I do not think you were implying I missed anything. I purposely left things out for others to add to a worthy discussion of the workings of the Holy Spirit in a believer.
I can understand how you do not want to get into a back and forth discussion about eternal security. This topic has been discussed at length in recent months. So we can let others chime in on that discussion topic.
I was just staying away from what might end up in a back and forward debate, so I was just easing in below the clouds to insert a relevant attribute of the Holyspirit that would go along with the theme that was presented by the poster.
"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him./After this manner therefore pray ye."
'Therefore' is a conjunctive adverb, used to connect prayer with the manner the heathen are wont to pray. Their much speaking however holds no faith which is covered up more mumbo-jumbo of their device. They have to be seen doing their tasks in full sight of the public so they are staking their claim to be 'holier-than thou'. Jesus warns,"Be not ye therefore like unto them.
Abiding life is not playing to the crowd. What you are God knows, as God the Husbandman knows what he has planted. " every good tree bringeth forth good fruit"(7:17). Abiding life is to hold a position as being so many branches to Jesus Christ the good vine.
We may view it as pictorial representation of Psalm 91:1. Under the shadow of God's protective care we abide nourished by the goodness of the true vine.
God knows our needs and He who did not spare His own Son for our sakes shall he not give everything pertaining to life and godliness? "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."( John 15:5)
It is in this context we set the Lord's Prayer on well grounded principles. Principle of Similitude sets the heaven in terms of the earth. God a Spirit and our fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,/Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " (Gal.5:22-23) Abiding in Christ we are living the Law which is what we mean by " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."(6:10)
Our daily bread is from the same table as in heaven. "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.:(15:26). Compare "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?"(7:9-11)
This interpretation gives God the glory for telling Abram the whole truth that his seed would not actually take possession of the promised land until 40 years after they left Egypt. Any interpretation that says God was promising Abraham that his seed would possess the land that fails to account for the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness has to suppose either that God for some reason intentionally left that out and misled Abram about the timing of the answer to his question in Gen 15:8, or that God didn't know about that delay until it occurred.
Both of those positions are much worse than saying that God did know about the wandering in the wilderness and did reveal a complete answer to Gen 15:8. At the same time, God left Abram and his seed uninformed on certain details, such as which nation Abram's seed would be enslaved by and why it would take another four generations before his seed got back to Hebron other than delaying His judgement on Abram's Amorite allies who had just helped him deliver Lot from captivity. God did not have to tell Abram that the generation that could have entered the land immediately upon leaving Egypt was going to rebel against God and create a 40 year delay.
If it is acknowledged that this prophesy includes the revelation of God's foreknowledge of Isreal's wandering in the wilderness directly connected with His determination to delay judgement on the Amorites, this prophesy actually becomes one of the earliest examples of God hiding in His revelation the mystery that Israel's rebellion and hardening was going to prove to be riches for the Gentiles.
Christ is the end of the law of Moses the law of sin and death as the old laws were just a shadow of things to come as it was dedicated by blood. In the new testament, the new laws of spirit of life is also dedicated by blood by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus' blood replaced those old commandments.
Hebrews 9:13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
[18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
[19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
[21] Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
[22] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
[24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Looks like you have it all backwards. Obey my parents only in the Lord in the new testament. Honour is the old testament.
Ephesians 6:1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
[2] Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
[3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The law Moses' commandments were weak laws, thry could not make people free from sin, they can not make people holy. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinfulflesh. The law can not make you the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The law of righteousness the ten commandments Jesus is now the end of all that as he is the head of the Ten commandments for righteousness sake. The old laws were not good enough.
Hebrews 10:[1] For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
[2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
[3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
[4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 7:11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
[12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
[13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
[14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
[15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
"And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
Isaiah gives us an infallible proof why our questions on His ways especially when we are faced with such gruesome violence and loss of innocent civilians including infants daily, are out of place. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord./ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is.55:8-9). What is happening in Gaza or elsewhere are not hidden from his sight. The Spirit has given an insight into his ways in the manner God sent Moses to fight the Amalekites. Before that God gave a clue to His ways when He gave the nation water out of a rock. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Ex.17:5). Moses and company first had to fix in their mind where he stood in their crisis. He stood upon the rock in Horeb.
