Yesterday I was out driving doing errands and was thinking about the beauty of this little NW corner of the U.S. and how abundantly our lands produce food, materials and resources that supply our needs and then some. I was thinking of how we should be so grateful for God's richness in blessing us with clean water, soil that produces good crops, the means to generate energy to keep our homes electrified, heated and cooled as well as the materials to build homes.
From there I went to reminding myself how people in other areas of the world battle against the weather, lack of water, poor soils and resources we take for granted here. I thought of how we should pray for God to equally bless these people as He has us and that when we recall our blessings from Him we should also pray for God to open doors for us to help alleviate the hardship of others across the globe. The U.S.A. has a history of providing food for the needy in the world. May this country continue to have an overabundance of food produced to distribute worldwide. May the Lord show each of us how to best use our financial resources to help charities that provide necessities for those who do not have a life of ease as so many of us have as well as to share material blessings with others in need in our area.
Your post goes hand in hand with my thoughts yesterday. We all should be seeking God's will and kingdom instead of wealth and ease in this life. We should be content in what we have been given, work hard at whatever job He has provided for us, be wise with how we invest our "sweat equity" (such as how we renovate our home at this time) and to be joyful and ready always to help others aby way we can.
Sounds like seeing your psychiatrist and being honest about how you are dealing with this episode is a good plan. I am glad that you made the effort to caring for your teeth and reading the Bible. Two good starts. So hopefully you will do the same tonight helping to make these nightly habits. Little steps can take you a long ways.
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
This we shall see proved in two instances the first of which relates the tabernacle in the wilderness. Moses did all as was commanded of. "And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."(Ex.40:35).
The Temple of Solomon was built by man and we read how it fared on the day of its dedication. "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,/So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." The glory of the Lord sanctified it but the fellowship of God with man broke down completely. So there was nothing perfect in man's handiwork. In order for sanctification to work, there is the truth that the writer to the Hebrews presents, "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings./For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one."(He.2:10-11) Moses served as a double and Solomon also served as a double but he erred,"And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father."(1 Ki.11:1-6). God had set under the everlasting covenant far more precious temple which heart of man signifies as a sanctuary. So Christ of God has become, perfection. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1: 30). "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"(1 Co.3:16-17) "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
"But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised./ But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness."
What God here means by the little ones and what Jesus meant are same things held together not by age but according to the word of God. It is thus the number 40 becomes a sign fixed by the Spirit. Jesus Christ in his "woe-to-ye" discourse graded the martyrs each according his generation. (Matt.23:34-36). The woe is heaped,"That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth," and at the end he says when it shall occur, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.: He referred to his generation. That is the basis for the Law of Gradation. The Word of God bears the tag which is a Command number Four, Forty refers to man's life as mentioned in this verse,"And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness."(14:33). The impenitent and stiff-necked nation had to get used to the new math,-"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."(v.34). Forty days are considered adequate for man to be drilled in the will of God so Jesus was prepared by the Spirit to face the temptation of Satan. Similarly the risen Christ would be seen of by the disciples, and it for preparing 'the little ones' to be endued with power from above. So the usage of the little ones in both cases are reconciled.
For this reason we read how Moses prepared the 'lost' generation for the generational change."For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day." Moses prepared their little ones, for this day"(32:29)
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Jesus Christ declared, "I am the door" and it is not for shutting the sheep in for the night but to find fresh pasture. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This is the open door.( John 10:7-9) Robbers and thieves have their own agenda and earlier we have heard of them instituting Inquisition on the idea,"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."(1 Co.5:5). Jesus had empowered his little ones the power,"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). Jesus was emphatic on this point. Instead the robber-prelates would burn the heretics' and duly confiscate their property. They not only replaced the pure speech of the Lord but also whitewashed their covetousness, which is idolatry.
Jesus set this door while Moses set the same idea which is one and the same. "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Moses is set as the double for the Son. Not only he aligns with the Son in the manner God laid 'the chastisement of their peace' on this servant of God but also in the word. The same word was in the heart of man; for God fashioned their hearts alike. Moses pointed to 'this day' which is the day of Salvation. Jesus on the other hand extends the significance to 'that day' and it is a pasture. It is called the day of Regeneration. The Supper of the Great Good must begin with the intimacy each believer holds with Jesus Christ. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."(Re.3:20)
Thank you for asking, this subject is very sensitive to some, and I think you have been on this site long enough to know my understanding, I do not believe in that doctrine. I love everyone on this site, and I do not want to offend anyone. This is for our conscience's sake, that you must study for your understanding. Sorry if this is not the answer you were looking for.
In love you must study with no preconceived ideas and pray the Holy Spirit show you the truth.
"And I will send an angel before thee;... for I will not go up in the midst of thee."
God sent His word so Paul refers to it,"But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."(Ro.10:18). The same worlds framed by the word of God are sound, the voice of the Lord and asa sign you are the proof, because when you heard it you received it gladly and accepted Jesus Christ as the Saviour. We are dealing with today to which heaven is the other witness. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,/Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness."(Ps.90:7-8;He.3:8). We are repeating the same journey as the Israelites took, and it was a dry run, and for us upon whom the ends of the earth have come it is dead earnest. "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."(Is.30:21). The very same examples are before us which gives us pointers so our volume is not merely printed word of the Bible but the two witnesses working alongside.
