Thank you for this reminder. When taken along with the verses surrounding I Cor 7:15 about letting the unsaved leave and you are no longer under bondage , but God has called you to live in peace, it helps to clarify bondage. Some would say that if you are no longer under bondage, then you are free to re-marry. I hold that you are no longer responsible to the unsaved who left, but you still have a responsibility to your oath "til death do you part" made to God in the marriage ceremony. NOT "til divorce do you part". It does seem harsh that the saved should be bound to the oath until death of the spouse, but God is big enough to allow me to outlive spouse if he wants me to remarry. 46 years ago when I was very young and saved, I married an unsaved man and it was a horrible experience. I confessed it within 2 weeks of the marriage and told God that I was sorry but I would keep my oath but need his grace to do it. In the 3.5 yrs I was married, my husband periodically tried to convince me there was no God, and then convince me that WE should get a divorce. I told him there was a God and WE would not be getting a divorce because I had made an oath til death do us part, but he could make his own decisions. He did not want marriage but did not want responsibility for divorce either. He finally left, filed divorce and I let him go. I was free from him but still had my oath. Due to severe diabetes he had been on death bed twice and I thought he would not live long. 43 yrs later he is still alive, with multiple near death experiences, and I am still unmarried. The only way I can explain it is that God has given husband multiple opportunities to get saved, to no avail. And I guess his death would be wasted if God has not brought all the puzzle pieces together yet for me to have a partner. It is easy to fantasize how my life could have been if I had remarried years ago, but many people have that with much sorrow. I will never know what horrors God has saved me from.
This is the over-reaching command of God to His people. To be holy like He is holy.
The statutes in this chapter speak of many different practices that are to be obeyed. Many apply to us today. Others, the principle apply to us today, and others do not apply to us today.
The important matter is to desire to know God and His holiness so that we can imitate Him.
God the Father sent His Son in the flesh to show us God's holiness lived out in human nature.
Jesus is the exact image of the Father. He is the perfect reflection of the character of God. He is the sinless Son living in complete obedience and submission to His Father. He is our righteousness that justifies us before the Father. We are to aim to imitate Him with the working of the Holy Spirit within us.
We should be careful not to harden our hearts by becoming friendly with the world's ways. we should instead be familiar with God's ways given to us in His word. Godliness is required of us who profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We will fall and fail. But we should care that we live a life that honors God and loves our neighbor rightly.
We should be eager to do what God has said is the right action and equally eager to refrain from what God has said is wrong for us to do.
We are not to be "holier than thou" looking down on people caught up in sin. We should be compassionate, loving, and willing to reach out to people like Jesus did to the tax collectors and sinners.
Holiness is not about "religious" practices such as church going, bible reading, etc. but instead be about living out the word received with gladness.
We should cultivate a love for what is pure and just and righteous, good and beneficial and honorable. We should have a determination to continually resist sinful inclinations, to stay away from tempting situations, to avoid every sort of evil.
The 1950's brought us easy divorce and many divorced people began to remarry. The culture glamorized promiscuity and in the 1960's fornication became acceptable followed by legalization of abortion. From this the step to approval of homosexuality came rapidly, soon to be followed by transgenderism and other gender perversions. Now in our present time, poligamy is featured on reality T.V., there is a push for the acceptance of pedophilia. Soon, sexual experimentation among young children will be touted and then bestiality will the next perversion to break forth seeking acceptance. Such a slippery slope we embarked on in the last century to totally undermine God's authority for this basic fundamental foundation for society that God put in place to protect families, women, and children from sexual exploitation. Men are being destroyed inwardly from pornography having their sexuality warped at the very core.
I think this is the very reason God put sexual purity at the topo of the list in of statutes in this chapter. We are to be slaves to righteousness, not to sin, submitted to the Holy Spirit in all of our ways, doing everything to the glory of God, honoring God with our bodies.
Our call to a godly life is truly for us receive the blessing of God upon us in this life as we submit ourselves in obedience to Him and the ways He has set forth for us to live by.
The best answer I can give is how I went from a 35 year practitioner of traditional witchcraft and ancestral paganism to a servant of Christ on 11/2/22. On 11/1/22, I had a strong urge to pray to a God that I had been at war with all my life in order to ask for His help with my daughters. Within a minute of finishing that prayer, this overwhelming feeling hit me and a voice within me stated " take them to church." 24hrs later, I told myself to make this sacrifice for them so I began listening to sermons so I do not get triggered to debate. It was in a specific sermon where the pastor said " there are those who have studied the bible to argue and debate to use it as a telescope but I ask them, when was the last time you let the bible study you and be a mirror?" I broke and I could not fight the feeling that overcame me and a transformation inside began... the removal of my heart of stone to a fleshy one. Asked for His forgiveness for all the lives I destroyed. Thus I gave my life over to Christ.