When the Amalekites attacked them Moses was to stand upon the same rock, with his staff in hand. As the verse from Ps.91 states he stood under the shadow of his wings, the only place for a Christian to stand in relation to his Maker. He sees all our needs and trials even as Moses stood. He is our Jehovah nissi, banner of victory. So have we comes thus far. "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."(Ps.9s.91:8)
He has his ways and only way we can profit from is to to trust him totally. Amalekites would have never known but the word of God assures us. Jesus giving his 'Sermon on the Mount' is consistent with Zion from where our salvation comes. So help us God, Amen.
Yes, Steven Spencer, He does seal us. I knew some would come up with other works of the Holy Spirit. I did not want to "hog" all of it, but wanted to leave room for others to respond. He convicts the world of sin, said Jesus in the Last Supper discourse.
he comforts us, as Jesus called Him the Comforter. He advocates for us as a lawyer before a judge and Jesus called Him "Advocate".
Hi Carleton, yes, in this life we are bound by our sinful nature which corrupts both our body and soul. It is not just our body that sins, it is our soul also.
We will have a like resurrection as that of Jesus where our physical body is resurrected and reunited with our soul, but both our body and soul will be perfected and glorified. Our body is not any more evil than our soul, both are corrupted by our sinful nature and need redemption. It is clear from Scripture that God has shown us in the resurrection of His Son that we all will have a bodily resurrection. How the life to come will be for us as body, soul, and spirit, we just cannot know in this life, but Scripture is clear, that we will be like Jesus in His human nature, perfectly whole, complete, sinless, and glorified.
I pray for anyone who is troubled right now to find peace in Jesus name. He told us in John 14 NOT to let our be troubled or alarmed. I pray for peace in your spirit, mind, and soul in Jesus name.
Most commentaries online take the 4th generation mentioned in Genesis 15:16 as just another way of describing the same span of 400 years (or 430 years) that the nation of Israel spent in Egypt which is covered in Genesis 15:12-14. This cannot be the case.
Genesis 15:16 answers Abraham's question in Genesis 15:8 about how he would know God would cause his seed to inherit the land God had brought him out of Ur to see that Abram was standing on in Hebron. The thought of asking God about when his seed would leave Egypt had nothing to do with Abrams question in Genesis 15:8, since he knew nothing about his seed going to Egypt until God revealed His plan in Genesis 15:12-14.
Numbers 14:13-25 shows that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness according to Moses word, which specifically acknowledged God's right to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the 3rd and 4th generations. The 1st generation that left Egypt punished as the fathers was 20 years old at the census in Numbers 1:1-54. The 2nd generation was their children who were born in Egypt and seen God's wonders, but who could not enter God's promised land until 40 years of wandering with their fathers had passed. That generation spent a maximum of 40 years of their years in military service wandering in the wilderness.
The 3rd generation would be born over the first 20 years in the wilderness and would spend a maximum of 20 years of their military service wandering in the wilderness. The 4th generation was born in the last 20 years in the wilderness and first served in the army after entering the promised land. The 5th generation spent no time in the wilderness and began entering the army 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
Caleb was promised Hebron when he was 85 years old, which was 5 years after Israel left the wilderness. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah, the first tribe to gain its inheritance, and he obtained Hebron before he turned 100, the age he would be 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth(JESUS was the sower of the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom), and ANOTHER reapeth.
Matthew 13:27 and 30:
27 ... Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
30 Let both grow together until the harvest(said JESUS around 2000 years ago): and in the time of harvest (the time arrived) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life ETERNAL: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 combined with Revelation 14:14-20
Heavenly Father, I agree with Angmbryan7. Bless him by meeting his every need for himself and his family. Healings and deliverances we claim in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ.
All for Your honor and glory, Heavenly Father through Your son Jesus Christ. Amen
Hello, one thing to note is that according to Dan. ch 7 we learn that the "prophetic" timeline consist of each day representing a literal year. 360 day Jewish year actually. As the 70 weeks allows us to understand. It was of course 490 "years"until the Messiah was revealed. These "time prophecies" are actually consistent on this.
