Your last comment that a man is both man and woman needs clarification on your part given the prevailing foolishness around the world .
GENESIS 1 - 27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God created man in his own image and He does not have a counterpart, there is One God, in this context that means that when man is a woman, he bears the man inside, he is both, Man is made of spirit like God is spirit. We unveil a sacred mystery of our nature in our marriage between man and woman
Please nuance your question if anything still is unclear Gerald.
I would like to see the meaning of the word "humble" using the text in Philippians 2:5-11. Verses 7-8 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross." How did Jesus humbled Himself? By becoming obedient to Father God(v 8). So, often(but not always) when the Bible talks about humbling, it actually means obeying God. When we obey God we humble ourselves, because we accept God as superior who is always right and who knows the best for us, so we put away our beliefs, our ambitions in life, our ways of living and behaving and we follow His commandments and wishes and plans for us. GBU
My belief about that is (but I wouldn't bet my head on it).
I don't think that Jesus meant a specific number of years (40, 60, whatever) when He said about a generation. I believe a generation is a literal generation, I will explain. The signs described by Jesus start when a nation starts fighting another nation, a general war, a world war ( Matthew 24:7). Assuming that that is WW2 that started in 1939, then people who were born in that date are now 83 years old. A lot of people from that generation are still alive, and people can get even older than 100 or more (even more than 110) years old. So there is still time, but not that much. In that generation's time the 7 year period of antichrist is included as well, so actually we are running short of time fast. But as I said I wouldn't bet my life on that theory. GBU
This is old testament. After Jesus died for our sins we merely need to believe with all our being He is the One & Only Savior/the Way, Truth & Life to have ever lasting life for eternity w/H in heaven. No rule or laws will save us. Him alone! Acts 13-Philimons is for todays way of living because He died for All & All sins. i.e. Paul's Apistles, for he was ordained by Christ to speak to Gentiles therefore baptizing them in the spirit. Peter was to speak to Jews.
Heavenly Father, we ask You today to cover Anabel with Your healing grace as she undergoes surgery. We ask that everything with the surgery goes well without complications and that she will fully recover without further problems. Father, have mercy on Anabel and comfort her. Grant her peace and renew her strength in her whole body. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
Often we read or hear the word of God and we say "I'm going to do that". For instance We shall love one another as I have loved you. How are we carrying that out as a whole?
This is not anything our flesh wants us to do.
I believe the inerrant word of God CAUSES us to do something our natural man couldn't do.
This is Agape!
This is what Jesus asked Peter in John 21:15-17.
Peter understood. Peter responded "You know I love you Lord".
Peter didn't use the word Agape, he used phile. Perhaps that's the highest degree of Love the flesh is capable of.
He knew he wasn't capable.
Neither was the disciples ready for ministry until the were filled with the Holyspirit.
We're talking about fruit barring that Israel "being a degenerate vine" couldn't do. " Matthew 21:43.
You can't command someone to Love the way God loves.
I believe in Matthew 21:43 that nation mentioned here is the Church Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:9.
Here's another reference of where our righteous deeds if counted worthy must come from within the heart. Matthew 23:25-28. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, CLEANSE FIRST THAT WHICH IS WITHIN THE CUP AND PLATTER, THAT THE OUTSIDE OF THEM MAY BE CLEAN ALSO.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Thankyou for your excellent reply to me . I truly enjoyed it . I wonder though , if sometimes the name satan is used metaphorically , in the new testament especially . Also , I wonder why God would permit satan and his messengers access to heaven ? For what purpose ? We know , that all of God's creation s as an open book to Him , we can talk to Him , He can see us all hear us all etc . Why does any one or anything need to go to heaven if God is with us all and can see and hear us all all the time ? If we know that we are always in God's sight and can talk to Him whenever we wish then surely satan knows that God sees and hears him all the time ? Why does he need to go to heaven and why would God permit him to ? I can't read what I've written to you , it's the oy tie I've even been glad for auto correct and predictive text , new glasses tomorrow ! Thanks again .
But Jesus clearly taught there is no marriage in heaven .
Having said that we will know each other ,for even Peter knew or recognised Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration.
And did not the disciples eventually come to recognise the Lord?
