Yes . Many of my friends and family are quite stupid I think . They put their faith in their jobs , in their bank balances , in other humans ( politicians , bosses , partners , parents , children etc ) they think I'm the crazy one ! These are for sure the blind leading the blind and we know what's going to happen to them . It's sad to be honest , so many people walking towards the pit . We , as humans , are supposed to learn from the past and from our own life experiences . Still people just don't get that this life is nothing and it's taking them nowhere . Buy this and you will be happier , you will feel superior to others who don't have what you have etc . Utter nonsense . Have faith in God and the promises that He has made to those who believe and trust and don't buy into the vanities of this world . There are wonderful eternal days to come , and we can be there . That's better than a new car any day ! Where your treasure is is where your heart is . Make Christ your treasure .
alex1939....Gerald love ya but disagree a bit about faith under the new Covenant...You say that Faith is nothin but thats not what Peter says about Faith...Peter said being bornagain of an incorruptible seed even by the words of God that liveth and abideth for ever...Without his seed which are his words we cannot be bornagain...And Faith comes by hearing his words which are his seeds that initiate Faith...Thats y he has to know US thats when the good seed is sown in our hearts...We all got here by a microcoptic seed and thats the way it is in the Spiritual realm...My lil Children of whom i travail in birth til Christ is formed in you.When a woman is pregnant she has the substance of things hoped for and the Evidence of things not seen...Which is the fetus the Evidence she has known the bridegroom...Christ is our bridegroom and he that sows that good seed in our hearts initiating a spritual pregnancy and the New Birth...And Jesus said the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom which is the H.G. As Jesus said that which is born of the spirit is spirit (via his WORDS) thats the H.G. The Child of PROMISE.
....You are failing to understand there is a Child involved in his seed the contents of the book that he wrote with his own blood Even back under the O.C. there was a Child involved that Child of Promise ISAAC...That was multiplied as the sands of the seas the Nation of ISRAEL...it was Abrahams FAITH that brought this Child and the 12 tribes into being....Plz neva say Faith is nothin "everybody has it" thats not true...Faith is the result of his word and it was his word that formed the planets...Faith can only come by hearing his voice his seed...Today if you will hear his voice his seed the very seed of God...To whom the word came it made them Gods and the scripture cannot be broken..Which is the H.G. the Child of Promise...Plz remember it was God Almighty that made that Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of Heaven..Thus the Woman and her Children.
I agree, that from the perspective you've presented, specifically from your statement, "The faith itself was the evidence of his hope but the assurance came from the Lord", I would agree. However, I sought to bring up the Hebrews 11:1 definition, discussed at length in another thread, which I believe gives a more narrower view of the faith that believers are to have & that expected of the Lord.
Even though the mention of 'faith' can bring up thoughts of the different aspects of expressing faith, such as the one you earlier gave of the London bus arriving at a bus stop, or even one having faith that someone would keep a planned appointment, etc., there's always that element of doubt, or a 'faith' that is more accurately described as 'hope'. There are many Christians, too many I suspect, that only entertain a hope that their salvation is secure, or that they will be found worthy at death to gain entrance into Heaven, and so they teeter on the edge of uncertainty. They might still call it faith, trying with all that's within them to believe that all is well, but in reality hoping that they're good enough or have done enough. Would we say that such folk have the faith that the Lord accepts & as described in Hebrews 11:1? They have trusted in the Lord, faithful in Christian exercises, but when tested on the firmness of their conviction, they falter, knowing that some doubt, even a little, causes them uneasiness.
Whereas Hebrews 11:1 to me, appears more explicit in describing real faith. The use of the words, 'substance' & 'evidence', essentially describes a reality when nothing in the human make-up would permit or entertain such a unswerving belief. Yes, we all go through times of doubt which sometimes brings on fear, but the earnest believer will resort immediately to the Word & prayer to find assurance that what was said & done can never be undone. The thief on the cross had lost everything; his faith in Jesus' Word was not just a word of comfort but of reality.
Man was created in the image of God but he IS born in the image of Adam .
Man is not now a creation again each time out of the dust of earth .
He is born of a woman but that does not make the woman his creator either .
For it is God that forms us in the womb according to those laws already predetermined in the creation of Man .
We are now Born .
But not in Gods image .
If man had not disobeyed God and sinned he would also have been born in the image of God . The only one born in the image of God was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself . For He was and is the Word of God made flesh .
We then or anyone true born of the incorruptible seed which is the Word of God that image of God is once again found in them and is it not written " renewed daily in the image of Him"?
If a man or woman finds themselves in hell it will not be so much because they have sinned ( for all have sinned) but because they bore another image than Gods and are then rejected as His sons even as they rejected Christ . For he who receives me receives Him that sent me " it follows they who reject Christ reject also Him that sent Him.
Much has been made of Mary over the centuries that then as now has no basis in scripture .
Mary was not the mother of God ,she was the mother of the Lords flesh the mother of Jesus the Word made flesh.
While he was growing up Jesus was under the authority of His father and mother and obediently submitted to them as recorded when they all went up to Jerusalem and he stayed behind in the temple . When finally found he said I must be about my Fathers business but nevertheless submitted to them and returned home for His time was not yet come .
But from the moment He was baptised the record shows He never gave ground or suggested or allowed His mother to have any authority over Him. For He came not to do her will but the will of Him who sent Him.