You don't realize that the "moral law" still stands. The "ceremonial law" was a schoolmaster showing the redeemer to come. Which one of those "commandments" am I allowed to trample on?.. Adultery? it's ok, I'm not "under the law" right?.. Honoring my parents?.. nah, why should I? Not under the law right?.. you may want to study further as to what a ceremonial "sabbath" is, and what the eternal "moral" law is. 1 cor 7:19.. explain what are these "commandments"? Revelation 14:12.. what are these "commandments"?
Thanks for your comment to post. Unfortunately, in my response to Chris's post, I forgot to mention the fact that I can also know why God gave us/me His Spirit when I came to Him as a repentant sinner. Because the Spirit is within me to do God the Father's will. The Spirit directs my path, convicts my conscience, and reassures me that when I sin and confess, God forgives and we continue on. He corrects me, humbles me before I get in trouble and is my everyday companion, though sometimes I may not act like He's around. He points me to Jesus always, and Jesus points me to His Father and tells me to keep going and not quit.
One of my many favorite stories in the Word is where Paul is in Athens at Mar's Hill and preaches to them the fact that God is not far from any of us ( Acts 17:27), He's only a prayer away from the vilest sinner and that was me at one time. Thank you, Shabbat Keeper, for allowing me to correct myself, and blessings to you.
Heavenly Father, I along with RicoUS and Gigi, ask You to answer our prayers. Many of Your children are desperate for various difficulties, illnesses. Please heal All of us. Psalms 27:7
We want to show off Your work. Habakkuk 3:2, "O LORD, I have heard Your word, and was afraid: O LORD revive thy workin wrath remember mercy."
Bless the prayer meeting that RicoUS will have this Friday. Amen
Perhaps in the beginning the year was 12- 30 day divisions (360) days and perhaps the lunar month was also 30 days each. But a major cataclysmic occurrence like the flood or a meteor strike could have altered the orbit of the earth and moon along with the axis of the earth being tilted.
I think that this happened at some time in history. But with that being said. Nothing in the New Testament tells us that we are to gauge the yearly calendar by the Jewish method. What God asked of the Israelites in Exodus, and Deuteronomy and Leviticus was specifically for them at that time in history. In the world at that time people groups had their own calendars with their feast days and holy days and pagan celebrations. God wanted the Israelites to have this calendar He instituted so that this people would remain separate and distinct from the pagan peoples around them, celebrating the feasts, ordinances, and holy days He decided for them (which all point to Christ in some way).
In the Christian era, with Jesus being the completion of the promises, prophecies and fulfillment of all OT Scriptures, a calendar reflecting the life and works of Christ is more appropriate and is not prohibited in the NT writings. Paul says that each of us are to keep feast days, holy days, or Sabbaths according to our conscience or not according to our conscience and that whatever is not of faith is sin. In other words, Paul is saying that these aspects of a calendar year are inconsequential in following Jesus. He is our rule and guide for doctrine and faith.
Having an accurate calendar system helps the Christian family over the centuries with its consistency, aiding in our celebrating Jesus' life, death and resurrection and in conducting life and business in the world we must work in but not be overtaken by worldly ways that are sinful.
So, those who want to follow a Hebrew type of calendar do not sin, and those wish to follow a solar year calendar does not sin either.
Evening meditation. God's wisdom will change our mortal bodies to eternal as they were in the beginning before the fall. The body is of the corrupted seed. Jesus in a perfect body overcame the world and opened the door to heaven for the believer. Like Daniel we can pray openly, without shame, and commune with our God by Jesus Christ. We are free in Christ by our free soul, covered by the blood and washed by the living water of our Lord. In the Kingdom of God there is the blood bought Church which has blood bought members in peace and in unity and in fellowship with one another. They form a better body of faith together, in hope together of eternal life in the Throne of God. In this life in earth the journey has begun for the new in Life but we must at the appointed time shed this earthen vessel for a heavenly vessel as the earthen vessel is subject to this earth and not the Kingdom in Heaven. The Christian is literally in the world but not of the world if we remain faithful to the heavenly body by the Church as Jesus is her head. Someday He will take her to heaven and marry her forever in His Eternal Home at the Throne of God. This body now, the earthen vessel by Grace can remain bound to the Hope in Heaven
like an engagement ring. And yet the body with a spirit made clean is now a symbol or a type for our remaining hours on the earth of the work of Jesus Christ, where this pilgrimage began. Our memory is best at the Cross where we are made common in heavenly places. And so while here as pilgrims and strangers on and in earth we can share the Gospel story of Peace in man.
