Romans 4:2-4, "2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."
Above it says that Abraham was justified by his faith. Let's see how James describes Abraham's justification.
James 2:21-22, "21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?"
In contrast? No,not really. What James says is that a working faith must result in good works, otherwise it is considered dead, v26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Is James talking to atheists or christians? Definitely his epistle is addressed to christians. What does he tell them? That their faith must produce works in order for them to be justified
Since some of us hold the idea that if we are regenerated and the Spirit of God dwells in us, then it is inevitable for us to produce works, then we must explain, "was Abraham somehow obliged by his faith to sacrifice his son or it was up to him, his free will, to decide whether he wanted to sacrifice Isaac or not? The answer is that it was up to him. He could had decided not to sacrifice Isaac. It was entirely up to him, not to God. God had nothing to do with his decision to obey or not.
Similarly our obedience to God and the subsequent production of works in our life is not an automatic process like somehow we are programmed to do works, but it is entirely up to us. We can, but we can not do what the Spirit commands. When are we justified? When we decide to have works that result from our obedience to do what we read in the Bible. Otherwise our faith is in vain, dead, resulting in no salvation. All that is not on God, it is on us
Since some of us hold the doctrine of regeneration preceding faith, let's go and examine the case of Abraham.
Romans 4:2-3, " 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
Romans 4:9-11,"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: ..."
If one holds the idea that a unregenerated heart can not believe and repent, then they must explain how it was possible for Abraham to believe in God so that his faith was reckoned for righteousness. Was Abraham already regenerated when he believed to God or not?
Firstly regeneration did not exist before Christ.
Second, verse 10 says that he believed in God when he was uncircumcised and so he received the sign of circumcition for his faith. If we correspond corcumcision in the OT with new birth in the NT, then we conclude that faith precedes new birth.
Romans 4:23-24, "23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"
Here is scripture from my earlier post that applies to your question.
1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: (AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY) ...BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
John 1:7-9 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. "That was the true Light, which lighteth EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD.
John 3:15-18. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELEIVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
Here is one that is overlooked. 1 Peter 2:1.
It speaks of those that denied the Lord that bought them.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, EVEN DENYING THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM, AND BRING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION.
The people he is talking about is not saved. They DENIED the Lord.
but the Lord's purchase was applied to them if they would accept it.
Thanks again for replying and sorry for such a long delay in me responding, as I mentioned I have been very busy throughout the week.
I have read through the comments.
David, I don't think I can improve on anything that Brothers Chris, Giannis, Ronald and others have shared.
I do not hold the view that you and GiGi has shared.
Here is what I would share with you in answering your question to me.
You asked.
"If Christ indeed paid the full penalty required by the law of God for every sin of every person, how then would anyone stand guilty before the law, their debt having been paid?
David, as I said in an earlier post, "the invitation went out to ALL the world" I have provided verses.
Here's my reasoning.
Romans 5:18. "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
We can draw a picture out of the writing to the Hebrews concerning Israel.
We are to join him (God) in his rest.
Hebrews 4:2-11.
Here is how we Join him, vs 3- For we which have believed do enter into rest,
There is a lot more said in this verse alone concerning this topic.
1) This rest was pre-ordained from the foundation of the world. "If" they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
2) There is a condition that has to be met. "IF" they shall enter into my rest.
3) You have to believe to enter into the rest.
Verses 10-11. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Do you notice verse 11? (Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,) lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The only way to enter in is to believe and the only way "not to enter in" is unbelief.
All truth is in God's WORD destroying the WORKS of SATAN.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into and ANGEL OF LIGHT
Matthew 12:28 If I (TRUTH) cast out devils by the Spirit of God, theis the KINGDOM of GOD has come unto you.
God does his work in AGES, there has been AGES before the AGE we are currently in, and there are AGES to come.
IN the AGE we are a presently in God is calling out a priesthood to be judges of those those billions who never heard the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the ones that did hear, but died in ignorance of the TRUTH.
Those who are CAUSED to BELIEVE his words will be set over those raised at the second resurrection to JUDGE them by the TRUTH of God's word, as we have been judged by the truth of God's word.
Psalms 22:27 ALL the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER and turn unto the Lord: ALL the kindreds of the earth shall WORSHIP before thee.
Psalms 22:29 And they that be fat upon the earth (the called out) shall eat and WORSHIP (in TRUTH and SPIRIT), and they that go down to the dust (death and the grave) shall BOW BEFORE HIM: and NONE can keep alive his own soul.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MEN (most in the AGES to come), especially of those that BELIEVE (in this AGE).
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is GIVEN (gifted) on the behalf of CHRIST to not only BELIEVE on him, but also to suffer for his sake,
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIORS (those that have become the image of Christ) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU, and the kingdom shall be the LORDS
The everlasting covenant is according to the purpose of God so that election might stand. The elect are a body, collectively called the church. However each man so called before the worlds began has to make sure his election is according to the Word. So word of his grace as St Paul says,"I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32) He also exhorts in another place,"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."(2 Co.6:1) Each received grace for grace from Jesus Christ and by him also sanctified so he is our brethren. (He.2:11) . So purpose of the covenant is that we may receive as heir of promise our blessing. Our ministry is according to his grace and varies one from another. But the blessing is all the same. "that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28).
In order to illustrate this truth we have the blessing Isaac near blind confers on whom he thinks is Esau. Jacob and his mother practises a pious humbug to help the son whom God favoured more. God is not fooled but shall teach him a hard lesson in due course. But Isaac prompted by the word of God sent before before the worlds recites according to the Spirit, "because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."(Ro.8:27). Isaac's blessing is given in Ge.27:26-29.
"And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." (25:27). The terms given in his blessing is intended for Esau, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:". Alas Esau made his choice for a mass of pottage. So it is Jacob who gains from it." Had Esau chose life he would not have despised his birthright. In short Esau did not make his election sure. Free will is to be exercised as matter of life and death.
The word of God is speaking to us, we are born again by coming to truth of THE WORD, the written WORD becoming the LIVING WORD.
Psalms 103:20 Bless the Lord, YE HIS ANGELS, who excel in strength (of the Lord), that do his commandment, harkening to the voice of the Lord.
Luke 29:36 Neither can they DIE any more (we died with Christ on his cross): for they are EQUAL unto the ANGELS; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION (joint heirs of his kingdom).
Genesis 1:2 .....and DARKNESS was upon the face of the earth (man) .......
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and CREATE DARKNESS .....