Thus at the wedding feast of Canaan when his mother said they had no wine ,He replied ; not ' mother' but Woman what hast thou to do with me seeing that mine hour is not yet come ?"
Later in John he spoke of His hour had come when man would take Him at their will and do their will albeit Gods will was done ias foreseen and recorded in the Old Testament.
When Jesus was talking in a house and His mother according to his flesh was outside with his half brothers and sisters seeking to talk with him . He in effect denied his flesh and said His true mother and brethren are " they who do the will of God"
While on the cross and His mother and John were standing looking up watching . He said to His mother , "behold Thy son "
Not as some religionists would have it ,' look at me' but clearly in the context He was saying that John was now her son and tyen said to John behold Thy mother and from that moment on she lived with him at his house .
Even in his sufferings he made provision for His mother .
She was a virgin when Jesus was conceived in her womb . That does not make her sinless .
She herself confessed her " saviour" . The blood of a child is determined by the father not the mother .
Thank you . In danger of thinking I simply quibbling over words forgive me .
But unless I have misunderstood you . Faith in of and by itself is nothing . He clearly saw a king if only dimly and one who was going to conquer death and " enter into His kingdom" it was what the thief saw and understood that made him put his faith In Christ . His confession ( in the truest sense) gave substance to his hope in Christ and calling Him Lord was the evidence of things hoped for .
"Without faith it is impossible to please God " but that too is a gift of God and it was the Lord that inspired that faith in Himself.
The assurance as the promise given in reward to his faith .
The faith itself was the evidence of his hope but the assurance came from the Lord .
It is quite a difference .
Like many other things in the religious world faith has been misunderstood misapplied in some cases and blown out of all proportion of what the scripture says it IS.
Everyone has faith . Even those who mocked the Lord .
As does everyone today and use it every day that is according to what faith IS .
Faith in God works by the same principles as real faith does in anything else .
It is how ever if put in Christ a sure and certain hope of our faith being rewarded .
Was not saying that to accuse you but rather for any other readers who might jump to that conclusion .
I've been a child of God ,born again for over 40 years and still find the Bible inexhaustible.
A well very deep but with clear pure water for the drinking if you take the time and trouble to go for it .
Is it not written "they who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled"?
Keep on keeping on says the scripture for " then shall ye know as you follow onto know".
Waters up to the ankles . Safe enough for a child to paddle in .
Waters up to the loins . Safe enough for " young men" up to their loins who if their honest at first are a little afraid ,because they feel the power of the waters and know it could destroy them .
But to their delight and joy find ,
There are waters to swim in and the sea bares them up .
But even here the same scripture does not stop .
For while a man can swim the English Channel he is not going to be able swim the Atlantic or indeed the Pacific .
But what does the scripture say?
But I " could not go on and the angel led me to a river on who's banks trees were planted whos leaves were for the healing of the nations .
Keep eating keep studying keep thinking or meditating on the scriptures for no time spent doing so is wasted nor unfruitful if we do so prayerfully .
For we do but give the Holy Spirit the means to work in you that which pleases God to do .
Psalm 1 . Blessed is the man who meditates on Gods Word day and night ,"he is like a tree planted by the rivers of living waters ".
It is line upon line and precept upon precept and your right we cannot understand what we are not ready for or " able to bear"
Those who are not redeemed their body perishes becomes unusable ot fit for purpose .
One aspect of hell is that the unsaved have no body it has perished . But "every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father above" When we are thirsty he gives us water when we are hungry he provides the food .
In hell you will be thirsty but cannot drink being cut off from God on the one hand and unable to drink on the other .
Hungry but cannot eat .
The soul is saved ,the mind willingly renewed and the body redeemed .
It is the redeemed and transformed body that is to be revealed when the mortal shall put on immortality and the corrupt shall put on incorruption.
Another way of looking at it is that where as death reigned in our bodies when Jesus died he took the keys of death and hell and put them on his belt and when He was raised from the dead we who believe are raised together with Him and now life reigns .
But even as Adam was created with so much life took 800 odd years for that death ( after the fall) that now reigned in him.
So that utter defeat of the devil by His death will not be totally manifest till much later . Nor then we who are born again where Christ now reigns and theclaw of life . That life will progressively or should manifest itself in our mortal bodies .
For if this body is dead because of sin ,"if the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwell in you He shall quicken your mortal body"
Consider also Paul's prayer for Christian's thst " the eyes of our understanding being opened that we may comprehend with all the saints what is the exceeding greatness of His power that is towards us even the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead"
Have you ever stopped to consider how much power is needed to raise the dead?
Hello John. As Richard has given you the requested Scripture ( Ephesians 1:14), I will simply share my understanding of the verses 13 & 14: "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."
The Apostle Paul is writing to the believers that they also had put their trust in Jesus after they had heard & believed the Gospel. They were sealed by the Holy Spirit - the Spirit is given to all who love & trust Jesus for their salvation & their lives. The Holy Spirit, by His residence in the believer, ministers to our hearts in every way. Some of the ways are: teaching ( John 16:12-15); Guiding ( Romans 8:14); Assuring ( Romans 8:16); Praying ( Romans 8:26, Ephesians 6:18); Comforting/Helping ( John 14:26).