I do understand that God set out the day for the new year in Exodus 12:2.
It seems that the Jewish calendar eventually became a solar-lunar one with the knowledge of a true orbit of the earth to be 365 days and some part of a day-about 1/4th. The Jewish nation from the exile in Babylon began to use the Babylonian calendar. Julius Caesar began the Roman calendar in 45 B.C. both of these calendars left many days unaccounted for and a need to add months at intervals. The Julian Calendar was revised to a 364 day year, but then this left open one day and 1/4 each year to be made up. The Gregorian calendar was eventually introduced with a 365 day year with a day added to February every 4th year if this day year could be divided by 400.
The Gregorian calendar became the international calendar eventually although some people groups still kept their own particular calendars such as the Jews, Chinese, Persians, Hindu, etc.
Genesis 1:14 says that God put the sun, moon, and stars to give light to the earth and to be used for signs, for seasons, for days, and years. So for me, in the beginning, God declared that all these celestial objects were to be used in creating a calendar that aligns with the equinoxes of the seasons. When science was able to calculate the orbit of the earth more accurately a more accurate calendar year could be set forth. The Gregorian calendar requires only the addition of one day every 4 years instead of weeks and months at the end of the year as the Jewish calendar does.
I find nothing evil or wrong about using a calendar system that most accurately accounts for the days in a year most closely. The Gregorian calendar is such a calendar and keeps the equinoxes in stable positions in the year more than any other calendar used today. It is not perfect, but it works better than any other calendar at this time;
Can man (the believer who is truly saved, having experienced all of the above), then undo what God has done, drawing himself away into perdition through an unholy desire, & without the immediate intervention of the Spirit within him who has loved Him, sealed him & secured him into the family of God? I know some do believe that we can of our own volition do such a thing & they've even given proof, but the Word clearly shows us that God makes no mistakes, yet we do err when we fail to understand that we simply cannot judge another's salvation or how the Spirit is at work in that wayward one's life to draw him back.
We can never correctly discern a person's salvation before God - we must accept & love all who claim faith in Christ alone, building them up in the faith, & watching out for signs of weakness or departure, but salvation is only of the Lord & He knows His sheep & by their name - not one of his own can stray away for very long. But can even that one sheep decide that he no longer wishes to be under the watchful Eye & Care of the Shepherd or to live amongst that special flock? I believe that God's indwelling & continual ministry of His Spirit in his children will keep them true to Him, even under the greatest pressure, testing or persecution. But "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" ( Romans 8:8), should affirm our hearts & keep us confident that not one of His Own shall be lost or even have any desire to depart into the world & sin.
Hi Valmar. Thanks for addressing my question & I do agree with you on the incomprehensible Work of the Spirit in giving healing, exhortation, etc. What I was looking for pertains to your subject, viz. a believer's eternal security. And also to a comment you made, "the ability to lose one's salvation rests completely with that individual".
The way I understand the Scriptures, is that if we have the ability, or power, to lose/relinquish our salvation, then it presents questions not only to the Spirit's Work in saving a lost soul, but also the power we have to over-ride what the Spirit has done in our lives. Clearly, you believe that a saved sinner can either choose to depart Christ or to remain faithful to Him. My question then is: is it in the new spiritual make-up of the one now found 'in Christ' to ever desire to leave the One Who has delivered Him from so great a penalty & given him a new life with peace, joy & hope? Here, I'm not referring to a saved soul who through negligence or appeal of the flesh or Satan, strays & toys with the world. I'm confident if that soul is saved, then the Spirit will not let him go; and Momsage shared an apt testimony of this very work of God in her & her husband.