Job 19:22 A land of DARKNESS, as DARKNESS itself, and the shadow of DEATH, without any order, and where LIGHT is as DARKNESS.
2 Peter 2:4 But if God spared not the angels that sinned (blasphemed his name), but cast them down to the GRAVE, and delivered them into CHAINS OF DARKNESS (the wages of sin is death), to be reserved unto judgement,
Psalms 149:9 To execute upon the the judgement written, this HONOR hath all his SAINTS......
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation WAITETH (in the grave) for the MANIFESTATION of the SONS OF GOD.
Romans 8:21 Because the CREATION ITSELF shall be DELIVERED from the bondage of corruption (darkness) into the GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
1 Chronicles 21:1 And SATAN stood upon against Israel and CAUSED David to number Israel.
2 Samuel 24:1 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and HE (God) moved (CAUSED) David against them to say, Go, number Israel, and Judah.
Yes, The whole Word of God is a PROPHECY of the Kingdom of GOD, including the book of Genesis; as you have said.
Genesis 1:26-27
27 So GOD created man in His own image, in the image of GOD created He him; male and female created He them.
28 And GOD blessed them, and GOD said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it
To frutify, and multiply, and to replenish th earth, GOD created the woman, by allegory the true Church of the Lord.
GOD sent JESUS and JESUS came in the fourth Day-the Greater Light- around 4000 yers after Adam- John 5:17. Around 27/30AD, i.e. in the beginning of the fifth Day, around 2000 years ago, JESUS said to the Jews: John 2:19 and 21: ->19 Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
21 But he spake of the temple of His body. (what our Lord JESUS said and revealed, physically He would resurrect in the third day (a day of 24 hours, of course); but spiritually, our Lord was speaking of his body the Church, it will rise up now in the 3rd Day, a Day of 1000 years, after have bear fruit, multiplied itself for 2000 years, and will replenish the earth with the resurrection of multitudes according 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17:
15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel(Michael- Daniel 12:1-3), and with the trump of GOD: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (the resurrection of the believers in Christ JESUS)
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud(the same cloud in Acts 1:9-11,take a look), to meet the Lord in the air(on high, the 3rd heaven- Micah 4:1-8 combined with 2Corinthians 12:2-4 and Luke 20:35-36, among other biblical references, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Dear Brother , you are of course correct about us humans having our own personality , however it's also true that we are merely vessels . God is the potter and we are the clay , Jeremiah is taught this lesson by God Himself . It is God's right and privilege to do as He pleases with any of us . Jeremiah chapters 18+19 , Romans chapter 9 and Revelation chapter 22 .
We mustn't think of ourselves as anything other than vessels . Jesus emptied himself and was filled with the Spirit if God . He was a vessel but a bit better than us as he was created without lust , born of the pure will of God , therefore he was able to receive the Spirit of God without measure , whereas we are born of the flesh and not able to be filled to the brim in this life . We shall be one with God when all flesh is destroyed and God is All in All . For now we are marred ( by our sin ) vessels that God can use as He sees fit , for He alone is Righteous and all knowing . We are nothing , just grass .
Yes, Notwithstanding SHE (Eve, Christ's wife), by allegory, the Church of the Lord JESUS, shall BE SAVED in child bearing..... generating children for the Kingdom of GOD, through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom. This has already lasted around 2000 years or two GOD's Day: Hebrews 1:1-3
1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days (last two GOD's Days-from the beginning of the fifth Day unto the END of the sixth Day)spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE(image by written) His Person(Person of GOD), and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
It's wonderful, what GOD really has revelead unto His people( Ephesians 1:3-8) makes us to fly high toward the third heaven ( Luke 20:35-36 combined with Revelation 4:1), the OT and NT are like two mighty wings to catch us and carry us to the third heaven- Luke 20:35-36 combined with John 14:3 and 17:24, and 2Corinthians 12:2-4, among many other biblical references, take a look. It's Wonderful, Indescribable, Unspeakable, ineffable. Hallelujaaaah!!!
If we believe that some people , possibly millions , who don't believe in God or who have never even had the opportunity to do so , are going to go to hell and be tortured for all eternity , if we really think hard about this and what it actually means , it can be very hard to reconcile this doctrine with a God who is the personification of love . If God is kind to everyone in this life , and we only have to look around us to see that He most certainly is , He sends His sunshine and rain ( blessings ) on all kinds of people , hindus muslims atheists people who have never and will never even have the chance to know Him , why would He then allow these people to suffer an eternity of torture if He created them knowing that they would never come to Him ? Did He create them with the sole purpose of torturing them in hell for all eternity ? We do know that some people choose to reject God after having had the opportunity to get to know Him but , there must have been millions who never got the chance , did God love these people ? Did He create them just to condemn them to be tortured forever ?
God is love . Romans chapter 11 all of it but the crux of the chapter is verse 6 . What is the reward ? It's two fold , in this life we have the comfort and assurance of His love and mercy in our lives every day and , in the next life we know that we can be in His Kingdom of light and life and love and peace and truth and righteousness and mercy and justice and rejoicing in His presence for ever .
So what of the others ? The wandering stars of Jude ?
Revelation chapter 20 in particular verses 14+15 , hell is the word hades , the place of departed souls according to the Greeks , all of them , not just the bad ones . Hades is three places , I wonder if the catholics stole this idea from the Greeks ? The grave ( hades ) will not exist anymore , death and hell cast into the lake of fire , what does that mean to you ? Death and hell destroyed together , 1st Corin Ch 15 v 22-28 .
Purpose of God is the covenant which is already established, It is called the everlasting covenant because it is between eternal God and the Word also has a part. This is set down in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.(Ge.Ch.1 and ch.2:1-4)
"That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth."
Purpose of God is the covenant which is already established. It is called the everlasting covenant because it is set down in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.(Ch.1 and Ch.2:1-4)
When God has made the worlds made to appear by his word, we consider God in terms of their invisible and visible aspects. Thus we shall keep two verses in mind: He.11:3 and (Col.1:15-20) "Who is the image of the invisible God," Here we have God the Father and God, the Son. Of the latter specifically the Word informs us that the Man is 'the word become flesh' and represents us on the second part. In the fulness of time the Man was to appear in the world in keeping with He.11:3. So faith with works involves the will of God and the Man who is the same yesterday, today and forever. (He.13:8)
God framed the worlds by the word of his power. When Jesus tells the people, My Father worketh hitherto and I also work," it is absolutely in line with this clause, "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The meaning is clear. God commands and the world appears and his work shall only be considered when he "reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (1:20) This is faith with works to which there is nothing we can either add or subtract from. Thus God has called a body the church in Jesus Christ and when we heard the call it means that we are called; and our only duty to is believe it and 'make our election sure.' We love him with all our heart so there is no conflict of interest and trust in the Lord. Our works are the fruits we yield for the glory of God.