I say all this because if I did not react to the answer to my prayer, I believe was from God, I may have never been saved. In the end, it was a calling . If you feel you are being called, pray on it and make sure it is from God as the bible says to test every spirit.
But we have all been a Jacob - cheating, lying, using half-truths to get our way. Later in the Torah,Jacob memorably dreams of a ladder to heaven. He does not wake up to a new start, but he does wake up with a different awareness, which slowly changes his character, although his wily behaviour continues into his old age.
That is the point. Jacob is not perfect, he does not attain a perfect start or complete change, and neither will we. Instead, we are reminded that real personal change happens slowly, with small goals and gradual progress.
This chapter lays out the parameters for lawful sexual relations. It addresses child sacrifice.
In ancient Israel marriage was initiated by sexual relation (being seen as the two becoming one flesh). Though multiple wives were allowed in this culture, there were boundaries that the people were to keep. The surrounding nations were very sexually lax. But God, who has all the authority to make all the laws, begins with behavior that is at the very core of society. The marriage bed and the one flesh relationship that bonds male and female together and produces children (who are physically the union of two people in one flesh).
With YHWH being the Master of the Israelites (they belonged to YHWH) they were being called from being slaves to sin and Satan to become slaves to YHWH and righteousness (as defined by Him).
These statutes concerning sexual relations keep the marriage bond pure and protect children born of this union. It protects women from being dishonored by men who do not control their appetites or have respect for their father, brother, uncle, or son's wives and daughters. The prohibitions begin with matters of incest (relations with close kin). Then it extends to adultery with one's neighbor's wife. It then prohibits homosexual relations and then to bestiality. Included in the prohibitions is the command to not sacrifice one's children to Molech.
This is the progression that happens in a society when they separate sex from marriage and procreation as God intended. One by one the pillars of righteous practices concerning sexual relations begin to fall to the pressure of the culture and what God has prohibited becomes normalized with the expectation of society accepting it's expression without question. Aren't we there now?
First, the availability of contraception in the 1930's allowed people to pursue sexual relations simply for the pleasure without the responsibility of child-bearing.
This is what I can share with you about the Nicolaitans. In Revelation 2:6, it first speaks of their deeds, which the Lord says He hates. What they were doing was lording over Gods flock. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, but they were ruling the church, and the Lord says He hates that.
As for their doctrine, it speaks of that in Revelation 2:15. Before, we saw the works (or deeds) of the Nicolaitans. Now he's saying that inside this church, they hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. The Lord repeats Himself.
Now it's interesting about the doctrine of Balaam. I'll just give you a summary heading for this. It's when someone puts a stumblingblock in front of God's people for either monetary or worldly purposes.
What happened was Balac, the king of Moab, he came to Balaam because Balaam was a prophet. And he said would you put a curse on this group of people that are heading our way because we've heard about them.
This is the children of Israel. So would you put a curse on them? Well, eventually Balaam had to come and say you can't put a curse on them because they're blessed by God.
But I'll tell you what you can do. You can bring God's judgment on them if you send the Moabite women out to seduce them and cause them to commit sexual immorality. For that, God will judge them.
And so that's exactly what he did. Balaam gave him council as to what to do. Balaam says I can't do anything because God has blessed these people.
And the reason why he did it was because he wanted the money that was offered to him to put a curse on the children of Israel.
So Balac gave him some money. And he emerged as a false prophet, and he wanted to do things for money.
So a stumblingblock was cast before the children of Israel to get them to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
And also, the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which again, is lording it over the people, which thing the Lord hates.
As I likely posted earlier there are certain limits to understanding God's counsel as stated in Deut. 29:29. There is a point such as with Pharaoh where God Himself hardens a man's heart once he has irrevocably hardened his own heart; that is something in His foreknowledge that God determines for every man who is unsaved. We as believers have been "grafted in" ( Romans 11:11-25). The scripture makes it clear that man has no excuse as we see evidence in the Creation and of the Godhead ( Psalm 19; Romans 1). We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" ( Psalm 139:14) and therefore human life is sacred. Or; as the Declaration of Independence states "we hold these truths to be self-evident".