" For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."(Ex.40:38)
The narrative mode of the Spirit sets the Law of Gradation which makes all our trials and temptations in context of the Son who in human likeness did suffer. Similarly when Jesus narrates the lists of martyrs, "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias" their generation touches as well. Thus we have a volume. "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."(Matt.23:35-36)
It is regrettable that more churches don't study Ecclesiastes as a good life lesson. It is something that American's with their lifestyle of wealth and ease compared with almost all of the rest of the world should be able to relate to if people are honest.
There is madness in men's hearts for various vain pursuits; and as the last verse in chapter 12 states the sum of the matter is to fear God (and I think keep His commandments).
It is; of course against nature to desire to die to self. Self preservation is instinctual; and no doubt is something designed by God.
What is aberrant is when such behavior is done in lieu of a higher calling of self sacrificial love when as believers much as Peter faced when Christ was captured and he denied Him we put our own needs above that of the Lord. We could also point out other things such as Agape love of our enemies which we simply can't do in the flesh. That goes the other way scripturally to when we follow God at the expense of those we love and things we used to run after. Peter apparently was married and yet chose to be away from home for the sake of the Gospel although it is possible his mother in law outlived his wife I suppose. Such action in general is not the Lord's will under normal circumstances as other scriptures demonstrate related to marriage covenant and commitments to our spouse and children. I would say in that case it is more related to those whose wife or husband's behavior is so heinous that permanent separation must occur (notice God doesn't use the term ex wife).
Anyway; everything is in our old self seemingly backwards once saved. Our interests; our efforts; our friendships should have a substantial change. God given talents can still be used but we should seek His will in continuing with our old vocation; for instance or perhaps shifting to active ministry. Our mindset needs to be on what His will is and our role to honor the Kingdom.
UGH now I know it is the enemy not just my stupid computer this is my THIRD attempt to write about the danger of the flesh in comparison to our new nature. Somehow another window zapped out my post this time...
I was in my defense looking up a verse 2 Thessalonians 2:10 about those who don't LOVE the truth and hence in the next verse believe THE lie. So I will make that my introduction because I realize the importance of that statement. I was going to bring up the TRUST factor in our faith. IF WE DON'T TRUST God's truth above our emotions we can and WILL be deluded; that has to be paramount in reading scripture not just acquiescence of truth but faith that anything CONTRARY is a lie. Of course (I'll let the reader search for the verse so I am not wiped out again) those who love Christ will obey what He says. There has to be BOTH to demonstrate true faith. That separates those disingenuous professers of faith who have no desire to obey His statutes. That isn't legalism; but means we don't live in a lifestyle of anarchy as the alternative.
I will probably do a series here on the flesh as it is such an enemy; our greatest enemy most of the time no doubt. It is more than just self denial or mutilation that is scriptural; it is putting to death the deeds of the flesh. This separates those who have some martyr complex; i.e. suffering just for the sake of proving something about themselves as opposed to taking part in Christ's sufferings. We; of course can't suffer and die for other's sins as He did; but nonetheless the privilege of suffering is given to us ultimately as a blessing because we are tested as gold in the fire and can look forward to great reward.
It is hard to comprehend the sway that these prosperity preachers have until we understand as Jeremiah 17:9 states of the sickness and depravity of men's hearts (in this case covetousness). Each of us however in our own way have gone astray in like manner; just with different sins.
Thank you for the question. The bible does teach that every single person who has ever been born into this world will one day stand before God to be judged. There will be a judgment for all believers which is known as the Bema Seat judgment of Christ, and then there will be another judgment called the Great White Throne judgment which comes after the thousand-year reign of Christ, and this judgment will be for all those who have rejected Christ.
I think what throws a lot of people off is the word "all," and it is assumed that everyone (both the wicked and the just) will all stand before God together at the same time. But this is not true. If we examine Revelation Chapter 20 closely, especially Revelation 20:13-14, we can see that these are the wicked who are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13 says that death and Hades both delivered up the dead that were in them. Right now, there are no believers in Hades. They were released with the Lord's message to them. After Jesus died on the cross for them, He descended into the lower parts of the earth, and all the believers that were in that part of Hades (Abraham's Bosom), they were taken with Christ.
But the non-believers were left there. The only ones in Hades right now are the ones who rejected Christ. And that's where all non-believers go today, until the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ.
So, to answer your question, do I believe Paul was talking to believers only in 2 Corinthians 5:10 when he said all? My answer to that is yes. If you begin at Verse 1 of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, and read all the way through in context, this can only be referring to believers.
But yes, we will all be judged, either at the Bema Seat judgement of Christ to determine our reward as believers, or later on at the Great White Throne Judgment, only to be judged and cast into the lake of fire, which is literally Hell.
Again, thanks for the question and blessings to you also!
Hi Jesse: I do want you to know I have only had a chance too read a small part of your postings because I have to work on them to put them in order before I can print them but I'm working on it. I have enjoyed what I have read so far.
As far as this posting goes why do you say: "That is the Bema seat. But please know that this judgement (Bema Seat of Christ) is for believers only. It's not the judgment of heaven and hell. We (those who belong to Christ) are already assured of heaven in Christ. But we will be judged, and that judgment is described for us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3."
Since in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10 it says "all" and "everyone" do you believe Paul was just talking about believers because he was talking to the Corinth and Roman churches?
Indeed, those are great Scriptures to show Christ's Divinity. But those very same Scriptures are re-interpreted by others to either mean something quite different or a minor variation to what you and I understand. Therefore, as mentioned, it is only by the Spirit of God can we come to the Truth, when we read & re-read God's Word, & the Spirit emphasizes those Truths to us that one day will make 'all the pieces fall in together'. But let us not judge another brother or sister on this, as sometimes the process can be long and through much conflict for them. And let's face it, we too might be facing a similar problem with another important doctrine or teaching, that we are waiting on the Lord for His revelation & enlightenment. Every blessing.