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
In the Bible, we see devils, unclean spirits that can occupy and control a human body, but I have not found in the Bible where they came from and why they are on the earth. There are angels locked in chains of darkness, 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6 that said they sinned, but we are not told what that sin was it must be something different than just rebelling, to me this points to Genesis 6. We talk about fallen angels but that is not in the Bible. We see there is a hierarchy of angels and devils we see in Matthew 12:43-45.
Matter of fact these three verses were at the heart of the things that happened, the person who was possessed was trying to get seven of us in one location together the reason was never known because the seven were never all together, and we did not let that happen. Satan has rebelled against God but still has access to heaven, Job 1,2. It does not say but I would understand the other angels who have rebelled still have access to heaven because we see they are cast out in Rev. 12.
I feel that angels and devils/unclean spirits are different just by some things I have seen there is no clear proof in the Bible so you may be correct all I can say their evil thankfully there are more good ones faithful and loyal to God.
The only thing I can understand about what happened in that church was before I was saved and it was trying to stop that from happening, or it was done by God to get us away from that church not sure.
"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."
In studying the entire chapter in relation to today's scripture verse we see the contrast between statements related to those of God not sinning and other verses which indicate anyone who says they are without sin are a liar and the truth not in them (actually 1 John 1:8 so I should have said in studying the entire book). I am not studying that but this verse specifically in regard to the "sin unto death" and its implications.
Paul mentions letting a man be given to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5:
"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
That could be one application. Another would be related perhaps to the law and justifiable punishment of a death penalty for homocide. It also applied to adultery although it would appear this punishment was not as common in the time of Christ and especially once the church stated to flourish towards the end of the 1st Century AD. Since the church was being addressed here the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit shouldn't be the cause; although it certainly would apply to unbelievers as the "unforgiveable sin" as mentioned in the Gospels ( Mark 3:28-29; also verses in Matthew).
The context of the rest of the verse shows how we can pray that God will heal and restore a brother caught in sin and once again emphasizes the idea of confessing our sins to one another ( James 5:16). This is also mentioned in the Gospels at initial salvation ( Matt. 3:6) and most often to God Himself in a plethora of other scriptures. Matthew 5:23-24 speaks of leaving a "gift before the altar" and restoring relationship with a brother which alludes to the Old Testament sacrifice but certainly is applicable now. Sin hurts us and others.
But God created man in his own image, so seed of Abraham, Isaac and Ishamel alike come under the covenant. But for Ishmael it is covenant after the flesh while God is specific "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" The children of the flesh are not called the children of God. Isaac showed faith when he obeyed God and it came from his response to the word, which is to be spiritually understood. Everything needful for our life and godliness has been taken care by God in his Son. Only what determined between Ishmael and Isaac was faith. For this reason God loved Jacob and hated Esau. As with Isaac Jacob had faith and it explains what it is to be created 'after his likeness'. Isaac was the heir of promise. So was Jacob even before they had come of age. in so many ways in their choices they were connecting the dots all the way to the Son who as the word become flesh would manifest.
Esau despising his birthright was his choice. He had a reason, right? "And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?/And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob."(Ge.25:32-33). Esau like one addicted to recreational drugs was almost every day dying for one reason or other. His self indulgence was all that mattered to him. The word of God 'Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" would have come a shocker!(Col.3:5). In our society of instant gratification, think how many churches would demand that their congregation offer their bodies as living service? Their nationalism is their way of paying the bills for the upkeep of megachurches.
God is not fooled brethren. There is no substitute for faith which by way of works demand fruits worthy of His holiness.
"Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called./That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
In the series on the topic of the covenant, Salvation of man solely depends on the word of God, holiness of which is what the name of God signifies. "Iamthe LORD: thatismy name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."(Is.42:8). Of this his glory is synonymous with his visible image, the Son..In Ph.2:9-11.
The word of God is like a seed that the Parable of Sower has sown in the heart of man. What is the heart but a spiritual space. "He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15) God formed all hearts alike and the word sent forth before the worlds began (Is.55:11) consequently falls on a level playing field. How is it then there is a vast difference in the yield from each? Free will of man must explain this anomaly.. In a good ground itself there is difference. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."(Matt.13:8) Prophet Jeremiah would explain it thus, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?(Je.17:9) A life unexamined is not worth living since he is like a tumbleweed collecting prejudices, and in our times his world view from internet,- and much worse from dark web, and is he worth more than at the end of it all being consigned to fire?
But God created man in his own image, so seed of Abraham, Isaac and Ishamel alike come under the covenant. But for Ishmael it is covenant after the flesh while God is specific "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" The children of the flesh are not called the children of God. Isaac showed faith when he obeyed God,
The whole word of God is a PROPHECY of the kingdom of God, including the book of Genesis.
Adam is Christ, EVE HIS WIFE is mankind, God put Adam in a deep sleep (death on a cross), our Father, by his Spirit, cause Adam (Christ) to arise, and we (EVE) came out of Christ, as ONE FLESH.
Genesis 5:2 Male and female CREATED (by the resurrection of Christ) he them, and called THEIR NAME Adam (Christ), in the day they were CREATED.
1 Timothy 2:13-15 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was NOT DECEIVE, but the woman being DECEIVE, was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding SHE (Eve, Christ's wife) shall BE SAVED in child bearing.....
Revelation 3:12 ...and I will write upon him my NEW NAME ......
Revelation 12:2 And SHE being with child, travailing in BIRTH, and pained to be DELIVERED.
John 3:7 ..... YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN ......
Acts 19:5 When they heard this they were BAPTISED IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
Man was created, by the resurrection of Christ, a new creation.
Man, by the resurrection of Christ, was created the GLORY of God.
Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will CREATE upon every dwelling place on mount Zion (Christ IN YOU), and upon her assemblies, a cloud and a smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon ALL THE GLORY shall be a defence.
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, I CREATE darkness:I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord DO ALL THESE THINGS.
Psalms 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, and they are CREATED, thou renewest the face of the earth.
Christ, the GLORY OF GOD, was resurrected by the Spirit of his Father, and we were joint heirs of his resurrection also becoming the glory of OUR FATHER.
