57:5) None of us CAN go up to heaven to check Him out in His sovereign majesty. God had to come down to us in the Son for us to know what God s like. John 3 :13.
Ps. 113:5 says that He Himself is the most high ( Ps. 97:9)
So the term 'transcendence" s a convenient term to use to summarize these ways in which God is "above us"; in majesty, holiness, sovereignty, exaltation, glory, perfection, etc.
God is ontologically different and distinct from us that we can only describe Him adequately with our human language (this is called "ineffable). But in His immanence, He has revealed Himself in human terms, both verbally and in Jesus, the Son so that we can be redeemed and have fellowship with Him both now and forever. Jesus said, "This is eternal life, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent." ( John 17:3)
Though God is transcendent, He has spoken clearly and in language that we can understand with certainty His nature and actions. Romans 1:18-22 says this and that therefore no one can be blameless from ignorance.
Romans 11:33-36 does speak of His mystery, incomprehensibility, ineffability, and "deep things of God" that no man can know.
We can also understand God's transcendence as referring to his Lordship over all that is, to His power and right as the King of everything He has made in all of creation, to His sovereignty and authority over all creatures and in all of His will. This speaks to His omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-presence. ( Ps. 2:47; 93:1; 96:10-13; 97:4; 99:1)
His authority is His control over the moral sphere, over all things that happen in time, all circumstances, and all that w happen.
Lord you know how terrible these things are and that it is just a detail of many similar situations today. I pray that this grandchild is indeed transformed to a mighty warrior in the Lord. May it be as Malachi 4:6 states: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
May we claim these verses as well '
Psalm 8:2
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
Numbers 14:31
Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey-I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected.
I ask now that the spirit of New Age will not affect this child; nor doctrines of demons that are in society as well as being taught in many congregations. May it be truly a move of the Holy Ghost and make that clear to the father and her other siblings that this has occurred.
Before creation, there was only God. He existed forever as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a unified oneness of being. He is and always is one being with three distinct "persons" or centers of consciousness or "subsistences" each sharing eternally the one divine essence (nature) fully and equally. Before creation, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loved each other and were completely satisfied within the Being of the one Godhead. He was self-sufficient in all ways, in need of nothing outside of His one Being. No other being in creation is like this. And, since we are finite in all ways, we cannot wrap our minds fully around this quality of God. In this way, He is transcendent.
In His holiness, God is set apart from all He created, being transcendent and beyond the reach of any created being, especially in that humans are sinful and therefore rightly restrained from God's presence. God's glory in His transcendent holiness and majesty determines that no man can see the face of God and live. We will be consumed by His glory and wrath for sinfulness. He did not let Moses see His face (glory) in Exodus 33:20 because Moses was still in sinful flesh. The full revelation of God to mankind is reserved for the future. Now we know in part, but then we will know more fully. Isaiah 64:6-7 speaks to our unworthiness to be in fellowship with God and abide in His presence. "all of us have become like one who is unclean.."
God's holiness and righteousness forces God to turn His face away from what is sinful and keep Himself separate from anything and anyone sinful, impure, unclean, and less than perfect. But paradoxically, God does draw near to those who He redeems and it in this His immanence that any creature can have fellowship with Him and come to truly know Him. Jer. 23:23-24 speaks of this. It is also in His immanence that He controls and upholds the universe, in His work within history, time, and space, and in His plan to create and redeem.-- Pt. 3
God created heaven and earth Ge.1:1) The Spirit of God works Up and Down. It sets the Man component which the Scripture says in this fashion, " He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things."(Ep.4:10)
The Covenant promises blessings on man is in his Son. "(God) who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"(Ep.1:3) This man is created in our image and after our likeness" Accordingly seven days stipulate blessings in sequence. The man has fullness or volume since Christ's Advent and Ascension promises him Up Down and Across.