The post you placed on Nakedness and the difference between Adam and Christ. Was this to someone, you said more to come. I know you are busy, but this could be a good discussion for all to learn.
In the parable it is implied that the reward that the vineyard laborers received is the salvation of their souls. Nomatter when one believes in Christ, as a kid (the first hour) or as an old man (the twelveth hour) the reward is still the same, the Kingdom of God. If one believes in an early age then they have time to do a lot of work for God. If one believes as an old man, sometimes there is no time nor the abilitiy and energy to do anything. Remember the thief who was crucified next to Jesus? He wasn't able to do nothing for God, he was dying in a few hours time. But he was still saved.
Next, we must kow that the reward we will receive is not a result of our work. It is not a debt of God to us for our work for Him but it is a gift from Him. No matter how hard or for how long we work for God, it still is a gift from Him. There is no amount of work that we can do for God and offer to Him that can buy our salvation. Nomatter how much we work for Him and how much we try to be good men, we are still sinners and we deserve punishment, hell. And because God knows that, He offers us an escape door, which is our faith to Jesus. Which means that Jesus as a representative of all mankind was punished with death in our position, instead of us, although He wasn't a sinner Himself. So now everybody who accepts His sacrifice is free of punishment.
Couldn't God just forgive somebody without punishing him? No. He can forgive but still people had to be punished. God can not accept sinners in Heaven. We have to be holy. And how do clean ourselves and become holy? With Jesus blood, sacrifice. Example, if one goes to a court of justice because he stole something the judge may forgive him for doing so, because he understands the reasons he stole, but he also has to follow the law and imprison him. In our case Jesus was imprisoned instead of us. So we are now FREE.
I hope I haven't confused you, maybe others can make it clearer. GBU
Thank you, you and I and others on this site tell our understanding in love for each other as brothers and sisters whether we agree or not. There is no fear, for the things I have seen and have faced I left fear behind me years ago. We have a Savior greater than anything in this world that we may encounter, 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I can testify we can trust this verse; Jesus is greater than Satan, fallen angels, demons, or any evil we may face.
Like James wrote, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." But after this life is over, regardless of the amount of time, to us it will only be a blink in time until we will be resurrected, and we know who we will be with.
Have you talked with your doctor about these symptoms. It seems like they may indicate depression, so perhaps the doctor can help with treatments for that if it is so.
"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them." God sent the word before the worlds began and it is in the hour of crisis takes shape as pillars. These are witness whom the prophets have invoked. "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth."(De.32:1) They are two worlds framed by the word of God. So like the Spiritual Rock that followed the Israelites denote the presence of God.
These have their work as well to distinguish what was holy and what was not. "And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night." (v.20) On what basis they did it. The everlasting covenant spells out the division of light from darkness. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness./And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night."(Ge.1:4-5). "So that the one came not the other all the night," is according to the covenant.
Later when God refused to go with them,"And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:/Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee."He nevertheless would send his angel, " I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it,"(Ex.33:1-3). This angel signifies the advent of his Son. "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth."( Luke 1:26) Thus when Gabriel visits Mary we know that God was true to his word. " Their wandering in the wilderness is a dry run and a kangaroo event for the end times.
Scripture says it all Chris. There is nothing to debate.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD, our God, is one LORD ( Deut 6:4). In whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily ( Col 2:9). His name (Jesus) shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace ( Isaiah 9:6). We are made in God's image ( Gen 1:27), and Paul's prayer is that our whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Thess 5:23).
You must pray about this . It seems as if the things of this world might be getting you down . I feel like this a lot , when I look at this world and what's going on day after day , death and injustice , it's the prince of this world ramping up his attacks on us , trying to drag us down and make us doubt our God ,doubt His love , doubt His mercy , doubt His power and His promises .
Pray , every day give thanks and ASK , God wants us to ask Him for help . When we do this we are acknowledging Him , His love , power and mercy .
I thank Him daily for : sustaining and supporting me , physically , mentally , emotionally and spiritually , and I ask Him to please continue to do so . I confess that I can do nothing without Him and I thank Him for everything that He does for me every day . Do this regularly , from the heart . He is waiting for you to talk to Him .
Hi Derek , hope you don't mind me replying to you . You really need to read and study and understand the first five books of the old testament to understand the concept of what sin is and how it must be attained for if we humans are to be reconciled to our creator . Read especially about Adam and Eve in Genesis and God's response to their sin . Leviticus can be a hard book for some people but , it contains a wealth of knowledge and understanding if you just stick with it , Leviticus Ch 17 v 11 . Read them in the order they appear in your Bible . When you have been reading the new testament , have you never wondered why Jesus is sometimes referred to as the lamb if God ? Slain from the foundation of the world ? .
The answers to all your questions are there , in the Bible but , you have to be willing to learn and this takes time and effort . I hope you will make both because , there is nothing better than to draw a bit closer to you Heavenly Father and His Son . Make the effort , if you consider yourself to be a Christian you are supposed to understand what it is you believe in in case someone asks you , then you might have the opportunity to help someone else draw closer to our Creator . May God bless your efforts .