11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
12 But as many as received Him (Jewish and Gentiles), to them gave He power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on His NAME:->JESUS-> Acts 4:11-12;JESUS/JOSHUA IS GOD, NOT the esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist Jehovah, YHWH, Yahweh, HaShem, Adonai, Yehovah, Elohim, Yahusha,YEHshia, YEHvah.
JESUS /JOSHUA IS GOD.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.
Thus, be Jews or Gentiles,they will be saved if believe in the NAME of JESUS, i.e. as believers in JESUS and obey His Gospel of GOD's Kingdom, that will be established from now on- Revelation 11:15-18.
1Corinthians 1:21-24 and 30-31
21 For after that in the wisdom of GOD the world by wisdom KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased GOD by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe. (and wish to meet Him)
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are CALLED, both Jews and Greeks(Gentiles), Christ the power of GOD, and the wisdom of GOD. ( Ephesians 1:3-8. take a look)
30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of GOD is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.-->Lord JESUS-> the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, AND WHICH IS TO COME, the ALMIGHTY.
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was JESUS, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute JESUS, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But JESUS answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I WORK. John 10:30- I and my Father are One.
It was the fourth Day or around 4000 years after Adam.--> Genesis 1:16- GOD made two great lights; the Greater Light to rule the day( 1Thessalonians 5:4-6), and the Lesser Light to rule the night: He made the stars also. JESUS said: John 12:46 -->I am come a Light into the world (like the Sun), that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And the Lesser light: Who is him? The lesser Light receives light from the Greater Light because he has no light of his own (like the moon). So, who is him?
And the stars, who are them? By the way, the red Dragon with his TAIL drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. Who are them?
Furthermore, the woman is clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars-Re.12:1
I like so much to decipher biblical enigmas/puzzles.
Matthew 5: 5 and 14 -
5- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
14- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Luke 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (NKJV and other versions said often He would do this)
Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
With this and of course His agonizing prayer at Gethsemane where no doubt He was familiar with and spent other times in prayer there on His travels we see at various important and crisis points the Lord knew when to be even more focused; in some cases praying ALL NIGHT. This was after an exhausting day running around doing God's work; and often preceded more things the next day. More often than not crowds would come (such as when He discovered that John the Baptist had been martyred) and neither He nor the other Disciples could continue with the respite the Lord Himself initiated in their behalf.
Try to tell this to the average Christian in our country today. We note in these scriptures there was NEVER a time when any of the Disciples were said to be doing this; although the Lord rebuked them for not being able to cast out a demon without prayer and fasting. I am not aware of ANY verses talking about them in prayer; so it surely is lacking; you would think SOMEONE would ask the Lord if they could spend some time praying but as their naivete about His death supposing He was going to then rule as an earthly king no doubt prevented many of their efforts. Thankfully Pentecost changed things in that regard!
Hopefully this worm can learn something about prayer and my heart won't always be so cold.
In this chapter we see Jesus once again referring to His upcoming death burial and resurrection and the extreme sadness it caused the Disciples. We could see 3 reasons for this sudden interruption in the narrative and story for Jesus to say this:
1) The distraction of the events thus far of what was already most of Jesus' earthly ministry would make the Disciples complacent in thinking this would go on for many more years.
2) The main goal and focus was on His sacrifice for the sins of man to be accomplished on Calvary. Only at that point could men be able to enter heaven immediately upon death; whereas before they would have to be in Sheol (in the pleasant side).
3). In His departure; they would be the ones to continue to carry out the ministry through leadership after the Spirit came down at Pentecost and changed them. They would have to be stripped of all their confidence and all die a martyrs death exept for John. None of them would be ready when Jesus was arrested as they all ran away along with Peter. Only the Lord would get them through that.
In all honesty it is hard here just as it is contemplating what He said in Gethsemane as to the weakness of their flesh and their falling asleep due again to sorrow. God assures us that every tear is known ( Psalm 56:8). No doubt in eternity there will be reward for suffering in faith; we have consolation in what the world can't have. We have to believe that even in our own martryrdom if it comes to that or natural death is to glorify Christ and there are rewards for martyrs ( James 1:12). Paul also was given a reaction of great sorrow when he announced his imprisonment ( Acts 21:10-14). It would appear his death came at a much later date but Paul always focused on ministry and looked forward to being with the Lord; no wonder after the brutality he had to endure on and off for years in various imprisonments beforehand. He knew when his departure was near ( 2 Tim. 4) and Peter as well ( 2 Peter 1:12
Hello Cheryl1655. The best way to understand these two chapters in Genesis, is that chapter 1 is a declaration of God's Work in creation on each of the six days. When we get to chapter 2, we read of the seventh day, when God's Work had finished on the sixth, and that God rested (or, ceased from all His Work - not that He was exhausted). Then Genesis 2:4 gives us the answer to your question: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created...". So from this point, we are told what God had done in a general way, and now more specifically - with greater detail about His Creation - the focus on man.
So, as God created plants, He then sent out a mist initially to water them ( Genesis 2:6). He then shows us how He created man first & then woman, those mentioned in Genesis 1:26,27; His detail of them also seen in Genesis 2:7-22 - and that man (Adam) would tend to those plants ( Genesis 2:15) until the woman (Eve) came from his body, to be his companion & help in life. So these accounts in these first two chapters of Genesis, don't show us two separate creations of human beings, but the one creation, where more detail is given of God's creative Work in creating the first two people on Earth.
Some say this is two different versions of creation. I would think that it implies when man was created there was something of man and woman in the soul of Adam. Thus the rib was taken out of Adam but also to have a companion it would be something close to his heart I would expect. That would also explain how spiritually man and woman were of the image of God but physically Eve was taken out of man rather than being created from the dust of the earth. Thus all are in Christ; male; female; Jew and Gentile ( Colossians 3:11). This type of unity is in the Holy Spirit of Christ.
This would also explain why God instituted marriage; if it was merely a physical thing ( 1 Cor. 6:16-18) it wouldn't matter if one was married or not; but it also involves two souls that are only legitimately married when God joins them together. This is a deep matter but I consider it important also because it explains why same sex relations also is more than just a physical thing. When two individuals have a selfish ambition than the enemy is able to do great damage to their souls. God designed the body and soul of man and woman to function as a whole; as a unit which of course doesn't work with two men or two women.
Some theologians disagree with my viewpoint; so if it is confusing I won't press the issue. There are admittedly some other parts of Genesis that seem to repeat the same narrative describing perhaps focusing on different aspects. Won't get into that now.
The winds of the teachings of man blow hard against the truth of God's word.
Don't falter in proclaiming truth.
Man has no freewill, only God's will prevails in his creation.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that worketh IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO HIS good pleasure.