Mary who thought He was the gardener in the garden tomb did not recognise Him for who He was because in her mind she saw Him die and in a manner that so impressed upon her imagination that it blinded her to who He was .It was the word and calling of her name " Mary" that opened her eyes and she recognised Him.
We will not only see and recognise the Lord but all who are His and have gone before us .
That love of God does not fade away but is indeed of such depth hight and breadth we shall live and move and have our being in it . In truth every child of God already knows in part of it .
God heals the broken hearted with that same love and tender care if we let Him .
It should not be thought that Satan having been cast out of heaven would or could be allowed into that same heaven again.
But given the fall of man and the devils dominion he does have access to be able to accuse the brethren .
But we ,if redeemed have a witness .The blood that speaks of better things than the blood of Abels.
For " IF we sin we have an advocate with the Father .. "1 John .
Might I suggest that advocates are found in court as too witnesses .
It is in the UK a Crown court and tried by the Crown .
It is not the Palace . Nor indeed in the very presence of the Crown .
A poor if not beggarly example .
But which none the less may help.
But in all truth somethings can't be understood before other things are understood and while it is good to enquire to search and to study . It is always good to be patient for the answers .
For in my experience if you ask a good question on the foundation of belief and trust in God you will always sooner or later get a good answer .
Ask however on the foundation of unbelief and you going down a bottomless pit which not even a good answer will satisfy .
My attempt might not be acceptable for some nor indeed for you . But still when you ask questions you should be patient and wait on God for the answer .put the ' book ' so to speak up on the shelf and get it down every so often and chew on it some more .
It took 10 years once for one answer to come . It did not trouble me but I did " hide it in my heart" and let God lead me into all truth . A jig saw puzzle needs must have the side pieces and corners done first . They are the milk of the Word .
Easily identifiable and put together .
The earthly parts are the next in my book and much easier than the heavenly parts which are left till last ,I'm speaking of myself .
The heavenly things are usually the most difficult for we are most unlike them to start with .
Notwithstanding this what's on the table is ours to eat if we can or " able to bear it" .
The Bible has its own internal logic and is consistent with itself which follows from the fact that " all scripture is inspired ." By the same author who knows the mind of God and the deep things of God".
The use of the term " sons of God" therefore cannot be taken as angels who are not sons of God nor then begotten of God .
Jesus being "the ONLY begotten Son of God " is thus equal with God and is God the Son .
If we are truly born again then we are also begotten of God through Jesus Christ . Which is in itself consistent with the fact that we are a new creation but also begotten of God in and through Jesus Christ .
For by him and through Him all things consist .
We are therefore sons of God begotten of the Father through Jesus Christ .
For while "only the Father has life in himself "and is not dependent on anything else or who's life is from something else .
Jesus taught that The Father has also given this to the Son ( Jesus) who has life in Himself .
Thus it is written " Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God"
He then that relieves me said Jesus receives Him that sent me " thus then " He who has the Son has life ,he who has not the Son has not even seen life yet"
For He is our life having given His life for Sin so that we might live .
My first born son bore my image because I was his father and he came forth from me . If I had not been his father ,he would not have born my image but the image of his true father and I would have rejected him as my son.
Man was created in the image of God but he is born in the image of his father Adam.
You therefore must be born again of that incorruptible seed which is the word of God. For if you are not you do not nor cannot bear the image of God nor can you therefore be a son of God.
Given we are drawing near to Christmas ,it might be to a lot of peoples profit not to squabble over the date of the Lords birth but rather read carefully and prayerfully what actually happened .
For one thing the unknown number of wise men were not there at His birth nor present at " the manger "
For they " came to the HOUSE where the CHILD was "
When Herod diligently sought of them when they first saw the star on that information he ordered the death of everyone two years old and younger . It took those unknown number of wise men up to two years traveling from the east to get to Jerusalem.
It is also reasonable to assume they did not follow the star from whence they first saw it to Jerusalem ,nor indeed needed to . For the Silk Road was well known as also the capital of the Jews ,Jerusalem . Where else do you find the King?
The star would not have led them to Jerusalem . Their own thinking did that .
Yet when told they would , by the scriptures find Him in Bethlehem then they saw the star " and were exceedingly glad".
Which led them to the house where the child was .
The truth is far more interesting than any man made scenario.