So to my question, I believe the more relevant Work of the Holy Spirit in one's life is that: He Convicts man of his sin ( John 16:8-11); He Regenerates, or gives re-birth to the penitent sinner ( John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 2:29); He Indwells ( 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 5:5, John 14:16); He Baptizes ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5); and He Seals ( 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30). I'm sure you're conversant with these Scriptures, showing that salvation & securing is all of God, without any contribution from man. To Page 2.
Thank you brother S. Spencer - all truth in what you've shared here. Especially, when the Gospel message should be our only focus to save errant souls from a Christ-less eternity. And yet we have here in this KJBO Site, the opportunity to engage with others (believers & non-believers alike) to discuss questions & other matters of interest. Often they are quite beneficial as my own reading of the Scriptures are sometimes challenged & I need to make the effort to not permit strongly held beliefs to influence what I read from others. A hard thing to do, but when one puts himself in the other's shoes, he can understand the matter in a more informed way - and this can only happen within a back-and-forth discussion. Nothing may come of it, but may just cause all who read the thread to re-look at those relevant Scriptures in a new way. The Holy Spirit certainly uses any number of ways to draw us to His Truth - hopefully, each one of us comes in with that understanding & of the grave responsibility in sharing to such a wide audience. Blessings.
Well, if she is, I would ask her to identify herself as such for us, not change her screen name, but just say: AKA:Sascha at the end of one of her posts under current screen name.
Same thing with Earl, He can just add AKA:ELB at the end of his posts under his current screen name.
We do wonder and care about those who have participated here and when one changes their screen name, it would be good to know the previous name they went by so we can have continuity of relationship and know who we are interacting with and praying for.
But if it is true that people from a year or so past are still posting here only a different screen name and not willing to identify themselves to their past name, (or to say clearly: I am not 'so-and-so when asked point blank) then it would seem to me that they want to be deceptive about their identity to those of us here. And if that is so, then I would think that to be reason be cautious, prayerful, and clear in our conversation with such people even more so.
Praying you have a wonderful day today in the Lord.
I think that Chris was giving an honest presentation of his view about this topic. I know him to always be gracious in his posts.
I do not think you were implying I missed anything. I purposely left things out for others to add to a worthy discussion of the workings of the Holy Spirit in a believer.
I can understand how you do not want to get into a back and forth discussion about eternal security. This topic has been discussed at length in recent months. So we can let others chime in on that discussion topic.
I wasn't saying you missed anything,
I was just staying away from what might end up in a back and forward debate, so I was just easing in below the clouds to insert a relevant attribute of the Holyspirit that would go along with the theme that was presented by the poster.
"The perpetual discussion on eternal security"
(We are sealed unto the day of redemption.)
God bless
Amen.
"Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him./After this manner therefore pray ye."
'Therefore' is a conjunctive adverb, used to connect prayer with the manner the heathen are wont to pray. Their much speaking however holds no faith which is covered up more mumbo-jumbo of their device. They have to be seen doing their tasks in full sight of the public so they are staking their claim to be 'holier-than thou'. Jesus warns,"Be not ye therefore like unto them.
Abiding life is not playing to the crowd. What you are God knows, as God the Husbandman knows what he has planted. " every good tree bringeth forth good fruit"(7:17). Abiding life is to hold a position as being so many branches to Jesus Christ the good vine.
We may view it as pictorial representation of Psalm 91:1. Under the shadow of God's protective care we abide nourished by the goodness of the true vine.
God knows our needs and He who did not spare His own Son for our sakes shall he not give everything pertaining to life and godliness? "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."( John 15:5)
It is in this context we set the Lord's Prayer on well grounded principles. Principle of Similitude sets the heaven in terms of the earth. God a Spirit and our fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,/Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. " (Gal.5:22-23) Abiding in Christ we are living the Law which is what we mean by " Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."(6:10)
Our daily bread is from the same table as in heaven. "It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.:(15:26). Compare "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?"(7:9-11)
Both of those positions are much worse than saying that God did know about the wandering in the wilderness and did reveal a complete answer to Gen 15:8. At the same time, God left Abram and his seed uninformed on certain details, such as which nation Abram's seed would be enslaved by and why it would take another four generations before his seed got back to Hebron other than delaying His judgement on Abram's Amorite allies who had just helped him deliver Lot from captivity. God did not have to tell Abram that the generation that could have entered the land immediately upon leaving Egypt was going to rebel against God and create a 40 year delay.