Jesus Christ commissions man with the promise,"and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."(Matt.28:20) Man is therefore equipped with the Spirit of Christ to understand the blessings to be had by abiding in Jesus Christ who is Alpha and Omega. (He.13:8)
What is faith then? It is for bearing fruits in his Son because His word abides in us and we are blessed as the tree "planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season." Notice the word season is used instead of time. Where does this river leads to? The day of Regeneration for the blessed is above while for those who rejected him is on the earth God in his infinite mercy allows pure water of life and the tree of life,"which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."(Re.22:1-2). This is the tree with the seed in itself and the everlasting covenant promises just that. Faith must be as though planted by God so fruits are proof of Christ in us. Gospel preaching does not require falcon jets or ostentatious ensemble to show off prosperity. God is going to give a mighty shaking so heaven shall rolled away like a scroll. Fall of Babylon is not put off indefinitely .Making Babylon great once again is what imposter churches root for.
I am always thankful for the prayers others on my behalf.
The law of diminishing returns which our natural man itself is subject to means that all pleasures in life at some point apart from the Lord are vanity. God's gifts are from above without variableness or shadow ( James 1:17 loosely translated). The enemy infuses evil spirits to gradually bring men from what appeared at first to be a wonderful experience to one of torment and bondage. No wonder he is described as an angel of light ( 2 Cor. 11:14).
Clearly then our enemy doesn't appear like a creature with horns and a pitchfork. His true ugliness isn't from the outer appearance but from the corrupted nature that he has instilled in the world system ( James 3:15). We could say the opposite about the Lord; He doesn't have to show off; and there isn't anything appealing to the flesh in Him. Of course we all will be flat on our faces when He comes but His beauty shows forth to us mainly in righteousness and through the remnant Body of believers who are sold out for Him. Only God knows who are His; but the lukewarm show no clear difference from the world at large and are neither transforming society with salt or light or being any real help to the remnant that are fighting through daily spiritual warfare and not being given aid on the battlefield.
God grants legal authority to Satan based on two things; one as with Job to demonstrate testing and trials on a righteous man to exalt him further in the end or two the most common thing someone has sin in their lives allowing the enemy to continue to work on holding someone in bondage so that he is rendered ineffective for the Kingdom of God.
The Lord makes it clear; that He is Lord and Master as well as Savior; that He doesn't tolerate any others in charge over His subjects. The sooner we realize that true freedom comes through serving the Lord and not to being served what the world offers the better off we will be. (see Luke 14:28).
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ( Psalm 103:2).
The scripture states in detail and multiple passages that we are to be crucified in Christ ( Gal. 2:20); the illustration of a seed from a dying plant going into the ground and renewing life ( John 12:24) and other verses on putting to death the old man and putting on the new ( Romans 8:12-13).
Nonetheless unlike the mindset of the world dying to self doesn't detract from our uniqueness or individuality. Our spirit testifies with His Spirit that we are children of God ( Romans 8:16).
I am not going to delve into whether the soul dies and the spirit lives upon death; in any case we are dead spiritually until salvation then alive after death ( 2 Cor. 5:8).
As with my last posting; the enemy has a plethora of "experiences" where it appears that some prophetic implications have been verified; other times there are parts of things often proven false and with enough delusion it seems some of the mega churches believe things that prove blatently false they are so deceived. Here are some things we often see.
1. Dreams or visions seem to come to pass. The enemy clearly has some insight on the future and can be involved in the lives of other people as well to bring about what appears to be our "soul mates" as a common tactic. The methodology to even the slightest discerning individual clearly is an attempt to lead one astray (as often is the case when people drift into affairs). Bringing someone what they want in what appears to be the exact thing we desire means we likely are ignoring James 4:3 in particular. The Lord doesn't work like a genie in a bottle to consume ourselves with our own lusts. He gives us what we truly need and teaches us to want things that He provides and reject cheap substitutes that have no lasting value for the Kingdom.
This shows we must heed Matthew 6:33 rather than putting ourselves first.
In MacBeth Shakespeare says in a famous quote "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." That is the basic view of meaninglessness much as Solomon states in Ecclesiastes of all the pleasures of the world apart from God.