This thinking about angels fallen or otherwise fornicating with the daughters of men contradicts all of scripture .
For as Jesus clearly taught angels are not as men nor given in marriage . They are sexless .
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and did that which was right or good in their own eyes .
They had a sold Cain then another called Abel.
Cain proved to be unrighteous in that he did that which was good in his own eyes and offered up the works of his own hands and by the sweat of his brow .
Abel followed the pattern laid down in the garden by God and offered up a sacrificed lamb. Which was good in the sight of God and accepted .
You thus have two lines man . The righteous and unrighteous line .
They were not to mix . Ballam who prophesied for money held the truth in unrighteousness and taught the enemy of Isreal to get their daughters to marry to children of Isreal and thus by degree lead them away into idolatry and in consequence. Gods judgement and their defeat .
A question : How long did it take for the children of Isreal to go from Egypt to the promised land?
I would hazard the thought that most if not all will say 40 years .I too once thought so.
It only took them a little over two years .Three months of which was spent at mount Sinai.
But we the church has inclined to believe it took 40 years emphasising the wandering in the wilderness rather than the truth .
We have made Jordan death and the promised land heaven . Even some of the great old hymns do so . While Jordan is a type of death it is not that death and heaven is not the promised land for there are no giants to overcome or land to be conquered .
We have made the wandering in the wilderness as te Christian norm. Despite miracles every day twice on Saturday . Despite shoes and cloths never wearing out . The fire by night to lead and keep them warm . The cloud by day to lead and to shade them. Despite water flowing from a rock etc etc . They were still all but two maybe three outside of the will of God .
Did not Paul warn the church not to be like them " who entered not in because of unbelief"? Unbelief is not just not believing God it is actually also believing another message .
Did not the same Paul warn and was concerned that the church be not deceived as Eve was? Who also believed the truth changed into a lie?
We have been robbed!
Getting out of Egypt was but being born again . By the Word of God ,by the blood of a lamb and by the power of God .
The wilderness was a proving ground ,boot camp if you will here they were to learn that " man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that Proceeds from the mouth of God" exodus .
It was not meant to last all our lives . For 40 years .
It only took the just over two years and God said to them " go in and posses the land for I have given it to you " Did not then God expect them to be ready and obey?
He was justified in his expectation for He had two witnesses ,Joshua and Caleb who were ready.
alex1939....Hiya Neville.... Matthew 19:28...Blessed are them that follow me in the REGENERATION when the son of man is revealed...The last days when the book is opened and the seals are loosed.. that book that he wrote with his own blood...Thats when they all sang that new song ( the new Covenant) when Jesus will regenerate himself with his seed sown in humanity the contents of the book (words) of that book...Rev.12:5 is a picture of Regeneration of Christ...Her Child is the H.G. The Promise
..... Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness that we have done but by his mercy he saved us...By the washing and REGENERATION of the H.G.
.....That last generation is his (Jesus) GENERATION...Thats when the woman becomes pregnant for his Children, The Children of Promise,The H.G. are the Children of PROMISE....Our New Heart n New Spirit...As that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit ...
....Which is the H.G. The Israel of God...That Heavenly Jacob..Read Romans 9:8 KJV
We were once indeed ' filthy and vile' and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags in His sight"
But I see no where in the scriptures that we continue to be so after we are truly born again .
For are we not now IN Christ and Christ IN us? If we are His?
Are we not now made acceptable in Him ? Ephesians .
Did not the prodigal son given a change if raiment, new shoes and a ring on his finger?
Are we not commanded to " put off the old man " filthy and vile .and "put on Christ"?
Indeed are we not crucified WITH Christ ? The old man " Buried with Christ"?
The living are not buried only the dead .
Jesus DIED and was buried .and all that was laid on Him with him .
"For He who knew no sin became sin ."
Not only must and should believe in his death and resurrection but we need to understand that we in and through Him died with Him .That filthy and vile sinner you speak of that " body of this death " by our faith in Him died also and was buried .
Indeed by the scriptures it was while we were DEAD in our sins ,Christ died and raised us up together WITH Him .
Ephesians .
Into newness of LIFE not only raised us up together WITH Him but also made us sit together with Him in heavenly places" Ephesians.