If it is acknowledged that this prophesy includes the revelation of God's foreknowledge of Isreal's wandering in the wilderness directly connected with His determination to delay judgement on the Amorites, this prophesy actually becomes one of the earliest examples of God hiding in His revelation the mystery that Israel's rebellion and hardening was going to prove to be riches for the Gentiles.
Hebrews 9:13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
[14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
[15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
[16] For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
[17] For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
[18] Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
[19] For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
[20] Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
[21] Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
[22] And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
[23] It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
[24] For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
Ephesians 6:1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
[2] Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
[3] That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
The law Moses' commandments were weak laws, thry could not make people free from sin, they can not make people holy. God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinfulflesh. The law can not make you the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. The law of righteousness the ten commandments Jesus is now the end of all that as he is the head of the Ten commandments for righteousness sake. The old laws were not good enough.
Hebrews 10:[1] For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
[2] For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
[3] But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
[4] For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 7:11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
[12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
[13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
[14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
[15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
"And thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly."
Isaiah gives us an infallible proof why our questions on His ways especially when we are faced with such gruesome violence and loss of innocent civilians including infants daily, are out of place. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord./ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Is.55:8-9). What is happening in Gaza or elsewhere are not hidden from his sight. The Spirit has given an insight into his ways in the manner God sent Moses to fight the Amalekites. Before that God gave a clue to His ways when He gave the nation water out of a rock. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel." (Ex.17:5). Moses and company first had to fix in their mind where he stood in their crisis. He stood upon the rock in Horeb.
When the Amalekites attacked them Moses was to stand upon the same rock, with his staff in hand. As the verse from Ps.91 states he stood under the shadow of his wings, the only place for a Christian to stand in relation to his Maker. He sees all our needs and trials even as Moses stood. He is our Jehovah nissi, banner of victory. So have we comes thus far. "A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee."(Ps.9s.91:8)
He has his ways and only way we can profit from is to to trust him totally. Amalekites would have never known but the word of God assures us. Jesus giving his 'Sermon on the Mount' is consistent with Zion from where our salvation comes. So help us God, Amen.
he comforts us, as Jesus called Him the Comforter. He advocates for us as a lawyer before a judge and Jesus called Him "Advocate".
We will have a like resurrection as that of Jesus where our physical body is resurrected and reunited with our soul, but both our body and soul will be perfected and glorified. Our body is not any more evil than our soul, both are corrupted by our sinful nature and need redemption. It is clear from Scripture that God has shown us in the resurrection of His Son that we all will have a bodily resurrection. How the life to come will be for us as body, soul, and spirit, we just cannot know in this life, but Scripture is clear, that we will be like Jesus in His human nature, perfectly whole, complete, sinless, and glorified.
Can't wait!
Genesis 15:16 answers Abraham's question in Genesis 15:8 about how he would know God would cause his seed to inherit the land God had brought him out of Ur to see that Abram was standing on in Hebron. The thought of asking God about when his seed would leave Egypt had nothing to do with Abrams question in Genesis 15:8, since he knew nothing about his seed going to Egypt until God revealed His plan in Genesis 15:12-14.
Numbers 14:13-25 shows that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness according to Moses word, which specifically acknowledged God's right to visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the 3rd and 4th generations. The 1st generation that left Egypt punished as the fathers was 20 years old at the census in Numbers 1:1-54. The 2nd generation was their children who were born in Egypt and seen God's wonders, but who could not enter God's promised land until 40 years of wandering with their fathers had passed. That generation spent a maximum of 40 years of their years in military service wandering in the wilderness.