God is a God of Covenants and as He states "all the souls are mine" ( Ezekiel 18:4). This whole chapter I have found as an excellent rebuttal and witness to the Jewish community who occasionally insists on doing a "Mizpah" when they find out one side of my family is Jewish. It states in the same passage that the "soul who sins will die" thus removing any parental privilege in being of any physical descent as well as making all individuals responsible for their behaviors. We need to see here that someone can turn from wickedness to righteousness; and the opposite is true. Ultimately; I would say that Ephesians 4:30 makes it clear that we don't lose our salvation IF truly saved. There are many tares mixed in with the wheat however. Again; that is part of God's plan; as well as using Satan to refine us through temptations and persecutions. Since God created everyone then we are all to be eternal beings in our spirit.
Also as Jesus pointed out to Thomas "blessed are those who haven't seen and yet believed" ( John 20:29). Just look at the Tribulation where; by the way Revelation 13:8 shows Predestination for all those NOT in the Book of Life. Just as in the time Christ was here the first time seeing ISN'T necessarily belief TO SALVATION. REV6:17
Matthew 18:18, notice Matthew 18:15-22, in context Matthew 18, look closely when reading loosed again Matthew 18:27,
Looking up Matthew 18:18, in word breakdown in Strongs Exhaustive Concordance reference at bottom of page, "bind" translated 'deo' can mean pledge, marriage, or be in bonds, = Luke 13:16, context Luke 13, "loosed" translated 'luo' = break, destroy, dissolve, divorce
both scriptures same words, in Greek.
In the Old Testament, Daniel 3:5, "loose" translated 'shre' = to free, separate, unravel ( Thayer's Greek Lexicon a reference also in site, I use for comparison)
The Lord spoke in parables so that the Pharisees would be blinded lest they see the truth at any time and repent (see Mark 4:11 and following verses). The human being is the only species which deliberately blinds themselves to the truth and hardens their heart. This is given to man to whom God has put "eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). There is a way; a door or opening to heaven by which we MUST go through to enter; there is no other way. That; of course is Christ and being Born Again. After all; only the "sick need a physician". ( Mark 2:17). Consider those who most often rejected Christ. These were all those who had heard the message; and mostly the Jews who knew the law and the commandments and the prophecies thus they were without excuse killing the Lord of Glory. That was made clear by Stephen's speech and subsequent martyrdom in Acts 7 and the beginning of Acts 8. Their history was spelled out as to how they sinned and killed the Prophets before them; Christ Himself also brought out these things.
In seeing these things we are reminded with a fair and impartial view of scripture in terms of it's literary composition that men by and large were going on with their personal lives and decisions much of the time. We certainly needn't look at "free will" as something that is diametrically opposed to God's predetermination in our lives as though He is holding us to a standard that we as human beings are paralyzed with our everyday life. He points out to David only when He goes after Bathsheeba that he was given much latitude ( 2 Sam. 12:7-8) and even more wives if he asked; but of course murder and adultery was not to be tolerated. God can't look upon sin; therefore had to turn His back on His own Son. However it is our sin NATURE that is the root of all these things; or the heart ( Jeremiah 17:9; etc.) But after this life ends there is no more freedom for the unregenerate to sin.
Hello, sometimes I have doubts and questions. Would it be possible to ask you when I do?
Right now, for example, I wonder something about Jacob.
I heard pastors say before, that he was a liar and a manipulator. I looked in Genesis from the time he was born, until he got married and cant find anything other than how he (at the request of his mother) deceived Esau by giving him a bowl of soup for his birthright. But nothing else. Does this one action make him someone like what the pastors describe?
This verse instructs the Israelites that they are to live by the statutes and commands He spells out for them. This is the blessing for obedience, life. Not eternal life, as eternal life is always attained by faith, but that they will live in the land promised them and prosper there. Obedience will cause them to live in the covenantal blessing of God upon them as a people. These laws were temporary provisions given to a sinful people in order for God to dwell in their midst and bless them.
These statutes are not a way of salvation by works of the law. These laws delineate the lifestyle the Israelites are to embrace while living in a land filled with paganism. God is commanding the Israelites to take Him seriously, that He is not a God they can manipulate and define by their own imaginations. The Israelites are to understand that the LORD their God is supreme over all and worthy of obedience, worship, upright living. He is all powerful, therefore is to be feared reverently with the understanding that He will follow through with both the blessings and the curses He pronounces with giving His laws and commandments.