We DIED on the cross with Christ, ONLY Christ arose and we as JOINT HEIRS.
Isaiah 59:21 And this is my covenant with THEM, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon THEE (Christ), and my words that I (the Father) put in thy (Christ's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from hence forth and for ever.
Amos 2:7 Can two (as one flesh) walk together, except they BE AGREED?
Let's go again and examine Abraham's faith..
Romans 4:2-4, "2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt."
Above it says that Abraham was justified by his faith. Let's see how James describes Abraham's justification.
James 2:21-22, "21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?"
In contrast? No,not really. What James says is that a working faith must result in good works, otherwise it is considered dead, v26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Is James talking to atheists or christians? Definitely his epistle is addressed to christians. What does he tell them? That their faith must produce works in order for them to be justified
Since some of us hold the idea that if we are regenerated and the Spirit of God dwells in us, then it is inevitable for us to produce works, then we must explain, "was Abraham somehow obliged by his faith to sacrifice his son or it was up to him, his free will, to decide whether he wanted to sacrifice Isaac or not? The answer is that it was up to him. He could had decided not to sacrifice Isaac. It was entirely up to him, not to God. God had nothing to do with his decision to obey or not.
Similarly our obedience to God and the subsequent production of works in our life is not an automatic process like somehow we are programmed to do works, but it is entirely up to us. We can, but we can not do what the Spirit commands. When are we justified? When we decide to have works that result from our obedience to do what we read in the Bible. Otherwise our faith is in vain, dead, resulting in no salvation. All that is not on God, it is on us
Since some of us hold the doctrine of regeneration preceding faith, let's go and examine the case of Abraham.
Romans 4:2-3, " 2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
Romans 4:9-11,"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.11And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: ..."
If one holds the idea that a unregenerated heart can not believe and repent, then they must explain how it was possible for Abraham to believe in God so that his faith was reckoned for righteousness. Was Abraham already regenerated when he believed to God or not?
Firstly regeneration did not exist before Christ.
Second, verse 10 says that he believed in God when he was uncircumcised and so he received the sign of circumcition for his faith. If we correspond corcumcision in the OT with new birth in the NT, then we conclude that faith precedes new birth.
Romans 4:23-24, "23Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;24But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"
Part 2.
Here is scripture from my earlier post that applies to your question.
1 John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: (AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY) ...BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
John 1:7-9 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. "That was the true Light, which lighteth EVERY MAN THAT COMETH INTO THE WORLD.
John 3:15-18. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELEIVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.
Here is one that is overlooked. 1 Peter 2:1.
It speaks of those that denied the Lord that bought them.
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, EVEN DENYING THE LORD THAT BOUGHT THEM, AND BRING UPON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION.
The people he is talking about is not saved. They DENIED the Lord.
but the Lord's purchase was applied to them if they would accept it.
There is no limited atonement.
God bless.
Thanks again for replying and sorry for such a long delay in me responding, as I mentioned I have been very busy throughout the week.
I have read through the comments.
David, I don't think I can improve on anything that Brothers Chris, Giannis, Ronald and others have shared.
I do not hold the view that you and GiGi has shared.
Here is what I would share with you in answering your question to me.
You asked.
"If Christ indeed paid the full penalty required by the law of God for every sin of every person, how then would anyone stand guilty before the law, their debt having been paid?
David, as I said in an earlier post, "the invitation went out to ALL the world" I have provided verses.
Here's my reasoning.
Romans 5:18. "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."
We can draw a picture out of the writing to the Hebrews concerning Israel.
We are to join him (God) in his rest.
Hebrews 4:2-11.
Here is how we Join him, vs 3- For we which have believed do enter into rest,
There is a lot more said in this verse alone concerning this topic.
1) This rest was pre-ordained from the foundation of the world. "If" they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
2) There is a condition that has to be met. "IF" they shall enter into my rest.
3) You have to believe to enter into the rest.
Verses 10-11. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
Do you notice verse 11? (Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest,) lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
The only way to enter in is to believe and the only way "not to enter in" is unbelief.
Running out of space, See part 2.
All truth is in God's WORD destroying the WORKS of SATAN.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into and ANGEL OF LIGHT
Matthew 12:28 If I (TRUTH) cast out devils by the Spirit of God, theis the KINGDOM of GOD has come unto you.
God does his work in AGES, there has been AGES before the AGE we are currently in, and there are AGES to come.
IN the AGE we are a presently in God is calling out a priesthood to be judges of those those billions who never heard the gospel of the kingdom of God, and the ones that did hear, but died in ignorance of the TRUTH.
Those who are CAUSED to BELIEVE his words will be set over those raised at the second resurrection to JUDGE them by the TRUTH of God's word, as we have been judged by the truth of God's word.
Psalms 22:27 ALL the ends of the earth shall REMEMBER and turn unto the Lord: ALL the kindreds of the earth shall WORSHIP before thee.
Psalms 22:29 And they that be fat upon the earth (the called out) shall eat and WORSHIP (in TRUTH and SPIRIT), and they that go down to the dust (death and the grave) shall BOW BEFORE HIM: and NONE can keep alive his own soul.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the SAVIOR OF ALL MEN (most in the AGES to come), especially of those that BELIEVE (in this AGE).
Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is GIVEN (gifted) on the behalf of CHRIST to not only BELIEVE on him, but also to suffer for his sake,
Obadiah 1:21 And SAVIORS (those that have become the image of Christ) shall come upon mount Zion to JUDGE the house of ESAU, and the kingdom shall be the LORDS
God Bless You
The everlasting covenant is according to the purpose of God so that election might stand. The elect are a body, collectively called the church. However each man so called before the worlds began has to make sure his election is according to the Word. So word of his grace as St Paul says,"I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32) He also exhorts in another place,"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain."(2 Co.6:1) Each received grace for grace from Jesus Christ and by him also sanctified so he is our brethren. (He.2:11) . So purpose of the covenant is that we may receive as heir of promise our blessing. Our ministry is according to his grace and varies one from another. But the blessing is all the same. "that God may be all in all."(1 Co.15:28).
In order to illustrate this truth we have the blessing Isaac near blind confers on whom he thinks is Esau. Jacob and his mother practises a pious humbug to help the son whom God favoured more. God is not fooled but shall teach him a hard lesson in due course. But Isaac prompted by the word of God sent before before the worlds recites according to the Spirit, "because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."(Ro.8:27). Isaac's blessing is given in Ge.27:26-29.