How then should we consider ourselves filthy and vile?
How can we call unclean what God has called clean?
How are we so vile on the inside if we are clothed with Christ? Impossible .
For that would make us at best hypocrites far worse it would make God false who is only satisfied with the outward appearance.
But if any man be IN Christ they are a new creation ,behold old things have passed away and behold ALL things have become new "
God does a complete job or a perfect job .Are we saying then we are now sinless and perfect ? No.
For this body is still subject to sin and death and corrupt . But what says the scriptures? "Let not sin REIGN in your mortal body "
Why? Because if sin reigns you will obey .
Christ must reign and if He does you will obey Him
An unrighteous man cannot do a righteous work for how can a fountain bring forth sweet and bitter waters?
Your right though it is a subject littered with mines laid by many a foolish man.
Suffice to say that while we are are using the same word ,' WORKS' a careful and prayerful reading of both James and Paul shows they are speaking about two different sort of works.
An unrighteous man cannot do a righteous work for how can a fountain bring forth sweet and bitter waters?
Your right though it is a subject littered with mines laid by many a foolish man.
Suffice to say that while we are are using the same word ,' WORKS' a careful and prayerful reading of both James and Paul shows they are speaking about two different sort of works.
Hello, We must always remember that while works do not save us only Gods work so to speak at Calvary .
A true born child of God of the Word and the Spirit have righteous works that will be rewarded . " For He will not forget our labour of love" nor is God any man's debtor .
Thus a child of Gods works will be tested or tried by fire be they wood or stubble or something more lasting ( spiritual ) .
The unconverted will be judged unto condemnation and damnation before God.
The saved will also be judged not unto condemnation but of their deeds done in the body .
Crowns of "righteousness " and of " life" etc are rewards the crown of a martyr can only be won by a true martyr.
All the glory is Gods whatever we do for "He doeth the work " and it is God that workers both to will and to do of His good pleasure " nevertheless is it not written " we are co workers with God"?
The " works" of James and the works of Paul though both using the same word with careful and prayerful reading wil show they are talking about two different sorts of works .
Lazerus could not and did not contribute anything nor initiate anything toward his resurection from physical death;
I would say he did, he opened his house for the LORD, he made the LORD the master of his house, so to say he stepped aside.
He drank the suffering laid on him as the will of the LORD, and finally he had empty space within him so the spirit of the LORD's call upon found room to settle and move him forward and up from the tomb.
Hello , you replied to me that in the ten commanents it says tjou shalt not kill . Thankyou I know that but don't know why you sent me this reply . It's ok though , I'm easily confused , getting new glasses tomorrow !
My husband died last year, the question is will we be married when I die, we are soulmates we wanted to be together in eternity? Will my husband or let's just say anyone be met at the gates by their spouse or is this just taught by the church, so you won't be afraid to die. Tell me I read this about 50 times before my husband died, he had questions before he died, I said love is eternal, love never dies, he said he felt this was never discussed in church and that he never heard it in a Sunday sermon I think he wanted to know if we would know each other, or was that a lie? we were taught that you would be with your family when you got to heaven or your spouse. The rules can't stay the same for millions of people are counting on seeing family. When will hearts be together the priest talked about being with your loved ones after death, rules after to change This is a new world now, I want to be with my husband after being 39years.
Your last comment that a man is both man and woman needs clarification on your part given the prevailing foolishness around the world .
GENESIS 1 - 27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God created man in his own image and He does not have a counterpart, there is One God, in this context that means that when man is a woman, he bears the man inside, he is both, Man is made of spirit like God is spirit. We unveil a sacred mystery of our nature in our marriage between man and woman
Please nuance your question if anything still is unclear Gerald.
Arnfinnius
I would like to see the meaning of the word "humble" using the text in Philippians 2:5-11. Verses 7-8 "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE HUMBLED HIMSELF, AND BECAME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH, even the death of the cross." How did Jesus humbled Himself? By becoming obedient to Father God(v 8). So, often(but not always) when the Bible talks about humbling, it actually means obeying God. When we obey God we humble ourselves, because we accept God as superior who is always right and who knows the best for us, so we put away our beliefs, our ambitions in life, our ways of living and behaving and we follow His commandments and wishes and plans for us. GBU
My belief about that is (but I wouldn't bet my head on it).