When viewing Christ and His early miracles before He was to be revealed to the world and the ensuing factors that would essentially speed up the events leading to the crucifixion many times people were to tell no one who He was ( Mark 8:30; Matt. 16:20). The Pharisees were asking Him for a sign; which was not granted. The many miracles He performed were not accepted as from God and they were well aware of this; fearing that they would lose their position and nation ( John 11:48). He weeded out would be disciples with hard sayings (see John 6:66). Jesus knew that no man could even know who He was without Divine intervention ( John 6:44).
The enemy uses the opposite approach; Revelation 13 in particular shows how false signs and wonders deceive the masses. The enemy never holds back unless God Himself restricts him. We see many phenomenon which to an undiscerning mind cannot be differentiated from the truth; namely fire that appears to come down from heaven; a miraculous healing of a deadly wound; and a false prophet that no doubt uses whatever religion a person adheres to to convince someone that they are the ultimate fulfillment-hence their messiah.
Only the Lord can create anything from nothing; and that is seen in His miracles when on earth. He will continue as well with the new heaven and earth and our resurrection bodies. One could argue that the elements burning up in Peter merely means a reconfiguration of already existing matter; nonetheless our old world is destroyed and anew one commences. Exactly how our new bodies are made is a mystery but they will be immortal and incorruptible.
Simon was not merely a man of the street but was looked up as somebody in Samaria. "Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one. " He was there to make Samaria great again.
When he saw the baptism of Spirit his mercantile spirit had to have it. So his belief was disconnected from reality and he offered them (the apostles) money. Simon Peter "said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money./Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God./ Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee./ For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."(8:20-23)
What did Simon really believe in? Jesus Christ who humbled himself had the power and Authority and his obedience was the cement that made the Gospel take root. Faith it is called where no bond of iniquity can tie believer down. Where God gives him freely joy and peace there can be no room for bitterness. That is what faith with works do. Simon believed only in himself though his Jesus talk impressed the people of Samaria. It is same as many celebrity TV preachers catch head lines after some scandal and fall in disgrace, one gets to see that his belief was only in himself. This is what studying the word of God without faith has produced. Without light in you what witnessing can you possibly do? "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."(Ph.2:15)
"Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."
This chapter sets the Spirit leading Evangelist Philip in spreading the gospel of God. Gospel of God is one. When Jesus came from heaven he was the Lord of heaven and he gave how the Gospel shall spead. " He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."(Matt.10:40) In Lucan gospel the same Principle of Association is set in terms of hearing."He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16). Up and Down Gospel came as the Word become flesh. Now how the same Gospel reaches the outer most parts is by the power and authority of the risen Christ. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth./Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." Evangelist Philip was as much effective as the apostles because he was led by the Spirit.
Failure of Simon teaches the vital error of what went wrong with churches of our times. He who hears the word must hear with the ear of faith. Constantine the great heard the Gospel but he only heard it so he may succeed to the mantle of the Imperial Rome. He delayed baptism till the last moment so he would have bth cake and eat it as well. Hie ear of faith was tightly shut to hear the great joy his conversion caused among Devil and in his kingdom of darkness. Now the foolish shepherds have continued from where Caesar Constantine stopped and brought about so many heresies along with it, it is vital to examine what really went wrong.
None shall question Simon who himself believed so his baptism, unlike that of the Roman emperor, in good faith. Faith however did not connect with the authority and power of the risen Christ. He had to make money here and now.
"The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him."( John 12:29)All the blessings God promised in his Son were wasted on the nation. Having the Law Moses but without faith it was as though they were thrust out into the outer darkness. This is what the Parable teaches? The Age of Apostles began with such signs and wonders have now become rogue what with false shepherds going into politics! We who believer in our Saviour Lord ought to say, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Those planted by God shall be gathered for new heavens and the new earth. Those who belong to the outer darkness shall be cast out for the wrath of the Lamb. Of which those who find salvation shall be found on the earth and for them the light of the Lamb shall set their lives. "for the healing of the nations," they shall need the tree of life. Instead everlasting life their lives shall be covered according to months. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb./In midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations."(Re.22:1-2
River of time brings this who were first to the last. How did it happen? Many are called but few are chosen since they did not gather with Christ. Even what they had they lost/
"For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath./And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness."