"And Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents." (25:27). The terms given in his blessing is intended for Esau, "See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:". Alas Esau made his choice for a mass of pottage. So it is Jacob who gains from it." Had Esau chose life he would not have despised his birthright. In short Esau did not make his election sure. Free will is to be exercised as matter of life and death.
The word of God is speaking to us, we are born again by coming to truth of THE WORD, the written WORD becoming the LIVING WORD.
Psalms 103:20 Bless the Lord, YE HIS ANGELS, who excel in strength (of the Lord), that do his commandment, harkening to the voice of the Lord.
Luke 29:36 Neither can they DIE any more (we died with Christ on his cross): for they are EQUAL unto the ANGELS; and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN OF THE RESURRECTION (joint heirs of his kingdom).
Genesis 1:2 .....and DARKNESS was upon the face of the earth (man) .......
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, and CREATE DARKNESS .....
Job 19:22 A land of DARKNESS, as DARKNESS itself, and the shadow of DEATH, without any order, and where LIGHT is as DARKNESS.
2 Peter 2:4 But if God spared not the angels that sinned (blasphemed his name), but cast them down to the GRAVE, and delivered them into CHAINS OF DARKNESS (the wages of sin is death), to be reserved unto judgement,
Psalms 149:9 To execute upon the the judgement written, this HONOR hath all his SAINTS......
Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creation WAITETH (in the grave) for the MANIFESTATION of the SONS OF GOD.
Romans 8:21 Because the CREATION ITSELF shall be DELIVERED from the bondage of corruption (darkness) into the GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
God Bless You
2 Samuel 24:1 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and HE (God) moved (CAUSED) David against them to say, Go, number Israel, and Judah.
God Bess You
Yes, The whole Word of God is a PROPHECY of the Kingdom of GOD, including the book of Genesis; as you have said.
Genesis 1:26-27
27 So GOD created man in His own image, in the image of GOD created He him; male and female created He them.
28 And GOD blessed them, and GOD said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it
To frutify, and multiply, and to replenish th earth, GOD created the woman, by allegory the true Church of the Lord.
GOD sent JESUS and JESUS came in the fourth Day-the Greater Light- around 4000 yers after Adam- John 5:17. Around 27/30AD, i.e. in the beginning of the fifth Day, around 2000 years ago, JESUS said to the Jews: John 2:19 and 21: ->19 Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
21 But he spake of the temple of His body. (what our Lord JESUS said and revealed, physically He would resurrect in the third day (a day of 24 hours, of course); but spiritually, our Lord was speaking of his body the Church, it will rise up now in the 3rd Day, a Day of 1000 years, after have bear fruit, multiplied itself for 2000 years, and will replenish the earth with the resurrection of multitudes according 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17:
15 For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel(Michael- Daniel 12:1-3), and with the trump of GOD: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (the resurrection of the believers in Christ JESUS)
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud(the same cloud in Acts 1:9-11,take a look), to meet the Lord in the air(on high, the 3rd heaven- Micah 4:1-8 combined with 2Corinthians 12:2-4 and Luke 20:35-36, among other biblical references, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
GOD BLESS
Isaiah 28:21 and 10:23; Romans 9:28 and 8:18-25
We mustn't think of ourselves as anything other than vessels . Jesus emptied himself and was filled with the Spirit if God . He was a vessel but a bit better than us as he was created without lust , born of the pure will of God , therefore he was able to receive the Spirit of God without measure , whereas we are born of the flesh and not able to be filled to the brim in this life . We shall be one with God when all flesh is destroyed and God is All in All . For now we are marred ( by our sin ) vessels that God can use as He sees fit , for He alone is Righteous and all knowing . We are nothing , just grass .
Yes, Notwithstanding SHE (Eve, Christ's wife), by allegory, the Church of the Lord JESUS, shall BE SAVED in child bearing..... generating children for the Kingdom of GOD, through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, the Gospel of GOD's Kingdom. This has already lasted around 2000 years or two GOD's Day: Hebrews 1:1-3
1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days (last two GOD's Days-from the beginning of the fifth Day unto the END of the sixth Day)spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE(image by written) His Person(Person of GOD), and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
It's wonderful, what GOD really has revelead unto His people( Ephesians 1:3-8) makes us to fly high toward the third heaven ( Luke 20:35-36 combined with Revelation 4:1), the OT and NT are like two mighty wings to catch us and carry us to the third heaven- Luke 20:35-36 combined with John 14:3 and 17:24, and 2Corinthians 12:2-4, among many other biblical references, take a look. It's Wonderful, Indescribable, Unspeakable, ineffable. Hallelujaaaah!!!
GOD BLESS
God is love . Romans chapter 11 all of it but the crux of the chapter is verse 6 . What is the reward ? It's two fold , in this life we have the comfort and assurance of His love and mercy in our lives every day and , in the next life we know that we can be in His Kingdom of light and life and love and peace and truth and righteousness and mercy and justice and rejoicing in His presence for ever .
So what of the others ? The wandering stars of Jude ?
Revelation chapter 20 in particular verses 14+15 , hell is the word hades , the place of departed souls according to the Greeks , all of them , not just the bad ones . Hades is three places , I wonder if the catholics stole this idea from the Greeks ? The grave ( hades ) will not exist anymore , death and hell cast into the lake of fire , what does that mean to you ? Death and hell destroyed together , 1st Corin Ch 15 v 22-28 .
Read the first para as follows:
Purpose of God is the covenant which is already established, It is called the everlasting covenant because it is between eternal God and the Word also has a part. This is set down in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.(Ge.Ch.1 and ch.2:1-4)
"That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth."
Purpose of God is the covenant which is already established. It is called the everlasting covenant because it is set down in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.(Ch.1 and Ch.2:1-4)
When God has made the worlds made to appear by his word, we consider God in terms of their invisible and visible aspects. Thus we shall keep two verses in mind: He.11:3 and (Col.1:15-20) "Who is the image of the invisible God," Here we have God the Father and God, the Son. Of the latter specifically the Word informs us that the Man is 'the word become flesh' and represents us on the second part. In the fulness of time the Man was to appear in the world in keeping with He.11:3. So faith with works involves the will of God and the Man who is the same yesterday, today and forever. (He.13:8)
God framed the worlds by the word of his power. When Jesus tells the people, My Father worketh hitherto and I also work," it is absolutely in line with this clause, "so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." The meaning is clear. God commands and the world appears and his work shall only be considered when he "reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." (1:20) This is faith with works to which there is nothing we can either add or subtract from. Thus God has called a body the church in Jesus Christ and when we heard the call it means that we are called; and our only duty to is believe it and 'make our election sure.' We love him with all our heart so there is no conflict of interest and trust in the Lord. Our works are the fruits we yield for the glory of God.