I think it is easy for Christians to become lax in their view of the majesty and supremacy of God which usually leads one to pursue preferred sins, thinking that surely these are just "little sins" and not very serious to God. It is very easy to get into this mindset and soon one finds themselves enslaved to a sinful way of living that they could have rejected if they took God more seriously and believed in His absolute holiness and purity. We should ask ourselves regularly. Does this honor God? Does pursuing these sins bring us closer to Him? Am I failing to view God in His perfection and reality? Am I being presumptuous in my thinking about towards God when I pursue a sinful path?
I think it is wise to examine ourselves when we find ourselves indulging in sin with abandon. Usually we will find that we do not take God or sin seriousy.
This chapter opens with YHWH emphasizing that He is the God of the Israelites and therefore, their sovereign ruler. He has the right of ownership of this people and has the supreme right to rule them and to make the rules they are to live by.
YHWH commands them not to follow the laws and lifestyles of the land of Egypt from which they were delivered and also to not follow the laws and lifestyles of the people of the land of Canaan which He will bring them into. The laws and lifestyles of the Israelites, Egyptians, and Canaanite peoples were manmade and reflected man's determination of what is morally correct or corrupt. The Israelites must orient themselves in a new way, not being led by man's reasoning and wisdom concerning civil and religious life, but instead, submitting to YHWH's judgements, commands, and statutes. The people are to understand that YHWH's ways are not man's ways. His ways are higher and more righteous than those of any people. These people are to set themselves apart for the LORD in obedience, willingly taking upon themselves the lifestyle He lays out for them.
It is likely that they had many customs, practices and laws that were peculiar to their own people going back to Jacob's time. Also, they most likely had assimilated to many aspects of the Egyptian lifestyle. (The golden calf is one glaring example.) But now, YHWH is calling them to strip themselves of much of what they thought were acceptable ways of living and worshipping and submit to what God commands them to do. There is no negotiation on these statures and commands. God did not ask them for any input nor offer any sort of recourse for any command or statute to be reconsidered. Straight up obedience is commanded without questioning.
YHWH is demanding strict obedience and submission to Himself. He is requiring them to trust that His ways are absolutely upright and beneficial to them because He loves them so and desires them to be set apart other peoples.
Hello Murlon. According to the narrative on Laban in Genesis 31, it appears that he did practise idolatry, even as Terah, Abraham & Nachor also did ( Joshua 24:2). They lived in Ur of the Chaldees (now modern Iraq). In spite of their idolatrous ways & ignorance of the true God, God did reveal Himself to Abraham & called him to serve Him alone & be the father of many nations.
As also with Laban, who continued to practise idolatry, but was now accepting of this God who he was hearing about from Abraham's servant (likely Eliezer of Damascus), in his earlier encounter with him concerning Isaac ( Genesis 24:50,51). Whether Laban ultimately rejected his gods for the true God, we cannot say as the Bible doesn't indicate that; but in spite of him using divination ( Genesis 30:27, KJV: "experience" = 'nachash', or signs, divination), he acknowledged that Abraham's God had blessed him. He might have even added an image of God to his other gods, but hopefully in time & by revelation, he would have rejected his false gods.
Syncretism in religion (i.e. merging together of different beliefs & practises), is never an acceptable thing, even as practised today amongst so-called Christians, because God requires a true worship of Him, and Him alone. Abraham, by God's Call & revelation of Himself to him, would have learned to reject any other god or form of worship & to serve the True & Living God. Thus he was greatly blessed.
In my previous post this AM; I highlighted what I consider an important doctrinal foundation in regard to Predestination (or the Doctrine of Election). Understanding that others have various views on the subject as to where they are on the subject of "free will" on one end of the spectrum and 5 Point Calvanists on the other I am certainly not going to make overly broad generalizations here at least in terms of salvation of an individual based on their viewpoints on this subject. My aim as I hopefully mentioned when doing the Book of John in a chapter by chapter review based on this subject was to show what scripture states on the subject. I can prove my point in the fact that I (sort of) excoriated my fellow brethren (hopefully with a proper zeal) when I challenged them by pointing out that someone can understand ALL the 5 points intellectually of the "TULIP" concept but still not be saved. (Needless to say my response wasn't exactly rosy).
I brought out the point earlier today that those who would state that believers who followed these concepts would have little interest in witnessing to others are largely disproven by the Reformers; and in fact most people I have known in my circle of friends that are actually out there witnessing on a regular basis. We are called to follow the Great Commission; admittedly there are some who take this idea to an extreme at least historically that don't evangelize for precisely that reason that it is a "waste of time" for the non elect. A couple facts here before I move on to other cautions; one the main reason we witness is because we are commanded to do so and it is NOT for conversion but to honor God by proclaiming His truth. We also should consider that it edifies other believers when we are obedient to the call. Paul's imprisonment allowed others to have courage to boldly proclaim the Gospel; surely SOME would do this more if they could just see others doing the same.