Over the golden calf incident God holds out this promise to him. God did not make this in jest neither did he pronounce his decision over the nation of Israel,"Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them."(Ex.32:34) God did visit them when God let them all perish in the wilderness save the two. " Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun."(Nu.14:30) Another change in their relationship between God and Israel was that his Angel or the presence, typified by the pillar of fire and of cloud would take over. "for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.:(Ex.33:3)
God promised Moses the pre-eminence and he submitted himself as the Intercessor which he refused. "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."(Ex.32-32). God had already established the everlasting covenant where Jesus Christ the Word become flesh was the slain Lamb before the worlds began and Moses could be only 'After our likeness.'. It is thus Moses is set down as the double for his Son. When God declares that he was sanctified over the Meribah incident it only meant the nation. His only begotten Son represents the whole world. This difference is brought out in the Tabernacle of the congregation. (Ex.33:7) "And called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp." Without the camp ties up with He.13:12-13) Volume of a believer opens to it and they serve as witness to what we are really. Ps.40:9
Moses, God and the Rock form the triad for man. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."(Ex.17:6) The word of God is what in the first place set the rock feed the people. God would bless them water. "The Rock was Christ . Action of Moses mattered: the chastisement of our peace was laid on Jesus Christ."((Is.53:5). Similarly his action at Meribah, "Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink."( Nu. 20:8)
"This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with theLord, and he was sanctified in them." (20:13). How was God sanctified among the Israelites on the second occasion? Chastisement of their peace was laid on Moses. "And theLordspake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them."(v.12) The Spirit sets a double knot on those who stand as the double for Jesus Christ. Their life and actions hold as individuals as well as in relation to the Son.
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;/Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape."
Christ is the Rock. St Paul qualifies him as the Spiritual Rock.(32:4;1 Co.10:4). Moses is referring to a nation for which Jacob is but a name.Whether one or a nation God considers man for His blessing in his Son, So his body formed out of dust from the ground is adequate; in his Son we have God make him ride high places. He is like the tree planted by the waters. He makes him eat the increase of the field and drink 'the pure blood of the grape.' This what fills up the volume of man. The blessings God has promised to man is from the fulness of God so honey and oil denote several gradations of his blessing. These are to be spiritually understood and explained so spiritually we compare these hold true whether it is applied to one or a nation.
Christ as the Rock presents the doctrine of God emblem of which forms the backdrop for his beatitudes.What he presents as the Word become flesh is "My doctrine shall drop as the rain" (32:2). The Spirit presents Moses as a double for his Son. He also lays down a rule how we interpret passages in the Bible. We shall consider his actions. "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Moses God and the Rock form the triad for man. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."(Ex.17:6) The word of God is what set the rock fed the people. "The chastisement of our peace was laid on Jesus Christ."
Greetings Jessie . I meant the parable of the vineyard laborers where they received unequal rewards based on time spent ( Matt 20). For the record, I'm not implying that God is unfair, but it seems His concept of fairness differs from society's? Job had severe trials by God, and some people face much harder lives than others. There's an inequality in the challenges people encounter-everyone has obstacles, but some, like those with severe disabilities, face significantly more.
(15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
(16) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Jesus wasn't treated fairly on earth either. I don't fully understand why He had to be tortured and die to atone for sins-can't God forgive without death or blood required? I don't know the origin of this rule or why it must be this way.
I would say that God is very fair, for He is a righteous and just God. It is the world that is not fair. It is humanity itself that's not fair.
Ezekiel 18:25, "Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not fair." Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not my way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?"
There were those in the house of Israel who were questioning the fairness of God. God's response was that His ways are completely fair, and that they were the ones who were unfair.
Leviticus 19:15 would show how God values fairness. It says, "Do not pervert justice; do not show favoritism to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
The very nature of God is that He is fair and just. There are several places in the bible that show how fair God is. Here are just a few places in scripture that show the fairness of God: Matthew 20:16, Romans 2:11, 1 Peter 1:17.
Would you be able to share why you feel God does not put much value on fairness? Also, what is your take on the parable of the talents?
I understand what you're stating here Everett, about the use of certain words, such as Trinity. But then we could apply that to a whole host of other words we liberally use as Christians that would confound the non-Christian mind. You mentioned 'Omnipresent', and we could include Omniscient, Omnipotent, Sanctification, Propitiation, etc. that would also be foreign words to most. So to give an answer to what "explanation that satisfies all people everywhere", is simply to explain what those words mean & test whether those meanings find some sort of understanding & agreement with your hearer. If he does understand, then you've moved just that one step closer to them understanding more Truth.
As mentioned earlier, that 'Trinity' can indeed be misinterpreted as 'three gods', but with explanation, that difficulty should be sorted out, though still beyond our full comprehension. I always wonder about those who reject God sending forth His Son from within Himself (God's Word made flesh), don't seem to have a problem (at least from what I have gathered) about God sending out His Spirit to move among men & to indwell every true believer. If I had a problem about accepting Christ's Deity, then I certainly would have a problem with the Spirit's Omnipresence, with God in Heaven becoming deficient or non-existent as a result of these departures from His Person.
But people will generally use their own intellect & understanding of the Scriptures to form their beliefs, and so it becomes a case of just presenting your understanding with supporting Scriptures & just leave it there. Only the Lord can sort us out in these things in us, when human limits are reached. Blessings.
Luke 11:38 - And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
This is another place in scripture where our English text doesn't give us the true meaning. This word washed is not like telling our kids to go in and wash your hands before dinner because you've been playing outside and you are all dirty.
This word washed is the word BAPTIDZO. This is a religious ceremony. He didn't go through the "ritual" of baptizing His hands before He sat down to eat so he could be ceremonially clean.