What is darkness? Absence of light, of course. God separated light from darkness. John applies it to the nation of Israel. And the darkness comprehended it not." ( John 1:4) refers to the verse below. "He (Jesus Christ) came unto his own, and his own received him not." (1:10-11)The world and Israel in particular, did not receive for the reason they did not have the light in themselves. It is to which Jesus referred,"But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"(Matt.6:23). In them the word as a seed meant nothing so it was as though God did not plant them at all. For this reason what fruits they could have produced? They were thistles and thorns only fit for fire.
Illustrations we can see how Israel became synonymous with outer darkness.
In Ex.24:3 Israel vows, "All the words which the Lord hath said will we do." They also saw God, " and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."(24:10) "In his clearness" was in effect was blind since they did not comprehend the true Light when he walked among the. In him was the light of men but where did they fail? "But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes."( 1 John 2:11).
Another time they said,"And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die."(Ex.20:19) Did that help them when a voice from heaven sounded, "The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him."( John 12:29)
God Bless :)
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,/ Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" What we read in the Book of Exodus illustrates this. Nevertheless the nation of Israel rehected his Son when he came into his own. Jesus speaks his 'woe to ye'' discourse in Matthew "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out./ And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."
In the day of Regeneration children of the kingdom shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel which were cast out into the outer darkness by Jesus. What is left on the earth the Gentiles and the Jews alike are part of a mixed race. There is no difference in Jesus Christ. It applies to those who are saved and they walk under the light of the Lamb. Re.21:24. The twelve tribes they shall be in eternity..
" Also they saw God, and did eat and drink."
Ex.24:11 " Also they saw God, and did eat and drink."
The superscription refers to Re.19:17. The Day of Regeneration is called the supper of God to which the blessed of God are called and it is also by invitation, as God invited Moses and a select body to 'come up unto the Lord."
Before this let us discuss this passage from the Gospel of St Luke.
Having said a parable in Ch.13 Jesus tells the Jews thus, "Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets," he goes on to prophesy a great gathering "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."( Luke 13:29). Background of this is set forth in the Book of Exodus. He referred to the time the Israelites supped in the presence of God which we shall first consider. This event was by invitation and God commanded Moses,
"Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off." The Spirit is setting two days from the Day decreed for his Son. (Ps.2:6-7) So we are looking the two from the Alpha and Omega aspect of Jesus Christ.
Gospel of Salvation has its judgment upon the disobedient,and the day of Regeneration runs simultaneously. This is what new birth means. They are in the forever mode. God revealed himself first through the Law. And I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them." The law is compared to the face. 'The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters-'Ge.1:2.It has the body of heaven, "And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."(24:10) "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
We have gone through the topic earlier and I have nothing more to add,
I have mentioned what I believe as true. That is all
How sad, that from a translation, whether the KJB or RSV (as Urdu Bibles are taken from), believers are missing out on the richness of certain words. And to reiterate, this will always happen, for that is the nature of languages when translated (unless copious notes are also included to further explain or expand).
Sorry Momsage to hit you with such a long response, even though you probably were not looking for one from me. But thought to share in some detail, to show that what brother Jesse is meticulously reading & bringing out for us from the original Greek, should not only be helpful to us in our reading & study, but also to confirm that no translation (even our beloved KJB) can be a perfect rendering of the original. It's one of the best, though not perfect.
Now to Calvinism! No, I won't burden you with that also, but just to say, there are aspects of Calvin's beliefs (otherwise, summarized in those 5 points (five articles of faith: TULIP) accepted by the Synod of Dort in 1618 AD as being the "Rule of Faith" rather than accepting the presentation by the Arminians); that some aspects of Calvin's beliefs are worthy of consideration & acceptance, thereby not throwing out 'baby with the bath water'. Again, it all boils down to, how we read & understand the Scriptures. Thanks for your concern & input on these matters - they are read diligently. Every blessing Momsage.