Hi Donna, I agree with S Spencer's reply in the context of discipline for the purpose of repentance and forgiveness and keeping the sheep in the flock not having to cut off a hand or foot, or pluck out an eye, Matt. 18:8-9.
This is just another view of Matt. 16:19 some say Peter was the only one Jesus gave the keys to but in Matt. 18, we see it was for all the disciples not just Peter. Jesus entrusted them to continue His work, and from them to us, that we see start in Acts 2.
Jesus told Peter He will give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Luke 11:52 the key of knowledge, so these keys that were given to the disciples are the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus that will allow them and all who accept the good news, the way of entering the kingdom of heaven/God.
The keys are thus the gospel message, the teaching from Jesus that will be conveyed by the Holy Spirit, which gives us access to the kingdom of God, salvation, and eternal life only by our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of God. Those who reject the gospel, bound, are forbidden to enter the kingdom (resurrection of damnation) and those who accept the gospel, loosed, are permitted into the kingdom (resurrection of life).
Eph. 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
I've noticed I've left out this info for more clarity in the way I interpret the verse.
The Church is given responsibility or charge to present the Gospel and how it is received will be accounted for in Heaven.
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19.
An entering into body and soul, enlightening the eyes of those who belong to Him.
These things are from heaven and ride on the wings of His angels , lighting on His children.
Do not frustrate this one called the comforter who is the Holy One given through the Son!
He has become our perfect sacrifice , even unto the whole world!
There is no power greater than Him.
He is the light of the world. In Him is no darkness at all!
Repent and be Baptized
"Be Ye holy as I the LORD your God am holy."
This is the over-reaching command of God to His people. To be holy like He is holy.
The statutes in this chapter speak of many different practices that are to be obeyed. Many apply to us today. Others, the principle apply to us today, and others do not apply to us today.
The important matter is to desire to know God and His holiness so that we can imitate Him.
God the Father sent His Son in the flesh to show us God's holiness lived out in human nature.
Jesus is the exact image of the Father. He is the perfect reflection of the character of God. He is the sinless Son living in complete obedience and submission to His Father. He is our righteousness that justifies us before the Father. We are to aim to imitate Him with the working of the Holy Spirit within us.
We should be careful not to harden our hearts by becoming friendly with the world's ways. we should instead be familiar with God's ways given to us in His word. Godliness is required of us who profess Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We will fall and fail. But we should care that we live a life that honors God and loves our neighbor rightly.
We should be eager to do what God has said is the right action and equally eager to refrain from what God has said is wrong for us to do.
We are not to be "holier than thou" looking down on people caught up in sin. We should be compassionate, loving, and willing to reach out to people like Jesus did to the tax collectors and sinners.
Holiness is not about "religious" practices such as church going, bible reading, etc. but instead be about living out the word received with gladness.
We should cultivate a love for what is pure and just and righteous, good and beneficial and honorable. We should have a determination to continually resist sinful inclinations, to stay away from tempting situations, to avoid every sort of evil.
Does it matter that we live godly lives. YES!
:-)
:-)
The 1950's brought us easy divorce and many divorced people began to remarry. The culture glamorized promiscuity and in the 1960's fornication became acceptable followed by legalization of abortion. From this the step to approval of homosexuality came rapidly, soon to be followed by transgenderism and other gender perversions. Now in our present time, poligamy is featured on reality T.V., there is a push for the acceptance of pedophilia. Soon, sexual experimentation among young children will be touted and then bestiality will the next perversion to break forth seeking acceptance. Such a slippery slope we embarked on in the last century to totally undermine God's authority for this basic fundamental foundation for society that God put in place to protect families, women, and children from sexual exploitation. Men are being destroyed inwardly from pornography having their sexuality warped at the very core.
I think this is the very reason God put sexual purity at the topo of the list in of statutes in this chapter. We are to be slaves to righteousness, not to sin, submitted to the Holy Spirit in all of our ways, doing everything to the glory of God, honoring God with our bodies.
Our call to a godly life is truly for us receive the blessing of God upon us in this life as we submit ourselves in obedience to Him and the ways He has set forth for us to live by.
I say all this because if I did not react to the answer to my prayer, I believe was from God, I may have never been saved. In the end, it was a calling . If you feel you are being called, pray on it and make sure it is from God as the bible says to test every spirit.
That is the point. Jacob is not perfect, he does not attain a perfect start or complete change, and neither will we. Instead, we are reminded that real personal change happens slowly, with small goals and gradual progress.