Luke 11:42 - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Again, the word woe, OUAI in Greek, literally means destruction.
Luke 12:9 - But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
I share this because I've heard this twisted before and some will say that if you don't confess Christ publicly that you are denying Him. That is not what it says!
This is important to understand. The word "deny," ARNEOMAI means to reject. The early church believers were put in a position where they either had to confess that Jesus is Lord or that Caesar is lord.
And by doing that, they would be denying that Jesus is Lord. So, in order for this to be true, one of two things has to happen. You have to confess Jesus or you have to deny Him, reject Him!
Luke 12:11 - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
In the phrase, "take no thought," the word "thought" is the word MERIMNA. That is Satan's only weapon against a believer. MERIMNA has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. Not the occupation of the mind, but the occupation of the attention of the mind.
Yesterday I was out driving doing errands and was thinking about the beauty of this little NW corner of the U.S. and how abundantly our lands produce food, materials and resources that supply our needs and then some. I was thinking of how we should be so grateful for God's richness in blessing us with clean water, soil that produces good crops, the means to generate energy to keep our homes electrified, heated and cooled as well as the materials to build homes.
From there I went to reminding myself how people in other areas of the world battle against the weather, lack of water, poor soils and resources we take for granted here. I thought of how we should pray for God to equally bless these people as He has us and that when we recall our blessings from Him we should also pray for God to open doors for us to help alleviate the hardship of others across the globe. The U.S.A. has a history of providing food for the needy in the world. May this country continue to have an overabundance of food produced to distribute worldwide. May the Lord show each of us how to best use our financial resources to help charities that provide necessities for those who do not have a life of ease as so many of us have as well as to share material blessings with others in need in our area.
Your post goes hand in hand with my thoughts yesterday. We all should be seeking God's will and kingdom instead of wealth and ease in this life. We should be content in what we have been given, work hard at whatever job He has provided for us, be wise with how we invest our "sweat equity" (such as how we renovate our home at this time) and to be joyful and ready always to help others aby way we can.
Have a great day today.
Sounds like seeing your psychiatrist and being honest about how you are dealing with this episode is a good plan. I am glad that you made the effort to caring for your teeth and reading the Bible. Two good starts. So hopefully you will do the same tonight helping to make these nightly habits. Little steps can take you a long ways.
I am happy to continue to pray for you.
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
This we shall see proved in two instances the first of which relates the tabernacle in the wilderness. Moses did all as was commanded of. "And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle."(Ex.40:35).
The Temple of Solomon was built by man and we read how it fared on the day of its dedication. "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,/So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord." The glory of the Lord sanctified it but the fellowship of God with man broke down completely. So there was nothing perfect in man's handiwork. In order for sanctification to work, there is the truth that the writer to the Hebrews presents, "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings./For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one."(He.2:10-11) Moses served as a double and Solomon also served as a double but he erred,"And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father."(1 Ki.11:1-6). God had set under the everlasting covenant far more precious temple which heart of man signifies as a sanctuary. So Christ of God has become, perfection. "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."(1 Co.1: 30). "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"(1 Co.3:16-17) "Be ye holy, for I am holy."
"But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised./ But as for you, your carcases, they shall fall in this wilderness."
What God here means by the little ones and what Jesus meant are same things held together not by age but according to the word of God. It is thus the number 40 becomes a sign fixed by the Spirit. Jesus Christ in his "woe-to-ye" discourse graded the martyrs each according his generation. (Matt.23:34-36). The woe is heaped,"That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth," and at the end he says when it shall occur, "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.: He referred to his generation. That is the basis for the Law of Gradation. The Word of God bears the tag which is a Command number Four, Forty refers to man's life as mentioned in this verse,"And your children shall wander in the wilderness forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness."(14:33). The impenitent and stiff-necked nation had to get used to the new math,-"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."(v.34). Forty days are considered adequate for man to be drilled in the will of God so Jesus was prepared by the Spirit to face the temptation of Satan. Similarly the risen Christ would be seen of by the disciples, and it for preparing 'the little ones' to be endued with power from above. So the usage of the little ones in both cases are reconciled.
For this reason we read how Moses prepared the 'lost' generation for the generational change."For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the Lord, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day." Moses prepared their little ones, for this day"(32:29)
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Jesus Christ declared, "I am the door" and it is not for shutting the sheep in for the night but to find fresh pasture. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This is the open door.( John 10:7-9) Robbers and thieves have their own agenda and earlier we have heard of them instituting Inquisition on the idea,"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."(1 Co.5:5). Jesus had empowered his little ones the power,"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). Jesus was emphatic on this point. Instead the robber-prelates would burn the heretics' and duly confiscate their property. They not only replaced the pure speech of the Lord but also whitewashed their covetousness, which is idolatry.
Jesus set this door while Moses set the same idea which is one and the same. "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." Moses is set as the double for the Son. Not only he aligns with the Son in the manner God laid 'the chastisement of their peace' on this servant of God but also in the word. The same word was in the heart of man; for God fashioned their hearts alike. Moses pointed to 'this day' which is the day of Salvation. Jesus on the other hand extends the significance to 'that day' and it is a pasture. It is called the day of Regeneration. The Supper of the Great Good must begin with the intimacy each believer holds with Jesus Christ. "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."(Re.3:20)
Thank you for asking, this subject is very sensitive to some, and I think you have been on this site long enough to know my understanding, I do not believe in that doctrine. I love everyone on this site, and I do not want to offend anyone. This is for our conscience's sake, that you must study for your understanding. Sorry if this is not the answer you were looking for.