I don't think that Jesus meant a specific number of years (40, 60, whatever) when He said about a generation. I believe a generation is a literal generation, I will explain. The signs described by Jesus start when a nation starts fighting another nation, a general war, a world war ( Matthew 24:7). Assuming that that is WW2 that started in 1939, then people who were born in that date are now 83 years old. A lot of people from that generation are still alive, and people can get even older than 100 or more (even more than 110) years old. So there is still time, but not that much. In that generation's time the 7 year period of antichrist is included as well, so actually we are running short of time fast. But as I said I wouldn't bet my life on that theory. GBU
Peter would certainly know the humbling work of God.
If we tried to humble ourselves we'd probably would brag about it.
God bless.
Often we read or hear the word of God and we say "I'm going to do that". For instance We shall love one another as I have loved you. How are we carrying that out as a whole?
This is not anything our flesh wants us to do.
I believe the inerrant word of God CAUSES us to do something our natural man couldn't do.
This is Agape!
This is what Jesus asked Peter in John 21:15-17.
Peter understood. Peter responded "You know I love you Lord".
Peter didn't use the word Agape, he used phile. Perhaps that's the highest degree of Love the flesh is capable of.
He knew he wasn't capable.
Neither was the disciples ready for ministry until the were filled with the Holyspirit.
We're talking about fruit barring that Israel "being a degenerate vine" couldn't do. " Matthew 21:43.
You can't command someone to Love the way God loves.
I believe in Matthew 21:43 that nation mentioned here is the Church Peter mentions in 1 Peter 2:9.
Here's another reference of where our righteous deeds if counted worthy must come from within the heart. Matthew 23:25-28. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
Thou blind Pharisee, CLEANSE FIRST THAT WHICH IS WITHIN THE CUP AND PLATTER, THAT THE OUTSIDE OF THEM MAY BE CLEAN ALSO.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Thanks Brother Jesse.
God bless you.
But Jesus clearly taught there is no marriage in heaven .
Having said that we will know each other ,for even Peter knew or recognised Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration.
And did not the disciples eventually come to recognise the Lord?
Mary who thought He was the gardener in the garden tomb did not recognise Him for who He was because in her mind she saw Him die and in a manner that so impressed upon her imagination that it blinded her to who He was .It was the word and calling of her name " Mary" that opened her eyes and she recognised Him.
We will not only see and recognise the Lord but all who are His and have gone before us .
That love of God does not fade away but is indeed of such depth hight and breadth we shall live and move and have our being in it . In truth every child of God already knows in part of it .
God heals the broken hearted with that same love and tender care if we let Him .
But given the fall of man and the devils dominion he does have access to be able to accuse the brethren .
But we ,if redeemed have a witness .The blood that speaks of better things than the blood of Abels.
For " IF we sin we have an advocate with the Father .. "1 John .
Might I suggest that advocates are found in court as too witnesses .
It is in the UK a Crown court and tried by the Crown .
It is not the Palace . Nor indeed in the very presence of the Crown .
A poor if not beggarly example .
But which none the less may help.
But in all truth somethings can't be understood before other things are understood and while it is good to enquire to search and to study . It is always good to be patient for the answers .
For in my experience if you ask a good question on the foundation of belief and trust in God you will always sooner or later get a good answer .
Ask however on the foundation of unbelief and you going down a bottomless pit which not even a good answer will satisfy .
My attempt might not be acceptable for some nor indeed for you . But still when you ask questions you should be patient and wait on God for the answer .put the ' book ' so to speak up on the shelf and get it down every so often and chew on it some more .
It took 10 years once for one answer to come . It did not trouble me but I did " hide it in my heart" and let God lead me into all truth . A jig saw puzzle needs must have the side pieces and corners done first . They are the milk of the Word .
Easily identifiable and put together .
The earthly parts are the next in my book and much easier than the heavenly parts which are left till last ,I'm speaking of myself .
The heavenly things are usually the most difficult for we are most unlike them to start with .
Notwithstanding this what's on the table is ours to eat if we can or " able to bear it" .
The use of the term " sons of God" therefore cannot be taken as angels who are not sons of God nor then begotten of God .
