Thank you kindly for two lovely posts, with which I wholeheartedly agree, and that is why I am here. Everywhere I go, all I get is the three-leaf clover with the words, "The Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit is not the Father." For crying out loud! God is one. I point out, trying to keep it simple, that we are in the image of God, that we are body, soul, and spirit while being one person, and that God cannot be divided.
I show all the scriptures; these are just a few, but they get brushed aside. What sincere Christian would do such a thing?
1. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. [ Col 2:9]
2. All of God is in Christ. [To wit, that God was in Christ] 2Co 5:19]
3. All the fullness of the Father dwells in Christ. [For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, Col 1:19]
4. God was manifested in the flesh. [And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, 1Ti 3:16]
5. God dwelt among us. [And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, Joh 1:14]
6. Jesus is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father. Isa 9.
7. All things were created by Jesus. Col 1:16.
8. Jesus is God with us (Immanuel). Matt 1.
Anyway, it looks like I am in the right place, and I am glad-just one thing. I am not a wordy person, and I like to keep it simple. With Christian love, thank you. Everett.
6And at midnight(at the turn from he sixth to the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day)there was a cry made,Behold,the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to MEET Him.
Acts 1:8-11
8But ye shall receive power,after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you:and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,and in all Judaea,and in Samaria,and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9And when JESUS had spoken these things,while they beheld,He was taken up;and a CLOUD received JESUS out of their sight.
10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as JESUS went up, behold,TWO MEN stood by them in white apparel; (Comment: Would the two men had been Gabriel and Michael- Daniel 12:6-13 combined with Genesis 19:1-3and 12-15?By the way,what is the difference between sea & river in the Scriptures?Being the sea=waters=peoples and nations,and multitudes of all tongues,and the waters of the river:Who are them?Are not them exclusively the elected people of GOD redeemed by JESUS- John 7:38-, or even His Church,His body?)
11The two men said:Ye men of Galilee,why stand ye gazing up into heaven?this same JESUS,which is taken up from you into heaven, shall SO COME IN LIKE MANNER(in the same place,and the same CLOUD- Matthew 24:30)as ye have seen JESUS go into heaven.
1Thes.4:16-18
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud,to meet the Lord in the air(in the ineffable, indescribable,unspeakable environment of the 3rd heaven)and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Matt. 25:10 ->And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:and the door was shut.
The Word of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting,the Word is GOD, GOD Himself,self-executing.Great mystery-> Matthew 11:27
Hi Everett. My understanding is that the word 'Trinity' (also referred as Triunity) and the word 'Triune' mean the same thing. Some people find the word 'Trinity' offensive, simply because in their minds it denotes a belief in 'three gods'. But with explanation, that erroneous belief can be corrected.
I note that you have given those words different meanings. So in my understanding, I don't believe that 'Trinity' speaks of three individuals or three gods, but the One God Who expresses Himself in the ways we read of in the Bible: and that is by His Spirit & by His Word. And both are fully within the Godhead revealing God to us in His Fullness.
The Spirit & the Word do not 'operate' independently, using their own Will or purposes to accomplish their tasks. All that the Word has accomplished, whether at the first by revelation to the prophets ( Hebrews 1:1), and now made flesh ( John 1:1,14) to be called the Son of God ( Hebrews 1:2), is what I understand from the Scriptures.
Likewise, the Spirit of God was sent out to infill people to understand & proclaim God's Word and now to baptize repentant sinners who have turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ. That the Word & the Spirit have been sent out by the Father, doesn't mean that God is now deficient in any way, remaining helpless, but all that the Father speaks & accomplishes is done by Himself alone by His Word & Spirit. I hope that I have given you a clear understanding of my position on this doctrine.
The Spirit makes an unbroken narrative thread from the beginning till eternity. In Ex.15:27 the Spirit gives us 12 wells at Elim."where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." The number 12 foreshadows Christ exhorting,"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." ( John 7:37). What Moses qualifies as 'my speech' refers to him. This is 'my doctrine, the Gospel of Christ. Up and Down and Across the Gospel has the tag 12 and it does not change.
At Elim there were 70 palm trees (7x10) and they signify trees of righteousness. We have 70 elders upon whom God sent the Spirit and they were the Associates of Moses. This Seventy foreshadows the seventy other disciples whom Jesus sent to preach. ( Luke 10:1)
"And theLordsaid unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, /And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."(Nu.11:7-8)
Compare the vision of Ezekiel with Re.22:1-2 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."(Ez.47:12)
The living waters beginning from heaven holds both heaven and the earth as one and this pure river of water of life gives us what everlasting to everlasting would mean. (Col.1:17).What does this signify? Up and Down and Across can only be understood in him.
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth./My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:/ Because I will publish the name of the Lord."
In continuation of the post titled Thy name we have this key text as spoken by Moses. It is encapsulated by the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The Spirit gives us a clear demonstration of what is meant by "After our likeness" in putting words of the Son in Moses. He is what the similitude in theological sense delineates. It is similtude of the Lord as the verse makes clear. "With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold."(Nu.11:8). "The words of my mouth" are not parables where God and Moses are concerned. He is after our likeness, as Jesus as the Word made flesh, so we have his doctrine repleted with 'loaded' words as dew, as small rain and the showers. What holds them together? Is it not the river of time sent forth as the word gone forth from the mouth of God? We read "from the waters which were above the firmament" several states so the mist, " But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground"(Ge.2:6;1:7) mist gives over to small showers giving us a lapse of time.