In love you must study with no preconceived ideas and pray the Holy Spirit show you the truth.
God bless,
RLW
"And I will send an angel before thee;... for I will not go up in the midst of thee."
God sent His word so Paul refers to it,"But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."(Ro.10:18). The same worlds framed by the word of God are sound, the voice of the Lord and asa sign you are the proof, because when you heard it you received it gladly and accepted Jesus Christ as the Saviour. We are dealing with today to which heaven is the other witness. "For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,/Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness."(Ps.90:7-8;He.3:8). We are repeating the same journey as the Israelites took, and it was a dry run, and for us upon whom the ends of the earth have come it is dead earnest. "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."(Is.30:21). The very same examples are before us which gives us pointers so our volume is not merely printed word of the Bible but the two witnesses working alongside.
" For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys."(Ex.40:38)
The narrative mode of the Spirit sets the Law of Gradation which makes all our trials and temptations in context of the Son who in human likeness did suffer. Similarly when Jesus narrates the lists of martyrs, "That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias" their generation touches as well. Thus we have a volume. "Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation."(Matt.23:35-36)
It is regrettable that more churches don't study Ecclesiastes as a good life lesson. It is something that American's with their lifestyle of wealth and ease compared with almost all of the rest of the world should be able to relate to if people are honest.
There is madness in men's hearts for various vain pursuits; and as the last verse in chapter 12 states the sum of the matter is to fear God (and I think keep His commandments).
It is; of course against nature to desire to die to self. Self preservation is instinctual; and no doubt is something designed by God.
What is aberrant is when such behavior is done in lieu of a higher calling of self sacrificial love when as believers much as Peter faced when Christ was captured and he denied Him we put our own needs above that of the Lord. We could also point out other things such as Agape love of our enemies which we simply can't do in the flesh. That goes the other way scripturally to when we follow God at the expense of those we love and things we used to run after. Peter apparently was married and yet chose to be away from home for the sake of the Gospel although it is possible his mother in law outlived his wife I suppose. Such action in general is not the Lord's will under normal circumstances as other scriptures demonstrate related to marriage covenant and commitments to our spouse and children. I would say in that case it is more related to those whose wife or husband's behavior is so heinous that permanent separation must occur (notice God doesn't use the term ex wife).
Anyway; everything is in our old self seemingly backwards once saved. Our interests; our efforts; our friendships should have a substantial change. God given talents can still be used but we should seek His will in continuing with our old vocation; for instance or perhaps shifting to active ministry. Our mindset needs to be on what His will is and our role to honor the Kingdom.
I was in my defense looking up a verse 2 Thessalonians 2:10 about those who don't LOVE the truth and hence in the next verse believe THE lie. So I will make that my introduction because I realize the importance of that statement. I was going to bring up the TRUST factor in our faith. IF WE DON'T TRUST God's truth above our emotions we can and WILL be deluded; that has to be paramount in reading scripture not just acquiescence of truth but faith that anything CONTRARY is a lie. Of course (I'll let the reader search for the verse so I am not wiped out again) those who love Christ will obey what He says. There has to be BOTH to demonstrate true faith. That separates those disingenuous professers of faith who have no desire to obey His statutes. That isn't legalism; but means we don't live in a lifestyle of anarchy as the alternative.
I will probably do a series here on the flesh as it is such an enemy; our greatest enemy most of the time no doubt. It is more than just self denial or mutilation that is scriptural; it is putting to death the deeds of the flesh. This separates those who have some martyr complex; i.e. suffering just for the sake of proving something about themselves as opposed to taking part in Christ's sufferings. We; of course can't suffer and die for other's sins as He did; but nonetheless the privilege of suffering is given to us ultimately as a blessing because we are tested as gold in the fire and can look forward to great reward.
It is hard to comprehend the sway that these prosperity preachers have until we understand as Jeremiah 17:9 states of the sickness and depravity of men's hearts (in this case covetousness). Each of us however in our own way have gone astray in like manner; just with different sins.
Thank you for the question. The bible does teach that every single person who has ever been born into this world will one day stand before God to be judged. There will be a judgment for all believers which is known as the Bema Seat judgment of Christ, and then there will be another judgment called the Great White Throne judgment which comes after the thousand-year reign of Christ, and this judgment will be for all those who have rejected Christ.
I think what throws a lot of people off is the word "all," and it is assumed that everyone (both the wicked and the just) will all stand before God together at the same time. But this is not true. If we examine Revelation Chapter 20 closely, especially Revelation 20:13-14, we can see that these are the wicked who are judged and cast into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:13 says that death and Hades both delivered up the dead that were in them. Right now, there are no believers in Hades. They were released with the Lord's message to them. After Jesus died on the cross for them, He descended into the lower parts of the earth, and all the believers that were in that part of Hades (Abraham's Bosom), they were taken with Christ.
But the non-believers were left there. The only ones in Hades right now are the ones who rejected Christ. And that's where all non-believers go today, until the end of the thousand-year reign of Christ.
So, to answer your question, do I believe Paul was talking to believers only in 2 Corinthians 5:10 when he said all? My answer to that is yes. If you begin at Verse 1 of 2 Corinthians Chapter 5, and read all the way through in context, this can only be referring to believers.
But yes, we will all be judged, either at the Bema Seat judgement of Christ to determine our reward as believers, or later on at the Great White Throne Judgment, only to be judged and cast into the lake of fire, which is literally Hell.