But the foremost Work of the Spirit in the believer is to "seal" him, or 'set a mark' that we belong to Christ. And that is why Paul states in Romans 8:35-39 that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever separate us "from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". And here in Ephesians, Paul is stating that our sealing (or, eternal security) by the Holy Spirit is our "earnest", or God's guarantee/pledge until our redemption. Some might say, 'I thought we were already redeemed when we believed & bought by Christ's precious Blood?' Yes, we were fully redeemed spiritually, i.e. inwardly, when we were born again, given a new Spirit, which is of God. But our flesh (body), still tainted with sin & prone to failure before God waits for, rather longs for the day when our redemption is made complete ( Romans 8:23). So Paul says in Ephesians, that our redemption will be made complete when we are taken from this Earth, given new bodies, outfitted for Heaven. And all praise & glory goes to the Lord Who has done all this for us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You in the name of Jesus to come to Peter's aid right now and break the power of the evil these people are devising against him. We ask that You protect Peter's life and faith. Keep his mind safe from evil influences and turn these wicked people away from him and cause them to remove themselves far, far away from him. Father, renew Peter's sense of safety and peace as You intervene mightily in this situation. Give Peter wisdom and discernment to correctly evaluate this situation and be well aware of what is happening. Be his fortress and guard, protecting him from harm each and every moment. Amen.
Jesse, in following this conversation with Gerald, I agree that you have been respectful and not accusatory.
I agree that it is the Holy Spirits task and pleasure to open up our understanding of Scripture. He is glad to do this when we honestly seek Him to show us what is true. We may need to check our biases and preconceptions before He will do this, but He is faithful to reach us through the Word and through one another.
Great word & Gospel presentation Gerald. Just to add a thought to the thieves' perception of the One hanging betwixt them: it seems that in spite of their sinful life, or occupation, at least one of them appeared to have knowledge of Jesus' Life & Ministry. Maybe, news was carried around then just as fast as it's today on the internet, or maybe he observed first-hand the quality of this Man & His Works that no man could justifiably withstand.
Then after finding that this Man was in the same boat as he, presumably unable to save Himself or the others, his anger & reviling Jesus was his first painful utterance. But as you said, it was then that faith took hold: from what he knew of Jesus, what he saw of himself, turning his reviling into repentance. Death was certain for each of them; the thief's only life-line rested completely in the One Who was called Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
Hebrews 11:1 might be evident here also: the little faith that arose in the thief gave him the 'substance' (assurance) of what he hoped would be for him at the end of the line; and became 'evidence' (the proof that fully persuades the heart) of what could not be seen with the human eye or conceivable in the mind. Jesus saw both the man & his heart & gave him the double assurance with the promise that he would be with Him in paradise. This thief made it in just as salvation's doors were shutting on him - the other & so many others then & today, remain resistant to the Love of God in Jesus, will never make it and never get another chance to re-consider their error.
I hope you don't think I was accusing you of posting things "for fruitless arguing or for just beings' different' or contentious."
I would not do that. I thought I was respectful in what I shared with you. I did thank you for what you shared and I even told you that I agreed with much of what you said.
All we can do here is share our understanding, whether it be right or wrong.
You are absolutely correct in saying "there is no guarantee that knowing Greek or Hebrew will give you a right understanding of the scriptures.
That is true. There's also no guarantee that reading the English text is going to give us an understanding.
The only way we can understand scripture is if God through His Spirit reveals it to us. We have no way of comprehending God's word without His help. And we can only know if He wants us to know. There's so much scripture I still do not understand but it does not get me down because I come to realize that the reason I don't understand something is because He knows I'm not ready to understand it. The Lord will only give me what He knows I am ready to handle, and I'm okay with that.
My posts are not for fruitless arguing or for just beings' different' or contentious .
I'm afraid it's no use for you or anyone to give me the Greek or hebrew for I neither know enough about both to use them correctly or know if another is .
There's also no guarantee that knowing Greek or Hebrew will give you a right understanding of the scriptures .
For did not Saul of Tarsus know the scriptures ,more than most . Was not Hebrew his mother tongue ?
Yet did he understand the scriptures ? No! He so did not understand the scriptures he persecuted the church agreed with Stephens death and was charged with persecuting the Lord .
The Pharisees ,Sadducee's and Drs of the law did they understand the scriptures ? No! Yet Hebrew was their mother tongue yet so not unde4stoid the scriptures crucified the Lord himself .
If you know and understand Greek or Hebrew ( which is fine) be sure to still not lean upon your own understanding of Greek and Hebrew for that danger is even more prevalent. Not to undeminevyiur confidence in the Lord but rather to warn you or any that understanding both is no guarantee of understanding the scriptures as they were and are meant to be so .
We are not persuaded by faith but being persuaded by understanding the Word of God ,for faith in God comes by understanding the Word of God . It is not a product of faith . Faith is what you use when you have understood and intelligently respond in faith to what you know to be the truth .
There are not two types of faith . According to what faith IS ,all have a measure of it to " profit withal"
Faith works in the same way in the world ( my analogy of the bus proves it) as it does when our faith is in God .
It's the same faith .
The religious baggage that has been added to it is quite awful .
We do not have to get faith . We use our faith every day . If you havevever got on a plane . Not only have you put your faith in the pilots but also wether you understand them or not the laws of physics .
WORSHIPPING IN TRUTH AND IN SPIRIT. What does that mean? Let's try to see it through sacrificies. In The Old Testament times the Jews were going to the Temple of Solomon and worshiped God by offering sacrifices. We do the same, but the sacrifices are different now.
Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
So we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, a pure life full of God's Spirit.
1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" We have a spiritual Temple/House now ("Temple" in grk (Naos) means "Place of Residence") and as priest we offer our prayers for people as spiritual sacrifices to Father God.