If I might relate two examples (shared here a long while ago) with just word-for-word difficulties. A language translator missionary (I personally know her) doing her work amongst a tribal group in Papua New Guinea, came across Isaiah 53:6 as part of her work: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all". She couldn't get a word for 'sheep' in her target language, simply because they knew nothing of sheep/never seen one. Her dilemma: should she be faithful to the Word and use sheep, maybe giving them some type of picture & their habits to help them, or should she substitute the word for another. If she described a sheep to those with her now, others in later years reading the Bible, may not have the same benefit of her present teaching/translation. So she changed the word to 'pig' ('all we like pigs have gone astray'). Pigs they knew, for they herded them & seen them in the wild, with their propensity to wander off if left unwatched.
A personal example, when sharing from the Word in Pakistan with a Church group. Not having a good grip on Urdu (Pakistan's national language), I used a translator & as is always good practise, to go through the message with him so that he too can be prepared. I referred to 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins". 'Propitiation' is a big word even for English-speakers, so asked my translator for the Urdu word for it & how he understood it. He gave the word as 'kaffara', which simply means 'atonement'. I asked, "was that all it meant to him (& by extension to all Christians in Pakistan)?" He replied, "Yes, that is how we all read that verse", because they have no word for 'propitiation' = to appease, or satisfy God's Anger. Obviously, I had to explain further to both him & the congregation, its meaning.
Onto Page 4.
Likewise, did Timothy & Titus also understand it in that way? Rather, we have a large group of translators (KJB), in the 17th Century AD, unable to render any other meaning to the Gk, episkopos (which is a superintendent, an overseer, an elder), simply because 'episkopos' was a bishop in the church of that day, but for us in the evangelical community, that is not how we should read it, as it gives us an incorrect understanding. Many of the recent translations change it to 'overseer' - I'm unsure whether any of them use 'elder'.
Now when we look at Acts 14:23 for example, the Gk, word for 'elder' is 'presbuteros', from which we get 'presbytery' (a body of Church elders & ministers). Yet, the KJB translators, being faithful to the Greek had to differentiate between the two (episkopos & presbuteros), which would have been meaningful to those of their day & Church structure, but forces us to re-word those passages to fit our present evangelical Church structure. Were the KJB translators or other modern translators wrong in what they've understood & translated? I don't believe so, they just did what they understood & from the material they had before them. So then back to the old question: how then do we decide which translation is the most accurate & inspired? Is it seen from the original manuscripts/original writings, or just believing that the KJB can be the only one from God for us today? For me, I only read & study from the KJB: it's the one I grew up with, memorized from & love. However, since it didn't come to us in English/modern English, I am constantly on guard to ensure that I am reading the Scriptures as originally given, without the culture & era of the translators impeding on my understanding. Yes, they were inspired to translate, but did so within the limitations of their time & with the understanding that no translation from one language to another can ever be perfect (differences in grammar, syntax, nuances, etc. always apply). Onto Page 2.
Dear Momsage. Thank you for your kind sentiments expressed here. I know that you, and so many others here, love the Lord with all their hearts & your desire is to bring forward your understanding from the Bible, and where there is a difference of opinion, then a good, hearty & loving discussion can ensue. I don't believe that a topic being discussed at great length as 'being run into the ground', since a discussion is as good as those who are prepared to engage in it & want to keep it going. If exchanges cease, then the topic ends, and as often is the case, without agreement, whether in full or part.
Concerning the inspiration of the KJB translation, I believe that brother Jesse has explained it very well, in that inspiration came in the original writings, when holy men of God & prophets had direct interactions with the LORD, or as in the case of Genesis, where Moses was so directed to pen those words or to access other writings from those preceding him, giving us the history. What we have now in our modern translations (including the KJB), is wholly dependent on the texts that they have derived from & the quality of the translators. Does this mean that those translators of the NIV, NASB, etc. were not inspired or diligent in their work? Or rather, their source material, though older, may not necessarily be the more reliable (for they even differ between each other, depending on which one is used or used in combination with the others).
Just as an example concerning the translators themselves: take 1 Timothy 3:1 or Titus 1:7, focussing on the word 'bishop'. Today, we envision a bishop as a senior member of a clergy, maybe in charge of a diocese & one who confers 'holy' orders to his parishes. As well, he robes himself in a long embroidered gown with a mitre on his head. Do you feel that Paul when writing those words in his letters pictured such an official person in the Church, so admirably dressed to lead Christ's Church? Onto Page 2.