This chapter lays out the parameters for lawful sexual relations. It addresses child sacrifice.
In ancient Israel marriage was initiated by sexual relation (being seen as the two becoming one flesh). Though multiple wives were allowed in this culture, there were boundaries that the people were to keep. The surrounding nations were very sexually lax. But God, who has all the authority to make all the laws, begins with behavior that is at the very core of society. The marriage bed and the one flesh relationship that bonds male and female together and produces children (who are physically the union of two people in one flesh).
With YHWH being the Master of the Israelites (they belonged to YHWH) they were being called from being slaves to sin and Satan to become slaves to YHWH and righteousness (as defined by Him).
These statutes concerning sexual relations keep the marriage bond pure and protect children born of this union. It protects women from being dishonored by men who do not control their appetites or have respect for their father, brother, uncle, or son's wives and daughters. The prohibitions begin with matters of incest (relations with close kin). Then it extends to adultery with one's neighbor's wife. It then prohibits homosexual relations and then to bestiality. Included in the prohibitions is the command to not sacrifice one's children to Molech.
This is the progression that happens in a society when they separate sex from marriage and procreation as God intended. One by one the pillars of righteous practices concerning sexual relations begin to fall to the pressure of the culture and what God has prohibited becomes normalized with the expectation of society accepting it's expression without question. Aren't we there now?
First, the availability of contraception in the 1930's allowed people to pursue sexual relations simply for the pleasure without the responsibility of child-bearing.
This is what I can share with you about the Nicolaitans. In Revelation 2:6, it first speaks of their deeds, which the Lord says He hates. What they were doing was lording over Gods flock. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, but they were ruling the church, and the Lord says He hates that.
As for their doctrine, it speaks of that in Revelation 2:15. Before, we saw the works (or deeds) of the Nicolaitans. Now he's saying that inside this church, they hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. The Lord repeats Himself.
Now it's interesting about the doctrine of Balaam. I'll just give you a summary heading for this. It's when someone puts a stumblingblock in front of God's people for either monetary or worldly purposes.
What happened was Balac, the king of Moab, he came to Balaam because Balaam was a prophet. And he said would you put a curse on this group of people that are heading our way because we've heard about them.
This is the children of Israel. So would you put a curse on them? Well, eventually Balaam had to come and say you can't put a curse on them because they're blessed by God.
But I'll tell you what you can do. You can bring God's judgment on them if you send the Moabite women out to seduce them and cause them to commit sexual immorality. For that, God will judge them.
And so that's exactly what he did. Balaam gave him council as to what to do. Balaam says I can't do anything because God has blessed these people.
And the reason why he did it was because he wanted the money that was offered to him to put a curse on the children of Israel.
So Balac gave him some money. And he emerged as a false prophet, and he wanted to do things for money.
So a stumblingblock was cast before the children of Israel to get them to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.
And also, the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which again, is lording it over the people, which thing the Lord hates.
As I likely posted earlier there are certain limits to understanding God's counsel as stated in Deut. 29:29. There is a point such as with Pharaoh where God Himself hardens a man's heart once he has irrevocably hardened his own heart; that is something in His foreknowledge that God determines for every man who is unsaved. We as believers have been "grafted in" ( Romans 11:11-25). The scripture makes it clear that man has no excuse as we see evidence in the Creation and of the Godhead ( Psalm 19; Romans 1). We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" ( Psalm 139:14) and therefore human life is sacred. Or; as the Declaration of Independence states "we hold these truths to be self-evident".
God is a God of Covenants and as He states "all the souls are mine" ( Ezekiel 18:4). This whole chapter I have found as an excellent rebuttal and witness to the Jewish community who occasionally insists on doing a "Mizpah" when they find out one side of my family is Jewish. It states in the same passage that the "soul who sins will die" thus removing any parental privilege in being of any physical descent as well as making all individuals responsible for their behaviors. We need to see here that someone can turn from wickedness to righteousness; and the opposite is true. Ultimately; I would say that Ephesians 4:30 makes it clear that we don't lose our salvation IF truly saved. There are many tares mixed in with the wheat however. Again; that is part of God's plan; as well as using Satan to refine us through temptations and persecutions. Since God created everyone then we are all to be eternal beings in our spirit.