Rev 5:8 "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of ODOURS, which are the prayers of saints"
Rev 8:3 "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne"
So, again, our prayers stand as spiritual sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Although a more accurate translation is "confessing His name" So confessing, praising and thanksgiving are also spiritual sacrifices.
Thus filling ourselves with the Spirit of God (since we have no ability to do anything on our own) and staying in the Truth of God's written Word is worshipping God now(as well)
Aunt Bea, It says in the Word that we are dust and to dust we will return, meaning, we are made from the same materials that constitute dirt. So that when we die, we will decomposed and be reduced to the most basic elements of our beings=the molecules that make up dirt. So, the ashes of someone whose body is burned up, whether before or after death, has just been reduced to those molecules more quickly than normal decomposition. Embalming people at death deters decomposition to a degree that it takes much longer than normal to decompose into dirt. Therefore, since our final state after death is dirt in each case, it does not matter whether we are buried or cremated or torn apart by beasts with our parts dragged away to different locations. The Bible does not mention the practice of cremation except in one case, I believe.
Our bodily resurrection does not depend on if we were buried or cremated. Our present body is marred by sin, and so our decomposed remains (dirt) is also marred by sin. In the resurrection, these remains will be reconstituted into a flesh and bones body like Jesus has and not be marred by sin every again.
Because during the millennium reign of Christ on earth everyone will be compelled to obey or suffer the consequences . Satan is bound by chains for this season so he can't deceive anyone .
But after that 1000 years he is again loosed for a short while and those who have learnt nothing from the last righteous reign of God on earth ll be again deceived ,blinded and make war .
It is inconceivable that no one will be converted by the goodness of God and will resist the temptation and turn to zGod . But not many ,the gleanings that which is left over after the msin harvest.
Then all is gathered in nothing is lost . Then cometh the end .
You will have to back that up with scripture and more than one verse at that .
With an argument to show how you reach that conclusion .
For I see no teaching of it in that regard .
For God is not a woman inside He has revealed himself to be the Father .
And we are to pray " Our Father ".
God is light He is light in out and all light and in him there is no darkness .
There is not a woman inside a man ( trying to get out?) The Lord was a man who did not have a woman inside him mystical or not. But He himself said it was " The Father in Him who did the work".
There is a reason why we have the scriptures . It is very difficult to make them say what they do not . The only way of course is to " twist the scriptures" or change them to a persons subjective thinking . This has also been done.
The Holy Bible has its own internal logic . It must be so and is because there was but one mind even Gods behind it .
If we are to get anywhere we have to learn to follow its logic and reasoning . Not our own .
In that way our lives are transformed by the renewal of our minds .
Nice comment. "It is often said in the UK that people are losing faith in their politicians". Only in the UK? Don't be unfair with your country, this is a wordwide pandemic desease. Politicians seem to belong to a separate "world" nomatter the country, but we ought to pray for them...
You also wrote "A man who cannot keep his oath to his wife is unlikely to keep his oath to those who elected him .
A politician who cannot judge on such a simple matter ... will find it increasingly difficult to judge aright on the more graver issues facing a nation". I was always thinking the same. The Bible says that if you are not faithful/righteous in least, then you will not be faithful/rightous in much, Luke 16:10.
It is recorded in the scriptures that two thieves were crucified on either side of the Lord .
A careful and prayerful reading of the gospels reveals that at the beginning both thieves reviled the Lord .
There was no difference between them.
But as time passed ,things were said and done it made one thief THINK .
He thought of his past ,not good .
He thought of his present .not good .
He thought of the little future he had .not good .
Then he got really concerned for he saw his coming death and him standing before God .
When the other thief began to mock the Lord again ,this thinking thief " rebuked him and said ,"do you not fear God"?
We are are here for all our sins and fully deserve our fate . He judged himself and spoke the truth about himself .
But this man he continued " has done nothing worthy of death " . He judged Christ and spoke the truth about Him .
I hazard the thought no man speaks the truth about himself or of the Lord until he catches a real glimpse of Calvary .
Then this thief did a remarkable thing ,he turned ( his head at least) to the Lord and said " Lord remember me when though cometh into thy kingdom ".
Clearly the man has gone mad !?
For he is talking to a man in far worse agony than himself .
Mental agony : My God myGod why hast thou forsaken me ?" The Lord knew full well why The Father had forsaken Him .yet the mind of the man could not understand it . Not only was it real but scripture and it's fulfilment became one .
Physical agony : forget about the Turin shroud with its few artistic stripes of blood . His back had been so badly whipped " it looked like a ploughed field" his head pressed down with huge thorns . His face mot some handsome rugged man but one where his beard had "been plucked " from his face and who's face was so marred it was hardly recognisable as a man.
Spiritual agony : "He who knew no sin became sin" all the sin of the world ,past present and future was laid on Him .
Ephesians 1:14. The concept of the Kinsman-Redeemer was in the Book of Ruth; as to Boaz obtaining Ruth as part of his inheritance; or you could say "property". The concept of ownership is foreign in today's culture in terms of slavery; however we should look at verses such as Luke 17:10 on us being "unworthy servants" when we do what we are told. With the story of Ruth she was from a Gentile origin; and her sister Orpha decided to abandon Naomi when she told her to go back to her people (the Moabites). Apparently Ruth's first husband was an Israelite but he had died. Ruth hanging on despite Naomi asking her to go back reminds me somewhat of the tenacity of the Gentile woman asking for healing in Matthew 15:26. The colloquialism Christ used was of the dogs; yet she was commended for her faith.