May God bless you and your precious family while you are going through this ordeal.
I pray for God's grace, mercy and compassion to be upon you, and that God relieves you of your worries and pour His healing power upon you.
In Jesus precious name.
God bless!
Thanks for extending your love and grace to me again and again to pray for answers to my requests.
PT. 3
Another way that God's transcendence is expressed is in His royal and exalted glory and power.
Ps. 57:5, 97:9 speak of God being exalted above all else. He always is in the most high position from creation.
Deut. 4:39; Eccl. 5:2 speaks of God dwelling in heaven above, even the highest heavens. ) Ps 8:1, 57:5) None of us CAN go up to heaven to check Him out in His sovereign majesty. God had to come down to us in the Son for us to know what God s like. John 3 :13.
Ps. 113:5 says that He Himself is the most high ( Ps. 97:9)
So the term 'transcendence" s a convenient term to use to summarize these ways in which God is "above us"; in majesty, holiness, sovereignty, exaltation, glory, perfection, etc.
God is ontologically different and distinct from us that we can only describe Him adequately with our human language (this is called "ineffable). But in His immanence, He has revealed Himself in human terms, both verbally and in Jesus, the Son so that we can be redeemed and have fellowship with Him both now and forever. Jesus said, "This is eternal life, to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent." ( John 17:3)
Though God is transcendent, He has spoken clearly and in language that we can understand with certainty His nature and actions. Romans 1:18-22 says this and that therefore no one can be blameless from ignorance.
Romans 11:33-36 does speak of His mystery, incomprehensibility, ineffability, and "deep things of God" that no man can know.
We can also understand God's transcendence as referring to his Lordship over all that is, to His power and right as the King of everything He has made in all of creation, to His sovereignty and authority over all creatures and in all of His will. This speaks to His omnipotence, omniscience, and omni-presence. ( Ps. 2:47; 93:1; 96:10-13; 97:4; 99:1)
His authority is His control over the moral sphere, over all things that happen in time, all circumstances, and all that w happen.
May we claim these verses as well '
Psalm 8:2
From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.
Numbers 14:31
Your children, however, whom you said would become a prey-I will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected.
I ask now that the spirit of New Age will not affect this child; nor doctrines of demons that are in society as well as being taught in many congregations. May it be truly a move of the Holy Ghost and make that clear to the father and her other siblings that this has occurred.
Maranatha. Rich P
Blessings.
pt 2
Before creation, there was only God. He existed forever as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a unified oneness of being. He is and always is one being with three distinct "persons" or centers of consciousness or "subsistences" each sharing eternally the one divine essence (nature) fully and equally. Before creation, God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit loved each other and were completely satisfied within the Being of the one Godhead. He was self-sufficient in all ways, in need of nothing outside of His one Being. No other being in creation is like this. And, since we are finite in all ways, we cannot wrap our minds fully around this quality of God. In this way, He is transcendent.
In His holiness, God is set apart from all He created, being transcendent and beyond the reach of any created being, especially in that humans are sinful and therefore rightly restrained from God's presence. God's glory in His transcendent holiness and majesty determines that no man can see the face of God and live. We will be consumed by His glory and wrath for sinfulness. He did not let Moses see His face (glory) in Exodus 33:20 because Moses was still in sinful flesh. The full revelation of God to mankind is reserved for the future. Now we know in part, but then we will know more fully. Isaiah 64:6-7 speaks to our unworthiness to be in fellowship with God and abide in His presence. "all of us have become like one who is unclean.."
God's holiness and righteousness forces God to turn His face away from what is sinful and keep Himself separate from anything and anyone sinful, impure, unclean, and less than perfect. But paradoxically, God does draw near to those who He redeems and it in this His immanence that any creature can have fellowship with Him and come to truly know Him. Jer. 23:23-24 speaks of this. It is also in His immanence that He controls and upholds the universe, in His work within history, time, and space, and in His plan to create and redeem.-- Pt. 3