Jesus being "the ONLY begotten Son of God " is thus equal with God and is God the Son .
If we are truly born again then we are also begotten of God through Jesus Christ . Which is in itself consistent with the fact that we are a new creation but also begotten of God in and through Jesus Christ .
For by him and through Him all things consist .
We are therefore sons of God begotten of the Father through Jesus Christ .
For while "only the Father has life in himself "and is not dependent on anything else or who's life is from something else .
Jesus taught that The Father has also given this to the Son ( Jesus) who has life in Himself .
Thus it is written " Man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God"
He then that relieves me said Jesus receives Him that sent me " thus then " He who has the Son has life ,he who has not the Son has not even seen life yet"
For He is our life having given His life for Sin so that we might live .
My first born son bore my image because I was his father and he came forth from me . If I had not been his father ,he would not have born my image but the image of his true father and I would have rejected him as my son.
Man was created in the image of God but he is born in the image of his father Adam.
You therefore must be born again of that incorruptible seed which is the word of God. For if you are not you do not nor cannot bear the image of God nor can you therefore be a son of God.
For on the face of it it is but an assertion .
Thanks . GB
For one thing the unknown number of wise men were not there at His birth nor present at " the manger "
For they " came to the HOUSE where the CHILD was "
When Herod diligently sought of them when they first saw the star on that information he ordered the death of everyone two years old and younger . It took those unknown number of wise men up to two years traveling from the east to get to Jerusalem.
It is also reasonable to assume they did not follow the star from whence they first saw it to Jerusalem ,nor indeed needed to . For the Silk Road was well known as also the capital of the Jews ,Jerusalem . Where else do you find the King?
The star would not have led them to Jerusalem . Their own thinking did that .
Yet when told they would , by the scriptures find Him in Bethlehem then they saw the star " and were exceedingly glad".
Which led them to the house where the child was .
The truth is far more interesting than any man made scenario.
GB
For as Jesus clearly taught angels are not as men nor given in marriage . They are sexless .
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God and did that which was right or good in their own eyes .
They had a sold Cain then another called Abel.
Cain proved to be unrighteous in that he did that which was good in his own eyes and offered up the works of his own hands and by the sweat of his brow .
Abel followed the pattern laid down in the garden by God and offered up a sacrificed lamb. Which was good in the sight of God and accepted .
You thus have two lines man . The righteous and unrighteous line .
They were not to mix . Ballam who prophesied for money held the truth in unrighteousness and taught the enemy of Isreal to get their daughters to marry to children of Isreal and thus by degree lead them away into idolatry and in consequence. Gods judgement and their defeat .
So it was also in the beginning .
So it is now .
Be not unequally yoked ,so says the scripture .
I would hazard the thought that most if not all will say 40 years .I too once thought so.
It only took them a little over two years .Three months of which was spent at mount Sinai.
But we the church has inclined to believe it took 40 years emphasising the wandering in the wilderness rather than the truth .
We have made Jordan death and the promised land heaven . Even some of the great old hymns do so . While Jordan is a type of death it is not that death and heaven is not the promised land for there are no giants to overcome or land to be conquered .
We have made the wandering in the wilderness as te Christian norm. Despite miracles every day twice on Saturday . Despite shoes and cloths never wearing out . The fire by night to lead and keep them warm . The cloud by day to lead and to shade them. Despite water flowing from a rock etc etc . They were still all but two maybe three outside of the will of God .
Did not Paul warn the church not to be like them " who entered not in because of unbelief"? Unbelief is not just not believing God it is actually also believing another message .
Did not the same Paul warn and was concerned that the church be not deceived as Eve was? Who also believed the truth changed into a lie?
We have been robbed!
Getting out of Egypt was but being born again . By the Word of God ,by the blood of a lamb and by the power of God .
The wilderness was a proving ground ,boot camp if you will here they were to learn that " man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that Proceeds from the mouth of God" exodus .
It was not meant to last all our lives . For 40 years .
It only took the just over two years and God said to them " go in and posses the land for I have given it to you " Did not then God expect them to be ready and obey?
He was justified in his expectation for He had two witnesses ,Joshua and Caleb who were ready.
..... Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness that we have done but by his mercy he saved us...By the washing and REGENERATION of the H.G.