Obviously; Christ redeemed us as His bride from among all mankind according to the Ephesians quote and this is mentioned in many other verses (Google search is always very helpful). As Boaz brought value to Ruth by marrying her and continuing the lineage of Naomi's family we are adopted as sons ( Romans 8:14-17). God took us; worthless sinners hopelessly lost and His enemies and took on our sin defeating it with His blood sacrifice once and for all at the Cross. He purchased us and it even pleased God to crush Him to accomplish this ( Isaiah 53:10). God's love therefore transcends our own as we would scarcely die for a righteous man let alone a wicked one (according to human standards) according to Romans 5:7.
Now that we are part of His family; we also will recieve crowns as a reward for faithfulness ( James 1:12 etc). We shall rule and reign with Him ( Matthew 19:28-29) but notice the caviat; "if we suffer for Him". We are warned in Revelation 3:11 about losing our reward; that is not a salvation issue. However; we need to make sure that we are producing fruit "meet of repentance" ( Acts 26:20). If He lives within us we are transformed and a new man.
It's not in the Bible . Do not worry too much about this, God is all powerful and is able to do anything that He wants to with any part of His creation .
....You are failing to understand there is a Child involved in his seed the contents of the book that he wrote with his own blood Even back under the O.C. there was a Child involved that Child of Promise ISAAC...That was multiplied as the sands of the seas the Nation of ISRAEL...it was Abrahams FAITH that brought this Child and the 12 tribes into being....Plz neva say Faith is nothin "everybody has it" thats not true...Faith is the result of his word and it was his word that formed the planets...Faith can only come by hearing his voice his seed...Today if you will hear his voice his seed the very seed of God...To whom the word came it made them Gods and the scripture cannot be broken..Which is the H.G. the Child of Promise...Plz remember it was God Almighty that made that Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of Heaven..Thus the Woman and her Children.
Even though the mention of 'faith' can bring up thoughts of the different aspects of expressing faith, such as the one you earlier gave of the London bus arriving at a bus stop, or even one having faith that someone would keep a planned appointment, etc., there's always that element of doubt, or a 'faith' that is more accurately described as 'hope'. There are many Christians, too many I suspect, that only entertain a hope that their salvation is secure, or that they will be found worthy at death to gain entrance into Heaven, and so they teeter on the edge of uncertainty. They might still call it faith, trying with all that's within them to believe that all is well, but in reality hoping that they're good enough or have done enough. Would we say that such folk have the faith that the Lord accepts & as described in Hebrews 11:1? They have trusted in the Lord, faithful in Christian exercises, but when tested on the firmness of their conviction, they falter, knowing that some doubt, even a little, causes them uneasiness.
Whereas Hebrews 11:1 to me, appears more explicit in describing real faith. The use of the words, 'substance' & 'evidence', essentially describes a reality when nothing in the human make-up would permit or entertain such a unswerving belief. Yes, we all go through times of doubt which sometimes brings on fear, but the earnest believer will resort immediately to the Word & prayer to find assurance that what was said & done can never be undone. The thief on the cross had lost everything; his faith in Jesus' Word was not just a word of comfort but of reality.
Man is not now a creation again each time out of the dust of earth .
He is born of a woman but that does not make the woman his creator either .
For it is God that forms us in the womb according to those laws already predetermined in the creation of Man .
We are now Born .
But not in Gods image .
If man had not disobeyed God and sinned he would also have been born in the image of God . The only one born in the image of God was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself . For He was and is the Word of God made flesh .
We then or anyone true born of the incorruptible seed which is the Word of God that image of God is once again found in them and is it not written " renewed daily in the image of Him"?
If a man or woman finds themselves in hell it will not be so much because they have sinned ( for all have sinned) but because they bore another image than Gods and are then rejected as His sons even as they rejected Christ . For he who receives me receives Him that sent me " it follows they who reject Christ reject also Him that sent Him.
GB
She did not remain a virgin for she clearly had relationship with Joseph her husband who had sons ; James being one of them and sisters as mentioned .
There is no record in scripture nor any theological foundation for the idea she was immaculately conceived .
But like all mankind of the seed of Adam and thus born in sin and shapen in iniquity .
Do not the scriptures in fact show her liniage ?
Nor was she transported up to heaven that too is not supported by scripture .
But would have died as all men die .
For it is appointed unto man once to die but then comes the judgement .
Might I suggest that an ' immaculate conception ' might well dazzle the imagination but it blinds mens minds to the truth .
Blessed above all women no doubt but we should not put people above what they are not .
Much has been made of Mary over the centuries that then as now has no basis in scripture .
Mary was not the mother of God ,she was the mother of the Lords flesh the mother of Jesus the Word made flesh.
While he was growing up Jesus was under the authority of His father and mother and obediently submitted to them as recorded when they all went up to Jerusalem and he stayed behind in the temple . When finally found he said I must be about my Fathers business but nevertheless submitted to them and returned home for His time was not yet come .
But from the moment He was baptised the record shows He never gave ground or suggested or allowed His mother to have any authority over Him. For He came not to do her will but the will of Him who sent Him.
Thus at the wedding feast of Canaan when his mother said they had no wine ,He replied ; not ' mother' but Woman what hast thou to do with me seeing that mine hour is not yet come ?"