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
In the Bible, we see devils, unclean spirits that can occupy and control a human body, but I have not found in the Bible where they came from and why they are on the earth. There are angels locked in chains of darkness, 2 Peter 2:4 and Jude 1:6 that said they sinned, but we are not told what that sin was it must be something different than just rebelling, to me this points to Genesis 6. We talk about fallen angels but that is not in the Bible. We see there is a hierarchy of angels and devils we see in Matthew 12:43-45.
Matter of fact these three verses were at the heart of the things that happened, the person who was possessed was trying to get seven of us in one location together the reason was never known because the seven were never all together, and we did not let that happen. Satan has rebelled against God but still has access to heaven, Job 1,2. It does not say but I would understand the other angels who have rebelled still have access to heaven because we see they are cast out in Rev. 12.
I feel that angels and devils/unclean spirits are different just by some things I have seen there is no clear proof in the Bible so you may be correct all I can say their evil thankfully there are more good ones faithful and loyal to God.
The only thing I can understand about what happened in that church was before I was saved and it was trying to stop that from happening, or it was done by God to get us away from that church not sure.
God bless,
RLW
"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it."
In studying the entire chapter in relation to today's scripture verse we see the contrast between statements related to those of God not sinning and other verses which indicate anyone who says they are without sin are a liar and the truth not in them (actually 1 John 1:8 so I should have said in studying the entire book). I am not studying that but this verse specifically in regard to the "sin unto death" and its implications.
Paul mentions letting a man be given to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5:
"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."
That could be one application. Another would be related perhaps to the law and justifiable punishment of a death penalty for homocide. It also applied to adultery although it would appear this punishment was not as common in the time of Christ and especially once the church stated to flourish towards the end of the 1st Century AD. Since the church was being addressed here the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit shouldn't be the cause; although it certainly would apply to unbelievers as the "unforgiveable sin" as mentioned in the Gospels ( Mark 3:28-29; also verses in Matthew).
The context of the rest of the verse shows how we can pray that God will heal and restore a brother caught in sin and once again emphasizes the idea of confessing our sins to one another ( James 5:16). This is also mentioned in the Gospels at initial salvation ( Matt. 3:6) and most often to God Himself in a plethora of other scriptures. Matthew 5:23-24 speaks of leaving a "gift before the altar" and restoring relationship with a brother which alludes to the Old Testament sacrifice but certainly is applicable now. Sin hurts us and others.
Do you mean that angels of satan are something different from demons/devils? I think they are the same thing, just the name changes.
Anyway That story about that church left me baffled. What do you think it happened?
But God created man in his own image, so seed of Abraham, Isaac and Ishamel alike come under the covenant. But for Ishmael it is covenant after the flesh while God is specific "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" The children of the flesh are not called the children of God. Isaac showed faith when he obeyed God and it came from his response to the word, which is to be spiritually understood. Everything needful for our life and godliness has been taken care by God in his Son. Only what determined between Ishmael and Isaac was faith. For this reason God loved Jacob and hated Esau. As with Isaac Jacob had faith and it explains what it is to be created 'after his likeness'. Isaac was the heir of promise. So was Jacob even before they had come of age. in so many ways in their choices they were connecting the dots all the way to the Son who as the word become flesh would manifest.
Esau despising his birthright was his choice. He had a reason, right? "And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?/And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob."(Ge.25:32-33). Esau like one addicted to recreational drugs was almost every day dying for one reason or other. His self indulgence was all that mattered to him. The word of God 'Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" would have come a shocker!(Col.3:5). In our society of instant gratification, think how many churches would demand that their congregation offer their bodies as living service? Their nationalism is their way of paying the bills for the upkeep of megachurches.
God is not fooled brethren. There is no substitute for faith which by way of works demand fruits worthy of His holiness.
"Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called./That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed."
In the series on the topic of the covenant, Salvation of man solely depends on the word of God, holiness of which is what the name of God signifies. "Iamthe LORD: thatismy name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."(Is.42:8). Of this his glory is synonymous with his visible image, the Son..In Ph.2:9-11.
The word of God is like a seed that the Parable of Sower has sown in the heart of man. What is the heart but a spiritual space. "He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works."(Ps.33:15) God formed all hearts alike and the word sent forth before the worlds began (Is.55:11) consequently falls on a level playing field. How is it then there is a vast difference in the yield from each? Free will of man must explain this anomaly.. In a good ground itself there is difference. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."(Matt.13:8) Prophet Jeremiah would explain it thus, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?(Je.17:9) A life unexamined is not worth living since he is like a tumbleweed collecting prejudices, and in our times his world view from internet,- and much worse from dark web, and is he worth more than at the end of it all being consigned to fire?
But God created man in his own image, so seed of Abraham, Isaac and Ishamel alike come under the covenant. But for Ishmael it is covenant after the flesh while God is specific "In Isaac shall thy seed be called" The children of the flesh are not called the children of God. Isaac showed faith when he obeyed God,
The whole word of God is a PROPHECY of the kingdom of God, including the book of Genesis.
Adam is Christ, EVE HIS WIFE is mankind, God put Adam in a deep sleep (death on a cross), our Father, by his Spirit, cause Adam (Christ) to arise, and we (EVE) came out of Christ, as ONE FLESH.
Genesis 5:2 Male and female CREATED (by the resurrection of Christ) he them, and called THEIR NAME Adam (Christ), in the day they were CREATED.
1 Timothy 2:13-15 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was NOT DECEIVE, but the woman being DECEIVE, was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding SHE (Eve, Christ's wife) shall BE SAVED in child bearing.....
Revelation 3:12 ...and I will write upon him my NEW NAME ......
Revelation 12:2 And SHE being with child, travailing in BIRTH, and pained to be DELIVERED.
John 3:7 ..... YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN ......
Acts 19:5 When they heard this they were BAPTISED IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
God Bless You
God Bless You
Man was created, by the resurrection of Christ, a new creation.
Man, by the resurrection of Christ, was created the GLORY of God.
Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will CREATE upon every dwelling place on mount Zion (Christ IN YOU), and upon her assemblies, a cloud and a smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon ALL THE GLORY shall be a defence.
Isaiah 45:7 I form the light, I CREATE darkness:I make peace, and create evil, I the Lord DO ALL THESE THINGS.
Psalms 104:30 Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, and they are CREATED, thou renewest the face of the earth.