Again, thanks for the question and blessings to you also!
As far as this posting goes why do you say: "That is the Bema seat. But please know that this judgement (Bema Seat of Christ) is for believers only. It's not the judgment of heaven and hell. We (those who belong to Christ) are already assured of heaven in Christ. But we will be judged, and that judgment is described for us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 3."
Since in 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10 it says "all" and "everyone" do you believe Paul was just talking about believers because he was talking to the Corinth and Roman churches?
God Bless :)
Yes, I believe that can be a great discussion.
I have so busy this week.
It would do well to get an concordance and see how Nakedness is often used in the Bible, in declares a sense of vulnerability.
Clothing often has spiritual significance as well.
In many places in the Bible clothing has symbolized the need to cover our sin and shame.
Nakedness and to be clothed is often used symbolically in scripture.
I will continue in a day or two.
God bless
May I ask what do you believe about the Trinity? God Bless :)
The post you placed on Nakedness and the difference between Adam and Christ. Was this to someone, you said more to come. I know you are busy, but this could be a good discussion for all to learn.
God bless,
RLW
In the parable it is implied that the reward that the vineyard laborers received is the salvation of their souls. Nomatter when one believes in Christ, as a kid (the first hour) or as an old man (the twelveth hour) the reward is still the same, the Kingdom of God. If one believes in an early age then they have time to do a lot of work for God. If one believes as an old man, sometimes there is no time nor the abilitiy and energy to do anything. Remember the thief who was crucified next to Jesus? He wasn't able to do nothing for God, he was dying in a few hours time. But he was still saved.
Next, we must kow that the reward we will receive is not a result of our work. It is not a debt of God to us for our work for Him but it is a gift from Him. No matter how hard or for how long we work for God, it still is a gift from Him. There is no amount of work that we can do for God and offer to Him that can buy our salvation. Nomatter how much we work for Him and how much we try to be good men, we are still sinners and we deserve punishment, hell. And because God knows that, He offers us an escape door, which is our faith to Jesus. Which means that Jesus as a representative of all mankind was punished with death in our position, instead of us, although He wasn't a sinner Himself. So now everybody who accepts His sacrifice is free of punishment.
Couldn't God just forgive somebody without punishing him? No. He can forgive but still people had to be punished. God can not accept sinners in Heaven. We have to be holy. And how do clean ourselves and become holy? With Jesus blood, sacrifice. Example, if one goes to a court of justice because he stole something the judge may forgive him for doing so, because he understands the reasons he stole, but he also has to follow the law and imprison him. In our case Jesus was imprisoned instead of us. So we are now FREE.
I hope I haven't confused you, maybe others can make it clearer. GBU
Thank you, you and I and others on this site tell our understanding in love for each other as brothers and sisters whether we agree or not. There is no fear, for the things I have seen and have faced I left fear behind me years ago. We have a Savior greater than anything in this world that we may encounter, 1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. I can testify we can trust this verse; Jesus is greater than Satan, fallen angels, demons, or any evil we may face.
Like James wrote, "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." But after this life is over, regardless of the amount of time, to us it will only be a blink in time until we will be resurrected, and we know who we will be with.
God bless,
RLW
Have you talked with your doctor about these symptoms. It seems like they may indicate depression, so perhaps the doctor can help with treatments for that if it is so.
I will continue to pray for you.
"And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them." God sent the word before the worlds began and it is in the hour of crisis takes shape as pillars. These are witness whom the prophets have invoked. "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth."(De.32:1) They are two worlds framed by the word of God. So like the Spiritual Rock that followed the Israelites denote the presence of God.
These have their work as well to distinguish what was holy and what was not. "And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night." (v.20) On what basis they did it. The everlasting covenant spells out the division of light from darkness. "And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness./And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night."(Ge.1:4-5). "So that the one came not the other all the night," is according to the covenant.
Later when God refused to go with them,"And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:/Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee."He nevertheless would send his angel, " I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it,"(Ex.33:1-3). This angel signifies the advent of his Son. "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth."( Luke 1:26) Thus when Gabriel visits Mary we know that God was true to his word. " Their wandering in the wilderness is a dry run and a kangaroo event for the end times.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD, our God, is one LORD ( Deut 6:4). In whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily ( Col 2:9). His name (Jesus) shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace ( Isaiah 9:6). We are made in God's image ( Gen 1:27), and Paul's prayer is that our whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ ( 1 Thess 5:23).
Pray , every day give thanks and ASK , God wants us to ask Him for help . When we do this we are acknowledging Him , His love , power and mercy .
I thank Him daily for : sustaining and supporting me , physically , mentally , emotionally and spiritually , and I ask Him to please continue to do so . I confess that I can do nothing without Him and I thank Him for everything that He does for me every day . Do this regularly , from the heart . He is waiting for you to talk to Him .
The answers to all your questions are there , in the Bible but , you have to be willing to learn and this takes time and effort . I hope you will make both because , there is nothing better than to draw a bit closer to you Heavenly Father and His Son . Make the effort , if you consider yourself to be a Christian you are supposed to understand what it is you believe in in case someone asks you , then you might have the opportunity to help someone else draw closer to our Creator . May God bless your efforts .
"And I will make of thee a great nation."