Later in John he spoke of His hour had come when man would take Him at their will and do their will albeit Gods will was done ias foreseen and recorded in the Old Testament.
When Jesus was talking in a house and His mother according to his flesh was outside with his half brothers and sisters seeking to talk with him . He in effect denied his flesh and said His true mother and brethren are " they who do the will of God"
While on the cross and His mother and John were standing looking up watching . He said to His mother , "behold Thy son "
Not as some religionists would have it ,' look at me' but clearly in the context He was saying that John was now her son and tyen said to John behold Thy mother and from that moment on she lived with him at his house .
Even in his sufferings he made provision for His mother .
She was a virgin when Jesus was conceived in her womb . That does not make her sinless .
She herself confessed her " saviour" . The blood of a child is determined by the father not the mother .
2b contin
You say Gerald - in Reply
You will have to back that up with scripture and more than one verse at that .
This is more than just a verse, it is the foundation of the understanding of man and his situation in life.
That man is created in the image of God and the meaning of this, you do avoid to reply to this and when you do not reply I will not reply either.
So please do display what is the right view on the fundamental fact that man is created in the image of God.
Arnfinnius
But unless I have misunderstood you . Faith in of and by itself is nothing . He clearly saw a king if only dimly and one who was going to conquer death and " enter into His kingdom" it was what the thief saw and understood that made him put his faith In Christ . His confession ( in the truest sense) gave substance to his hope in Christ and calling Him Lord was the evidence of things hoped for .
"Without faith it is impossible to please God " but that too is a gift of God and it was the Lord that inspired that faith in Himself.
The assurance as the promise given in reward to his faith .
The faith itself was the evidence of his hope but the assurance came from the Lord .
It is quite a difference .
Like many other things in the religious world faith has been misunderstood misapplied in some cases and blown out of all proportion of what the scripture says it IS.
Everyone has faith . Even those who mocked the Lord .
As does everyone today and use it every day that is according to what faith IS .
Faith in God works by the same principles as real faith does in anything else .
It is how ever if put in Christ a sure and certain hope of our faith being rewarded .
GB .
I've been a child of God ,born again for over 40 years and still find the Bible inexhaustible.
A well very deep but with clear pure water for the drinking if you take the time and trouble to go for it .
Is it not written "they who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled"?
Keep on keeping on says the scripture for " then shall ye know as you follow onto know".
Waters up to the ankles . Safe enough for a child to paddle in .
Waters up to the loins . Safe enough for " young men" up to their loins who if their honest at first are a little afraid ,because they feel the power of the waters and know it could destroy them .
But to their delight and joy find ,
There are waters to swim in and the sea bares them up .
But even here the same scripture does not stop .
For while a man can swim the English Channel he is not going to be able swim the Atlantic or indeed the Pacific .
But what does the scripture say?
But I " could not go on and the angel led me to a river on who's banks trees were planted whos leaves were for the healing of the nations .
Keep eating keep studying keep thinking or meditating on the scriptures for no time spent doing so is wasted nor unfruitful if we do so prayerfully .
For we do but give the Holy Spirit the means to work in you that which pleases God to do .
Psalm 1 . Blessed is the man who meditates on Gods Word day and night ,"he is like a tree planted by the rivers of living waters ".
It is line upon line and precept upon precept and your right we cannot understand what we are not ready for or " able to bear"
But you would be surprised what God can do .
Is the body
Those who are not redeemed their body perishes becomes unusable ot fit for purpose .
One aspect of hell is that the unsaved have no body it has perished . But "every good and perfect gift cometh from the Father above" When we are thirsty he gives us water when we are hungry he provides the food .
In hell you will be thirsty but cannot drink being cut off from God on the one hand and unable to drink on the other .
Hungry but cannot eat .
The soul is saved ,the mind willingly renewed and the body redeemed .
It is the redeemed and transformed body that is to be revealed when the mortal shall put on immortality and the corrupt shall put on incorruption.
Another way of looking at it is that where as death reigned in our bodies when Jesus died he took the keys of death and hell and put them on his belt and when He was raised from the dead we who believe are raised together with Him and now life reigns .
But even as Adam was created with so much life took 800 odd years for that death ( after the fall) that now reigned in him.
So that utter defeat of the devil by His death will not be totally manifest till much later . Nor then we who are born again where Christ now reigns and theclaw of life . That life will progressively or should manifest itself in our mortal bodies .
For if this body is dead because of sin ,"if the same Holy Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead dwell in you He shall quicken your mortal body"
Consider also Paul's prayer for Christian's thst " the eyes of our understanding being opened that we may comprehend with all the saints what is the exceeding greatness of His power that is towards us even the same power that raised Christ Jesus from the dead"
Have you ever stopped to consider how much power is needed to raise the dead?
Though me thinks it's not a strain to God .
GB
The Apostle Paul is writing to the believers that they also had put their trust in Jesus after they had heard & believed the Gospel. They were sealed by the Holy Spirit - the Spirit is given to all who love & trust Jesus for their salvation & their lives. The Holy Spirit, by His residence in the believer, ministers to our hearts in every way. Some of the ways are: teaching ( John 16:12-15); Guiding ( Romans 8:14); Assuring ( Romans 8:16); Praying ( Romans 8:26, Ephesians 6:18); Comforting/Helping ( John 14:26).