The 3rd generation would be born over the first 20 years in the wilderness and would spend a maximum of 20 years of their military service wandering in the wilderness. The 4th generation was born in the last 20 years in the wilderness and first served in the army after entering the promised land. The 5th generation spent no time in the wilderness and began entering the army 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
Caleb was promised Hebron when he was 85 years old, which was 5 years after Israel left the wilderness. Caleb was from the tribe of Judah, the first tribe to gain its inheritance, and he obtained Hebron before he turned 100, the age he would be 20 years into Joshua's campaign.
John 4:35-37 - JESUS said:
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth(JESUS was the sower of the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom), and ANOTHER reapeth.
Matthew 13:27 and 30:
27 ... Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
30 Let both grow together until the harvest(said JESUS around 2000 years ago): and in the time of harvest (the time arrived) I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together FIRST the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life ETERNAL: that both he that soweth(JESUS sowed) and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 combined with Revelation 14:14-20
GOD bless
All for Your honor and glory, Heavenly Father through Your son Jesus Christ. Amen
One of my many favorite stories in the Word is where Paul is in Athens at Mar's Hill and preaches to them the fact that God is not far from any of us ( Acts 17:27), He's only a prayer away from the vilest sinner and that was me at one time. Thank you, Shabbat Keeper, for allowing me to correct myself, and blessings to you.
We want to show off Your work. Habakkuk 3:2, "O LORD, I have heard Your word, and was afraid: O LORD revive thy workin wrath remember mercy."
Bless the prayer meeting that RicoUS will have this Friday. Amen
Perhaps in the beginning the year was 12- 30 day divisions (360) days and perhaps the lunar month was also 30 days each. But a major cataclysmic occurrence like the flood or a meteor strike could have altered the orbit of the earth and moon along with the axis of the earth being tilted.
I think that this happened at some time in history. But with that being said. Nothing in the New Testament tells us that we are to gauge the yearly calendar by the Jewish method. What God asked of the Israelites in Exodus, and Deuteronomy and Leviticus was specifically for them at that time in history. In the world at that time people groups had their own calendars with their feast days and holy days and pagan celebrations. God wanted the Israelites to have this calendar He instituted so that this people would remain separate and distinct from the pagan peoples around them, celebrating the feasts, ordinances, and holy days He decided for them (which all point to Christ in some way).
In the Christian era, with Jesus being the completion of the promises, prophecies and fulfillment of all OT Scriptures, a calendar reflecting the life and works of Christ is more appropriate and is not prohibited in the NT writings. Paul says that each of us are to keep feast days, holy days, or Sabbaths according to our conscience or not according to our conscience and that whatever is not of faith is sin. In other words, Paul is saying that these aspects of a calendar year are inconsequential in following Jesus. He is our rule and guide for doctrine and faith.
Having an accurate calendar system helps the Christian family over the centuries with its consistency, aiding in our celebrating Jesus' life, death and resurrection and in conducting life and business in the world we must work in but not be overtaken by worldly ways that are sinful.
So, those who want to follow a Hebrew type of calendar do not sin, and those wish to follow a solar year calendar does not sin either.
like an engagement ring. And yet the body with a spirit made clean is now a symbol or a type for our remaining hours on the earth of the work of Jesus Christ, where this pilgrimage began. Our memory is best at the Cross where we are made common in heavenly places. And so while here as pilgrims and strangers on and in earth we can share the Gospel story of Peace in man.
It seems that the Jewish calendar eventually became a solar-lunar one with the knowledge of a true orbit of the earth to be 365 days and some part of a day-about 1/4th. The Jewish nation from the exile in Babylon began to use the Babylonian calendar. Julius Caesar began the Roman calendar in 45 B.C. both of these calendars left many days unaccounted for and a need to add months at intervals. The Julian Calendar was revised to a 364 day year, but then this left open one day and 1/4 each year to be made up. The Gregorian calendar was eventually introduced with a 365 day year with a day added to February every 4th year if this day year could be divided by 400.
The Gregorian calendar became the international calendar eventually although some people groups still kept their own particular calendars such as the Jews, Chinese, Persians, Hindu, etc.