Also as Jesus pointed out to Thomas "blessed are those who haven't seen and yet believed" ( John 20:29). Just look at the Tribulation where; by the way Revelation 13:8 shows Predestination for all those NOT in the Book of Life. Just as in the time Christ was here the first time seeing ISN'T necessarily belief TO SALVATION. REV6:17
Looking up Matthew 18:18, in word breakdown in Strongs Exhaustive Concordance reference at bottom of page, "bind" translated 'deo' can mean pledge, marriage, or be in bonds, = Luke 13:16, context Luke 13, "loosed" translated 'luo' = break, destroy, dissolve, divorce
both scriptures same words, in Greek.
In the Old Testament, Daniel 3:5, "loose" translated 'shre' = to free, separate, unravel ( Thayer's Greek Lexicon a reference also in site, I use for comparison)
James 1:5,
Hopefully helpful in your study
The Lord spoke in parables so that the Pharisees would be blinded lest they see the truth at any time and repent (see Mark 4:11 and following verses). The human being is the only species which deliberately blinds themselves to the truth and hardens their heart. This is given to man to whom God has put "eternity in their hearts." ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). There is a way; a door or opening to heaven by which we MUST go through to enter; there is no other way. That; of course is Christ and being Born Again. After all; only the "sick need a physician". ( Mark 2:17). Consider those who most often rejected Christ. These were all those who had heard the message; and mostly the Jews who knew the law and the commandments and the prophecies thus they were without excuse killing the Lord of Glory. That was made clear by Stephen's speech and subsequent martyrdom in Acts 7 and the beginning of Acts 8. Their history was spelled out as to how they sinned and killed the Prophets before them; Christ Himself also brought out these things.
In seeing these things we are reminded with a fair and impartial view of scripture in terms of it's literary composition that men by and large were going on with their personal lives and decisions much of the time. We certainly needn't look at "free will" as something that is diametrically opposed to God's predetermination in our lives as though He is holding us to a standard that we as human beings are paralyzed with our everyday life. He points out to David only when He goes after Bathsheeba that he was given much latitude ( 2 Sam. 12:7-8) and even more wives if he asked; but of course murder and adultery was not to be tolerated. God can't look upon sin; therefore had to turn His back on His own Son. However it is our sin NATURE that is the root of all these things; or the heart ( Jeremiah 17:9; etc.) But after this life ends there is no more freedom for the unregenerate to sin.
Right now, for example, I wonder something about Jacob.
I heard pastors say before, that he was a liar and a manipulator. I looked in Genesis from the time he was born, until he got married and cant find anything other than how he (at the request of his mother) deceived Esau by giving him a bowl of soup for his birthright. But nothing else. Does this one action make him someone like what the pastors describe?
This verse instructs the Israelites that they are to live by the statutes and commands He spells out for them. This is the blessing for obedience, life. Not eternal life, as eternal life is always attained by faith, but that they will live in the land promised them and prosper there. Obedience will cause them to live in the covenantal blessing of God upon them as a people. These laws were temporary provisions given to a sinful people in order for God to dwell in their midst and bless them.
These statutes are not a way of salvation by works of the law. These laws delineate the lifestyle the Israelites are to embrace while living in a land filled with paganism. God is commanding the Israelites to take Him seriously, that He is not a God they can manipulate and define by their own imaginations. The Israelites are to understand that the LORD their God is supreme over all and worthy of obedience, worship, upright living. He is all powerful, therefore is to be feared reverently with the understanding that He will follow through with both the blessings and the curses He pronounces with giving His laws and commandments.
I think it is easy for Christians to become lax in their view of the majesty and supremacy of God which usually leads one to pursue preferred sins, thinking that surely these are just "little sins" and not very serious to God. It is very easy to get into this mindset and soon one finds themselves enslaved to a sinful way of living that they could have rejected if they took God more seriously and believed in His absolute holiness and purity. We should ask ourselves regularly. Does this honor God? Does pursuing these sins bring us closer to Him? Am I failing to view God in His perfection and reality? Am I being presumptuous in my thinking about towards God when I pursue a sinful path?
I think it is wise to examine ourselves when we find ourselves indulging in sin with abandon. Usually we will find that we do not take God or sin seriousy.
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This chapter opens with YHWH emphasizing that He is the God of the Israelites and therefore, their sovereign ruler. He has the right of ownership of this people and has the supreme right to rule them and to make the rules they are to live by.
YHWH commands them not to follow the laws and lifestyles of the land of Egypt from which they were delivered and also to not follow the laws and lifestyles of the people of the land of Canaan which He will bring them into. The laws and lifestyles of the Israelites, Egyptians, and Canaanite peoples were manmade and reflected man's determination of what is morally correct or corrupt. The Israelites must orient themselves in a new way, not being led by man's reasoning and wisdom concerning civil and religious life, but instead, submitting to YHWH's judgements, commands, and statutes. The people are to understand that YHWH's ways are not man's ways. His ways are higher and more righteous than those of any people. These people are to set themselves apart for the LORD in obedience, willingly taking upon themselves the lifestyle He lays out for them.