But the foremost Work of the Spirit in the believer is to "seal" him, or 'set a mark' that we belong to Christ. And that is why Paul states in Romans 8:35-39 that nothing, absolutely nothing, can ever separate us "from the Love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord". And here in Ephesians, Paul is stating that our sealing (or, eternal security) by the Holy Spirit is our "earnest", or God's guarantee/pledge until our redemption. Some might say, 'I thought we were already redeemed when we believed & bought by Christ's precious Blood?' Yes, we were fully redeemed spiritually, i.e. inwardly, when we were born again, given a new Spirit, which is of God. But our flesh (body), still tainted with sin & prone to failure before God waits for, rather longs for the day when our redemption is made complete ( Romans 8:23). So Paul says in Ephesians, that our redemption will be made complete when we are taken from this Earth, given new bodies, outfitted for Heaven. And all praise & glory goes to the Lord Who has done all this for us.
Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You in the name of Jesus to come to Peter's aid right now and break the power of the evil these people are devising against him. We ask that You protect Peter's life and faith. Keep his mind safe from evil influences and turn these wicked people away from him and cause them to remove themselves far, far away from him. Father, renew Peter's sense of safety and peace as You intervene mightily in this situation. Give Peter wisdom and discernment to correctly evaluate this situation and be well aware of what is happening. Be his fortress and guard, protecting him from harm each and every moment. Amen.
I agree that it is the Holy Spirits task and pleasure to open up our understanding of Scripture. He is glad to do this when we honestly seek Him to show us what is true. We may need to check our biases and preconceptions before He will do this, but He is faithful to reach us through the Word and through one another.
Then after finding that this Man was in the same boat as he, presumably unable to save Himself or the others, his anger & reviling Jesus was his first painful utterance. But as you said, it was then that faith took hold: from what he knew of Jesus, what he saw of himself, turning his reviling into repentance. Death was certain for each of them; the thief's only life-line rested completely in the One Who was called Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
Hebrews 11:1 might be evident here also: the little faith that arose in the thief gave him the 'substance' (assurance) of what he hoped would be for him at the end of the line; and became 'evidence' (the proof that fully persuades the heart) of what could not be seen with the human eye or conceivable in the mind. Jesus saw both the man & his heart & gave him the double assurance with the promise that he would be with Him in paradise. This thief made it in just as salvation's doors were shutting on him - the other & so many others then & today, remain resistant to the Love of God in Jesus, will never make it and never get another chance to re-consider their error.
Amen, all praise, glory, and honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!
I hope you don't think I was accusing you of posting things "for fruitless arguing or for just beings' different' or contentious."
I would not do that. I thought I was respectful in what I shared with you. I did thank you for what you shared and I even told you that I agreed with much of what you said.
All we can do here is share our understanding, whether it be right or wrong.
You are absolutely correct in saying "there is no guarantee that knowing Greek or Hebrew will give you a right understanding of the scriptures.
That is true. There's also no guarantee that reading the English text is going to give us an understanding.
The only way we can understand scripture is if God through His Spirit reveals it to us. We have no way of comprehending God's word without His help. And we can only know if He wants us to know. There's so much scripture I still do not understand but it does not get me down because I come to realize that the reason I don't understand something is because He knows I'm not ready to understand it. The Lord will only give me what He knows I am ready to handle, and I'm okay with that.
Again, thank you for the things you've shared.
I'm afraid it's no use for you or anyone to give me the Greek or hebrew for I neither know enough about both to use them correctly or know if another is .
There's also no guarantee that knowing Greek or Hebrew will give you a right understanding of the scriptures .
For did not Saul of Tarsus know the scriptures ,more than most . Was not Hebrew his mother tongue ?
Yet did he understand the scriptures ? No! He so did not understand the scriptures he persecuted the church agreed with Stephens death and was charged with persecuting the Lord .
The Pharisees ,Sadducee's and Drs of the law did they understand the scriptures ? No! Yet Hebrew was their mother tongue yet so not unde4stoid the scriptures crucified the Lord himself .
If you know and understand Greek or Hebrew ( which is fine) be sure to still not lean upon your own understanding of Greek and Hebrew for that danger is even more prevalent. Not to undeminevyiur confidence in the Lord but rather to warn you or any that understanding both is no guarantee of understanding the scriptures as they were and are meant to be so .
We are not persuaded by faith but being persuaded by understanding the Word of God ,for faith in God comes by understanding the Word of God . It is not a product of faith . Faith is what you use when you have understood and intelligently respond in faith to what you know to be the truth .
There are not two types of faith . According to what faith IS ,all have a measure of it to " profit withal"
Faith works in the same way in the world ( my analogy of the bus proves it) as it does when our faith is in God .
It's the same faith .
The religious baggage that has been added to it is quite awful .
We do not have to get faith . We use our faith every day . If you havevever got on a plane . Not only have you put your faith in the pilots but also wether you understand them or not the laws of physics .
WORSHIPPING IN TRUTH AND IN SPIRIT. What does that mean? Let's try to see it through sacrificies. In The Old Testament times the Jews were going to the Temple of Solomon and worshiped God by offering sacrifices. We do the same, but the sacrifices are different now.
Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
So we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, a pure life full of God's Spirit.
1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" We have a spiritual Temple/House now ("Temple" in grk (Naos) means "Place of Residence") and as priest we offer our prayers for people as spiritual sacrifices to Father God.