Genesis 1:14 says that God put the sun, moon, and stars to give light to the earth and to be used for signs, for seasons, for days, and years. So for me, in the beginning, God declared that all these celestial objects were to be used in creating a calendar that aligns with the equinoxes of the seasons. When science was able to calculate the orbit of the earth more accurately a more accurate calendar year could be set forth. The Gregorian calendar requires only the addition of one day every 4 years instead of weeks and months at the end of the year as the Jewish calendar does.
I find nothing evil or wrong about using a calendar system that most accurately accounts for the days in a year most closely. The Gregorian calendar is such a calendar and keeps the equinoxes in stable positions in the year more than any other calendar used today. It is not perfect, but it works better than any other calendar at this time;
cont.
Can man (the believer who is truly saved, having experienced all of the above), then undo what God has done, drawing himself away into perdition through an unholy desire, & without the immediate intervention of the Spirit within him who has loved Him, sealed him & secured him into the family of God? I know some do believe that we can of our own volition do such a thing & they've even given proof, but the Word clearly shows us that God makes no mistakes, yet we do err when we fail to understand that we simply cannot judge another's salvation or how the Spirit is at work in that wayward one's life to draw him back.
We can never correctly discern a person's salvation before God - we must accept & love all who claim faith in Christ alone, building them up in the faith, & watching out for signs of weakness or departure, but salvation is only of the Lord & He knows His sheep & by their name - not one of his own can stray away for very long. But can even that one sheep decide that he no longer wishes to be under the watchful Eye & Care of the Shepherd or to live amongst that special flock? I believe that God's indwelling & continual ministry of His Spirit in his children will keep them true to Him, even under the greatest pressure, testing or persecution. But "if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" ( Romans 8:8), should affirm our hearts & keep us confident that not one of His Own shall be lost or even have any desire to depart into the world & sin.
Hi Valmar. Thanks for addressing my question & I do agree with you on the incomprehensible Work of the Spirit in giving healing, exhortation, etc. What I was looking for pertains to your subject, viz. a believer's eternal security. And also to a comment you made, "the ability to lose one's salvation rests completely with that individual".
The way I understand the Scriptures, is that if we have the ability, or power, to lose/relinquish our salvation, then it presents questions not only to the Spirit's Work in saving a lost soul, but also the power we have to over-ride what the Spirit has done in our lives. Clearly, you believe that a saved sinner can either choose to depart Christ or to remain faithful to Him. My question then is: is it in the new spiritual make-up of the one now found 'in Christ' to ever desire to leave the One Who has delivered Him from so great a penalty & given him a new life with peace, joy & hope? Here, I'm not referring to a saved soul who through negligence or appeal of the flesh or Satan, strays & toys with the world. I'm confident if that soul is saved, then the Spirit will not let him go; and Momsage shared an apt testimony of this very work of God in her & her husband.
So to my question, I believe the more relevant Work of the Holy Spirit in one's life is that: He Convicts man of his sin ( John 16:8-11); He Regenerates, or gives re-birth to the penitent sinner ( John 3:3-7, Titus 3:5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 2:29); He Indwells ( 1 Corinthians 6:19, Romans 5:5, John 14:16); He Baptizes ( 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5); and He Seals ( 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 4:30). I'm sure you're conversant with these Scriptures, showing that salvation & securing is all of God, without any contribution from man. To Page 2.
There's one other thing the Holyspirit does that is very much in context with this post is he "Holyspirit" seals us.
Ephesians 4:30.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, WHEREBY YE ARE SEALED (UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION).
I've noticed it for some time now.
God bless.
Same thing with Earl, He can just add AKA:ELB at the end of his posts under his current screen name.
We do wonder and care about those who have participated here and when one changes their screen name, it would be good to know the previous name they went by so we can have continuity of relationship and know who we are interacting with and praying for.
But if it is true that people from a year or so past are still posting here only a different screen name and not willing to identify themselves to their past name, (or to say clearly: I am not 'so-and-so when asked point blank) then it would seem to me that they want to be deceptive about their identity to those of us here. And if that is so, then I would think that to be reason be cautious, prayerful, and clear in our conversation with such people even more so.