It is likely that they had many customs, practices and laws that were peculiar to their own people going back to Jacob's time. Also, they most likely had assimilated to many aspects of the Egyptian lifestyle. (The golden calf is one glaring example.) But now, YHWH is calling them to strip themselves of much of what they thought were acceptable ways of living and worshipping and submit to what God commands them to do. There is no negotiation on these statures and commands. God did not ask them for any input nor offer any sort of recourse for any command or statute to be reconsidered. Straight up obedience is commanded without questioning.
YHWH is demanding strict obedience and submission to Himself. He is requiring them to trust that His ways are absolutely upright and beneficial to them because He loves them so and desires them to be set apart other peoples.
Matthew 6,
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As also with Laban, who continued to practise idolatry, but was now accepting of this God who he was hearing about from Abraham's servant (likely Eliezer of Damascus), in his earlier encounter with him concerning Isaac ( Genesis 24:50,51). Whether Laban ultimately rejected his gods for the true God, we cannot say as the Bible doesn't indicate that; but in spite of him using divination ( Genesis 30:27, KJV: "experience" = 'nachash', or signs, divination), he acknowledged that Abraham's God had blessed him. He might have even added an image of God to his other gods, but hopefully in time & by revelation, he would have rejected his false gods.
Syncretism in religion (i.e. merging together of different beliefs & practises), is never an acceptable thing, even as practised today amongst so-called Christians, because God requires a true worship of Him, and Him alone. Abraham, by God's Call & revelation of Himself to him, would have learned to reject any other god or form of worship & to serve the True & Living God. Thus he was greatly blessed.
In my previous post this AM; I highlighted what I consider an important doctrinal foundation in regard to Predestination (or the Doctrine of Election). Understanding that others have various views on the subject as to where they are on the subject of "free will" on one end of the spectrum and 5 Point Calvanists on the other I am certainly not going to make overly broad generalizations here at least in terms of salvation of an individual based on their viewpoints on this subject. My aim as I hopefully mentioned when doing the Book of John in a chapter by chapter review based on this subject was to show what scripture states on the subject. I can prove my point in the fact that I (sort of) excoriated my fellow brethren (hopefully with a proper zeal) when I challenged them by pointing out that someone can understand ALL the 5 points intellectually of the "TULIP" concept but still not be saved. (Needless to say my response wasn't exactly rosy).
I brought out the point earlier today that those who would state that believers who followed these concepts would have little interest in witnessing to others are largely disproven by the Reformers; and in fact most people I have known in my circle of friends that are actually out there witnessing on a regular basis. We are called to follow the Great Commission; admittedly there are some who take this idea to an extreme at least historically that don't evangelize for precisely that reason that it is a "waste of time" for the non elect. A couple facts here before I move on to other cautions; one the main reason we witness is because we are commanded to do so and it is NOT for conversion but to honor God by proclaiming His truth. We also should consider that it edifies other believers when we are obedient to the call. Paul's imprisonment allowed others to have courage to boldly proclaim the Gospel; surely SOME would do this more if they could just see others doing the same.
2Chronicles 7:14, Romans 6,
1John 1:9, Matthew 6:14,
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This is just another view of Matt. 16:19 some say Peter was the only one Jesus gave the keys to but in Matt. 18, we see it was for all the disciples not just Peter. Jesus entrusted them to continue His work, and from them to us, that we see start in Acts 2.
Jesus told Peter He will give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Luke 11:52 the key of knowledge, so these keys that were given to the disciples are the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus that will allow them and all who accept the good news, the way of entering the kingdom of heaven/God.
The keys are thus the gospel message, the teaching from Jesus that will be conveyed by the Holy Spirit, which gives us access to the kingdom of God, salvation, and eternal life only by our Lord Jesus Christ and the grace of God. Those who reject the gospel, bound, are forbidden to enter the kingdom (resurrection of damnation) and those who accept the gospel, loosed, are permitted into the kingdom (resurrection of life).
Eph. 2:5-6 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
God bless,
RLW
I've noticed I've left out this info for more clarity in the way I interpret the verse.
The Church is given responsibility or charge to present the Gospel and how it is received will be accounted for in Heaven.
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19.
God bless.
I mistakenly referred to Mt. 19:18.
:-)