Rev 5:8 "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of ODOURS, which are the prayers of saints"
Rev 8:3 "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the GOLDEN ALTAR which was before the throne"
So, again, our prayers stand as spiritual sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Although a more accurate translation is "confessing His name" So confessing, praising and thanksgiving are also spiritual sacrifices.
Thus filling ourselves with the Spirit of God (since we have no ability to do anything on our own) and staying in the Truth of God's written Word is worshipping God now(as well)
GBU.
Our bodily resurrection does not depend on if we were buried or cremated. Our present body is marred by sin, and so our decomposed remains (dirt) is also marred by sin. In the resurrection, these remains will be reconstituted into a flesh and bones body like Jesus has and not be marred by sin every again.
But after that 1000 years he is again loosed for a short while and those who have learnt nothing from the last righteous reign of God on earth ll be again deceived ,blinded and make war .
It is inconceivable that no one will be converted by the goodness of God and will resist the temptation and turn to zGod . But not many ,the gleanings that which is left over after the msin harvest.
Then all is gathered in nothing is lost . Then cometh the end .
With an argument to show how you reach that conclusion .
For I see no teaching of it in that regard .
For God is not a woman inside He has revealed himself to be the Father .
And we are to pray " Our Father ".
God is light He is light in out and all light and in him there is no darkness .
There is not a woman inside a man ( trying to get out?) The Lord was a man who did not have a woman inside him mystical or not. But He himself said it was " The Father in Him who did the work".
There is a reason why we have the scriptures . It is very difficult to make them say what they do not . The only way of course is to " twist the scriptures" or change them to a persons subjective thinking . This has also been done.
The Holy Bible has its own internal logic . It must be so and is because there was but one mind even Gods behind it .
If we are to get anywhere we have to learn to follow its logic and reasoning . Not our own .
In that way our lives are transformed by the renewal of our minds .
But in spite of all that The Lord inspired him to see something else .
" Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom"
He saw a King! Who even now inspired confidence and submission ,"Lord".
He not only saw a king but one who would conquer death and inherit that kingdom .
The Lord also inspired faith in him for he also saw that he could save him also .
" Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom "
God always responds to real faith and in turning his head the Lord said " this day shalt thou be with me in paradise "
That thief went into eternity with a promise .
In turning his head to the repentant thief ,the Lord turned his head away from the unrepentant thief who entered eternity with nothing .
Don't leave it to your death bed to repent you just may not have the time ,chance or indeed the attitude to do so.
The time to consider your ways and repent is now and turn to the Lord now.
For today is the day of salvation ,boast not yourselves of tomorrow for you no not what to,or row will bring forth ".
You also wrote "A man who cannot keep his oath to his wife is unlikely to keep his oath to those who elected him .
A politician who cannot judge on such a simple matter ... will find it increasingly difficult to judge aright on the more graver issues facing a nation". I was always thinking the same. The Bible says that if you are not faithful/righteous in least, then you will not be faithful/rightous in much, Luke 16:10.
A careful and prayerful reading of the gospels reveals that at the beginning both thieves reviled the Lord .
There was no difference between them.
But as time passed ,things were said and done it made one thief THINK .
He thought of his past ,not good .
He thought of his present .not good .
He thought of the little future he had .not good .
Then he got really concerned for he saw his coming death and him standing before God .
When the other thief began to mock the Lord again ,this thinking thief " rebuked him and said ,"do you not fear God"?
We are are here for all our sins and fully deserve our fate . He judged himself and spoke the truth about himself .
But this man he continued " has done nothing worthy of death " . He judged Christ and spoke the truth about Him .
I hazard the thought no man speaks the truth about himself or of the Lord until he catches a real glimpse of Calvary .
Then this thief did a remarkable thing ,he turned ( his head at least) to the Lord and said " Lord remember me when though cometh into thy kingdom ".
Clearly the man has gone mad !?
For he is talking to a man in far worse agony than himself .
Mental agony : My God myGod why hast thou forsaken me ?" The Lord knew full well why The Father had forsaken Him .yet the mind of the man could not understand it . Not only was it real but scripture and it's fulfilment became one .
Physical agony : forget about the Turin shroud with its few artistic stripes of blood . His back had been so badly whipped " it looked like a ploughed field" his head pressed down with huge thorns . His face mot some handsome rugged man but one where his beard had "been plucked " from his face and who's face was so marred it was hardly recognisable as a man.
Spiritual agony : "He who knew no sin became sin" all the sin of the world ,past present and future was laid on Him .
Yet in spite of all
Obviously; Christ redeemed us as His bride from among all mankind according to the Ephesians quote and this is mentioned in many other verses (Google search is always very helpful). As Boaz brought value to Ruth by marrying her and continuing the lineage of Naomi's family we are adopted as sons ( Romans 8:14-17). God took us; worthless sinners hopelessly lost and His enemies and took on our sin defeating it with His blood sacrifice once and for all at the Cross. He purchased us and it even pleased God to crush Him to accomplish this ( Isaiah 53:10). God's love therefore transcends our own as we would scarcely die for a righteous man let alone a wicked one (according to human standards) according to Romans 5:7.
Now that we are part of His family; we also will recieve crowns as a reward for faithfulness ( James 1:12 etc). We shall rule and reign with Him ( Matthew 19:28-29) but notice the caviat; "if we suffer for Him". We are warned in Revelation 3:11 about losing our reward; that is not a salvation issue. However; we need to make sure that we are producing fruit "meet of repentance" ( Acts 26:20). If He lives within us we are transformed and a new man.