Christ, the GLORY OF GOD, was resurrected by the Spirit of his Father, and we were joint heirs of his resurrection also becoming the glory of OUR FATHER.
God Bless You
11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
12 But as many as received Him (Jewish and Gentiles), to them gave He power to become the sons of GOD, even to them that believe on His NAME:->JESUS-> Acts 4:11-12;JESUS/JOSHUA IS GOD, NOT the esoteric and kabbalistic and spiritist Jehovah, YHWH, Yahweh, HaShem, Adonai, Yehovah, Elohim, Yahusha,YEHshia, YEHvah.
JESUS /JOSHUA IS GOD.
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD.
Thus, be Jews or Gentiles,they will be saved if believe in the NAME of JESUS, i.e. as believers in JESUS and obey His Gospel of GOD's Kingdom, that will be established from now on- Revelation 11:15-18.
1Corinthians 1:21-24 and 30-31
21 For after that in the wisdom of GOD the world by wisdom KNEW NOT GOD, it pleased GOD by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe. (and wish to meet Him)
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are CALLED, both Jews and Greeks(Gentiles), Christ the power of GOD, and the wisdom of GOD. ( Ephesians 1:3-8. take a look)
30 But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of GOD is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.-->Lord JESUS-> the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, AND WHICH IS TO COME, the ALMIGHTY.
GOD BLESS
Get ready
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was JESUS, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute JESUS, and sought to slay Him, because He had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But JESUS answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I WORK. John 10:30- I and my Father are One.
It was the fourth Day or around 4000 years after Adam.--> Genesis 1:16- GOD made two great lights; the Greater Light to rule the day( 1Thessalonians 5:4-6), and the Lesser Light to rule the night: He made the stars also. JESUS said: John 12:46 -->I am come a Light into the world (like the Sun), that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
And the Lesser light: Who is him? The lesser Light receives light from the Greater Light because he has no light of his own (like the moon). So, who is him?
And the stars, who are them? By the way, the red Dragon with his TAIL drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth. Who are them?
Furthermore, the woman is clothed with the Sun, and the Moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars-Re.12:1
I like so much to decipher biblical enigmas/puzzles.
Matthew 5: 5 and 14 -
5- Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
14- Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Very profound. GOD BLESS
Luke 5:16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. (NKJV and other versions said often He would do this)
Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
Matthew 14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
With this and of course His agonizing prayer at Gethsemane where no doubt He was familiar with and spent other times in prayer there on His travels we see at various important and crisis points the Lord knew when to be even more focused; in some cases praying ALL NIGHT. This was after an exhausting day running around doing God's work; and often preceded more things the next day. More often than not crowds would come (such as when He discovered that John the Baptist had been martyred) and neither He nor the other Disciples could continue with the respite the Lord Himself initiated in their behalf.
Try to tell this to the average Christian in our country today. We note in these scriptures there was NEVER a time when any of the Disciples were said to be doing this; although the Lord rebuked them for not being able to cast out a demon without prayer and fasting. I am not aware of ANY verses talking about them in prayer; so it surely is lacking; you would think SOMEONE would ask the Lord if they could spend some time praying but as their naivete about His death supposing He was going to then rule as an earthly king no doubt prevented many of their efforts. Thankfully Pentecost changed things in that regard!
Hopefully this worm can learn something about prayer and my heart won't always be so cold.
Agape.
1) The distraction of the events thus far of what was already most of Jesus' earthly ministry would make the Disciples complacent in thinking this would go on for many more years.
2) The main goal and focus was on His sacrifice for the sins of man to be accomplished on Calvary. Only at that point could men be able to enter heaven immediately upon death; whereas before they would have to be in Sheol (in the pleasant side).
3). In His departure; they would be the ones to continue to carry out the ministry through leadership after the Spirit came down at Pentecost and changed them. They would have to be stripped of all their confidence and all die a martyrs death exept for John. None of them would be ready when Jesus was arrested as they all ran away along with Peter. Only the Lord would get them through that.
In all honesty it is hard here just as it is contemplating what He said in Gethsemane as to the weakness of their flesh and their falling asleep due again to sorrow. God assures us that every tear is known ( Psalm 56:8). No doubt in eternity there will be reward for suffering in faith; we have consolation in what the world can't have. We have to believe that even in our own martryrdom if it comes to that or natural death is to glorify Christ and there are rewards for martyrs ( James 1:12). Paul also was given a reaction of great sorrow when he announced his imprisonment ( Acts 21:10-14). It would appear his death came at a much later date but Paul always focused on ministry and looked forward to being with the Lord; no wonder after the brutality he had to endure on and off for years in various imprisonments beforehand. He knew when his departure was near ( 2 Tim. 4) and Peter as well ( 2 Peter 1:12
So, as God created plants, He then sent out a mist initially to water them ( Genesis 2:6). He then shows us how He created man first & then woman, those mentioned in Genesis 1:26,27; His detail of them also seen in Genesis 2:7-22 - and that man (Adam) would tend to those plants ( Genesis 2:15) until the woman (Eve) came from his body, to be his companion & help in life. So these accounts in these first two chapters of Genesis, don't show us two separate creations of human beings, but the one creation, where more detail is given of God's creative Work in creating the first two people on Earth.
This would also explain why God instituted marriage; if it was merely a physical thing ( 1 Cor. 6:16-18) it wouldn't matter if one was married or not; but it also involves two souls that are only legitimately married when God joins them together. This is a deep matter but I consider it important also because it explains why same sex relations also is more than just a physical thing. When two individuals have a selfish ambition than the enemy is able to do great damage to their souls. God designed the body and soul of man and woman to function as a whole; as a unit which of course doesn't work with two men or two women.
Some theologians disagree with my viewpoint; so if it is confusing I won't press the issue. There are admittedly some other parts of Genesis that seem to repeat the same narrative describing perhaps focusing on different aspects. Won't get into that now.
The winds of the teachings of man blow hard against the truth of God's word.
Don't falter in proclaiming truth.
Man has no freewill, only God's will prevails in his creation.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing without revealing his secrets to his servants the prophets.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God that worketh IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO HIS good pleasure.
We DIED on the cross with Christ, ONLY Christ arose and we as JOINT HEIRS.
Isaiah 59:21 And this is my covenant with THEM, saith the Lord; My Spirit that is upon THEE (Christ), and my words that I (the Father) put in thy (Christ's) mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the Lord, from hence forth and for ever.
Amos 2:7 Can two (as one flesh) walk together, except they BE AGREED?
God Bless You