Over the golden calf incident God holds out this promise to him. God did not make this in jest neither did he pronounce his decision over the nation of Israel,"Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them."(Ex.32:34) God did visit them when God let them all perish in the wilderness save the two. " Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun."(Nu.14:30) Another change in their relationship between God and Israel was that his Angel or the presence, typified by the pillar of fire and of cloud would take over. "for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.:(Ex.33:3)
God promised Moses the pre-eminence and he submitted himself as the Intercessor which he refused. "Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."(Ex.32-32). God had already established the everlasting covenant where Jesus Christ the Word become flesh was the slain Lamb before the worlds began and Moses could be only 'After our likeness.'. It is thus Moses is set down as the double for his Son. When God declares that he was sanctified over the Meribah incident it only meant the nation. His only begotten Son represents the whole world. This difference is brought out in the Tabernacle of the congregation. (Ex.33:7) "And called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp." Without the camp ties up with He.13:12-13) Volume of a believer opens to it and they serve as witness to what we are really. Ps.40:9
Moses, God and the Rock form the triad for man. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."(Ex.17:6) The word of God is what in the first place set the rock feed the people. God would bless them water. "The Rock was Christ . Action of Moses mattered: the chastisement of our peace was laid on Jesus Christ."((Is.53:5). Similarly his action at Meribah, "Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink."( Nu. 20:8)
"This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with theLord, and he was sanctified in them." (20:13). How was God sanctified among the Israelites on the second occasion? Chastisement of their peace was laid on Moses. "And theLordspake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them."(v.12) The Spirit sets a double knot on those who stand as the double for Jesus Christ. Their life and actions hold as individuals as well as in relation to the Son.
He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;/Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape."
Christ is the Rock. St Paul qualifies him as the Spiritual Rock.(32:4;1 Co.10:4). Moses is referring to a nation for which Jacob is but a name.Whether one or a nation God considers man for His blessing in his Son, So his body formed out of dust from the ground is adequate; in his Son we have God make him ride high places. He is like the tree planted by the waters. He makes him eat the increase of the field and drink 'the pure blood of the grape.' This what fills up the volume of man. The blessings God has promised to man is from the fulness of God so honey and oil denote several gradations of his blessing. These are to be spiritually understood and explained so spiritually we compare these hold true whether it is applied to one or a nation.
Christ as the Rock presents the doctrine of God emblem of which forms the backdrop for his beatitudes.What he presents as the Word become flesh is "My doctrine shall drop as the rain" (32:2). The Spirit presents Moses as a double for his Son. He also lays down a rule how we interpret passages in the Bible. We shall consider his actions. "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Moses God and the Rock form the triad for man. "Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel."(Ex.17:6) The word of God is what set the rock fed the people. "The chastisement of our peace was laid on Jesus Christ."
(15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
(16) So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Jesus wasn't treated fairly on earth either. I don't fully understand why He had to be tortured and die to atone for sins-can't God forgive without death or blood required? I don't know the origin of this rule or why it must be this way.
I would say that God is very fair, for He is a righteous and just God. It is the world that is not fair. It is humanity itself that's not fair.
Ezekiel 18:25, "Yet you say, "The way of the Lord is not fair." Hear now, O house of Israel, is it not my way which is fair, and your ways which are not fair?"
There were those in the house of Israel who were questioning the fairness of God. God's response was that His ways are completely fair, and that they were the ones who were unfair.
Leviticus 19:15 would show how God values fairness. It says, "Do not pervert justice; do not show favoritism to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly."
The very nature of God is that He is fair and just. There are several places in the bible that show how fair God is. Here are just a few places in scripture that show the fairness of God: Matthew 20:16, Romans 2:11, 1 Peter 1:17.
Would you be able to share why you feel God does not put much value on fairness? Also, what is your take on the parable of the talents?
Blessings!
As mentioned earlier, that 'Trinity' can indeed be misinterpreted as 'three gods', but with explanation, that difficulty should be sorted out, though still beyond our full comprehension. I always wonder about those who reject God sending forth His Son from within Himself (God's Word made flesh), don't seem to have a problem (at least from what I have gathered) about God sending out His Spirit to move among men & to indwell every true believer. If I had a problem about accepting Christ's Deity, then I certainly would have a problem with the Spirit's Omnipresence, with God in Heaven becoming deficient or non-existent as a result of these departures from His Person.
But people will generally use their own intellect & understanding of the Scriptures to form their beliefs, and so it becomes a case of just presenting your understanding with supporting Scriptures & just leave it there. Only the Lord can sort us out in these things in us, when human limits are reached. Blessings.
Luke 11:38 - And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
This is another place in scripture where our English text doesn't give us the true meaning. This word washed is not like telling our kids to go in and wash your hands before dinner because you've been playing outside and you are all dirty.
This word washed is the word BAPTIDZO. This is a religious ceremony. He didn't go through the "ritual" of baptizing His hands before He sat down to eat so he could be ceremonially clean.
Luke 11:42 - But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Again, the word woe, OUAI in Greek, literally means destruction.
Luke 12:9 - But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
I share this because I've heard this twisted before and some will say that if you don't confess Christ publicly that you are denying Him. That is not what it says!
This is important to understand. The word "deny," ARNEOMAI means to reject. The early church believers were put in a position where they either had to confess that Jesus is Lord or that Caesar is lord.
And by doing that, they would be denying that Jesus is Lord. So, in order for this to be true, one of two things has to happen. You have to confess Jesus or you have to deny Him, reject Him!
Luke 12:11 - And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
In the phrase, "take no thought," the word "thought" is the word MERIMNA. That is Satan's only weapon against a believer. MERIMNA has to do with the occupation of the attention of the mind. Not the occupation of the mind, but the occupation of the attention of the mind.