.....That last generation is his (Jesus) GENERATION...Thats when the woman becomes pregnant for his Children, The Children of Promise,The H.G. are the Children of PROMISE....Our New Heart n New Spirit...As that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit ...
....Which is the H.G. The Israel of God...That Heavenly Jacob..Read Romans 9:8 KJV
But I see no where in the scriptures that we continue to be so after we are truly born again .
For are we not now IN Christ and Christ IN us? If we are His?
Are we not now made acceptable in Him ? Ephesians .
Did not the prodigal son given a change if raiment, new shoes and a ring on his finger?
Are we not commanded to " put off the old man " filthy and vile .and "put on Christ"?
Indeed are we not crucified WITH Christ ? The old man " Buried with Christ"?
The living are not buried only the dead .
Jesus DIED and was buried .and all that was laid on Him with him .
"For He who knew no sin became sin ."
Not only must and should believe in his death and resurrection but we need to understand that we in and through Him died with Him .That filthy and vile sinner you speak of that " body of this death " by our faith in Him died also and was buried .
Indeed by the scriptures it was while we were DEAD in our sins ,Christ died and raised us up together WITH Him .
Ephesians .
Into newness of LIFE not only raised us up together WITH Him but also made us sit together with Him in heavenly places" Ephesians.
How then should we consider ourselves filthy and vile?
How can we call unclean what God has called clean?
How are we so vile on the inside if we are clothed with Christ? Impossible .
For that would make us at best hypocrites far worse it would make God false who is only satisfied with the outward appearance.
But if any man be IN Christ they are a new creation ,behold old things have passed away and behold ALL things have become new "
God does a complete job or a perfect job .Are we saying then we are now sinless and perfect ? No.
For this body is still subject to sin and death and corrupt . But what says the scriptures? "Let not sin REIGN in your mortal body "
Why? Because if sin reigns you will obey .
Christ must reign and if He does you will obey Him
One can of course humble oneself into hell as many a false religion east or west promotes .
But real humility is a frank and honest appraisal and recognition that we ,you and I are but men and God is God .
The burning bush of Moses was not God ,Nor God the burning bush but God spoke nonetheless from its midst .
Is it not written " Because I do not change oh Jacob you are not consumed"?
And in another place that God " is a consuming fire"?
And was it not one like unto the Son of God who stood with those three in the fiery furnace? Who were not consumed by it ?
Jesus truly is the only way .
Your right though it is a subject littered with mines laid by many a foolish man.
Suffice to say that while we are are using the same word ,' WORKS' a careful and prayerful reading of both James and Paul shows they are speaking about two different sort of works.
Gerald
I'm not sure then what you mean .GB
Your right though it is a subject littered with mines laid by many a foolish man.
Suffice to say that while we are are using the same word ,' WORKS' a careful and prayerful reading of both James and Paul shows they are speaking about two different sort of works.
Gerald
In another it is written ,He was "DRIVEN" . Both are right .
In another place " He must needs go to Samaria "
They that are led by the Spirit they are the sons of God" Sometimes also we must needs go or do this .
For the same Holy Spirit that was in Him and led or drove Him dwells also in every true believer .
"For He shall not only be with you but shall be in you and shall abide with you forever "
A true born child of God of the Word and the Spirit have righteous works that will be rewarded . " For He will not forget our labour of love" nor is God any man's debtor .
Thus a child of Gods works will be tested or tried by fire be they wood or stubble or something more lasting ( spiritual ) .
The unconverted will be judged unto condemnation and damnation before God.
The saved will also be judged not unto condemnation but of their deeds done in the body .
Crowns of "righteousness " and of " life" etc are rewards the crown of a martyr can only be won by a true martyr.
All the glory is Gods whatever we do for "He doeth the work " and it is God that workers both to will and to do of His good pleasure " nevertheless is it not written " we are co workers with God"?
The " works" of James and the works of Paul though both using the same word with careful and prayerful reading wil show they are talking about two different sorts of works .
I would say he did, he opened his house for the LORD, he made the LORD the master of his house, so to say he stepped aside.
He drank the suffering laid on him as the will of the LORD, and finally he had empty space within him so the spirit of the LORD's call upon found room to settle and move him forward and up from the tomb.
Regards
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