The Spirit makes an unbroken narrative thread from the beginning till eternity. In Ex.15:27 the Spirit gives us 12 wells at Elim."where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." The number 12 foreshadows Christ exhorting,"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." ( John 7:37). What Moses qualifies as 'my speech' refers to him. Up and Down and Across have tags 12 and 70 (7x10) trees of righteouss
"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
We shall accept Holiness as all-inclusive name for 'thine own name" which is on the basis "The Word was God." Virgin Mary stirred by the Spirit defines His name, "Holy is his name." He revealed to Moses, "I am that I am". ( Luke 1:49;Ex.3:14). God gives his own name so the body, the church may be one, "As we are". This pattern explains God was with the Word.
Principle of Similitude sets the realities of heaven and of the earth on a single standard which is the Word become flesh. This is designated as the Man component in whom whosoever heard the call and received Jesus Christ as his Saviour is an associate. This principle is stated in Matt.10:40. " He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
In the Parable of the Leaven Jesus sent the Word which spreads from one end of the heaven to another. The Parable is about the kingdom of heaven. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matt.13:33) The everlasting gospel works Up and Down and also Across.
God sent his Word which is sound as well as a sign. So in Lucan Gospel we have the Association,"The Word was with God" stated differently,"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16)
Evangelist Matthew has the charge given to 12 disciples while St Luke gives us Seventy other disciples. Matthew is referring to the Word become flesh and himself as the Gospel of Christ. St Luke is giving us instead the Word which 'in the beginning' was with God. In both cases the great commission reconciles Up and Down and Across by the risen Christ. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth..../and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."(Matt.28:18-20)
Luke 7:23 - And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The word offended means stumble over!
Luke 7:29 - And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Again, the word "publicans" just means a tax collector. And they "justified God." And what that means, it is actually a Greek term for a Hebraism that means they declared God right.
Luke 7:41 - There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
So, Jesus says that there was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed him five hundred DENARII, 500 days wages.
That is a lot of money, almost two years' worth. And the other owed fifty, 500 and 50.
Luke 8:1 - And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
And it came to pass afterward, and in the Greek text it literally says in succession. This is the next thing that happened, but not exactly the same day or the next day. Some of these incidents are anywhere from three to six months apart as far as their proximity to each other.
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
This word "blessed" MAKARIOS means to experience the fullness of someone or something. And the word "poor" in this verse (PROKOS) means physical poverty! Now remember the Lord has His disciples there. He has got the 12 apostles that He has just appointed, and He's looking at them, and He's teaching the crowd, and He says pay attention here people, the fullness of God is experienced and is upon the life of the poor!
Luke 6:27 - And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
The word "saw" in the Greek text is not your normal word (BLEPO) to see somebody, but actually Jesus observed him. Jesus was studying him and watching him.
And the word "publican" means a tax collector.
Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
The word "thank" here is the word grace in the Greek text. It reads what grace do you have?
Luke 6:35 - But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
In the Greek, it's an act of violence. He is violently removed from them, and then shall they fast in those days. He will be taken away, it will be a time of grief, and then they will fast.
Luke 6:37 - And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Again, the word "bottles" is not what we think in English. The Greek tell us that these are wine skins.
Luke 6:40 - The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
The word "perfect" is the word KARATEIDZO. This is the same word used for the fishermen who were mending their nets when Jesus came to call them.
Luke 5:18 - And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Again, this word palsy tells us that this man was a paralytic, paralyzed from the neck down. Please don't get the wrong idea about this bed because it was like a cot that just rolls up. And these men, the carriers, we are told in Mark that there were four of them. Four people that brought this paralyzed man to Jesus, and they were seeking the means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:22 - But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Jesus perceived their thoughts. And you see, they didn't say it out loud, they were thinking it. DIALOGEIDZOMAI is the Greek word. They were dialoguing in their minds. Who does this guy think He is? That is blasphemy. The Lord says "I know what you are thinking." And so, He answering said unto them, "What reason you in your hearts?"
Luke 5:24 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Again, this could be translated (he said unto the paralyzed man).
Luke 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
The Greek work for "strange things" is PARADOXSOS, and it's where we get our word paradox from. What they were literally saying was, "We have seen a paradox today!" In our English text, we can go in many different directions as to what "strange things" might mean.
Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
A man whose right hand was withered. Literally in the Greek, it is shriveled up, or shrunk.
Luke 5:11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
When they had brought their ships to land, and please notice this: they forsook all. It is called an Aorist Passive Participle in the Greek. It means it was a one-time thing. They turned their back on the old life and never went back. But you have to understand what they turned their back on.
You see, we know that when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him earlier, that they left their father in the boats, and they were following Jesus. In order to completely forsake everything to follow Christ, they are giving up their inheritance because that shipping industry would be passed on to them after their father dies. So, they are leaving their whole future from a human standpoint. All of their inheritance, they forsook it all and followed him.
The word "followed" is in the imperfect tense, meaning they were continually following Him. One time thing! They left all, turned their backs on the old life, and were continually following Him. Now just by way of side note you should know that this is not the first time they've seen Jesus, nor the second. This is at least the third time.
We know that the end of John Chapter 1 that Andrew introduced Jesus Christ to Peter. He says we have found the Messiah. And it was at that time that Peter was introduced to Christ. And they left that scene, and they went back home, and they were in the fishing industry and remember Jesus walked along the shore and called them and says follow me, and they responded. And here they are again. This is the final stage where they finally left everything, and they were continually following Him.
Luke 5:1 - And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Now this has nothing to do with Biblical Greek studies, but I just wanted to share some information about the lake of Gennesaret that's mentioned in this verse. Gennesaret is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Tiberius in John 6:1 and John 21:1. So the Sea of Galilee, the lake Gennesaret, and the Sea or Lake of Tiberius are all the same place.
The word "Gennesaret" itself comes from the Hebrew word KANNAR that means heart. And that is because the Lake is heart-shaped. And so, with certain people, at different phases of history, they didn't call it the Sea of Galilee. They called it the lake of Gennesaret because it is in the shape of a heart. So KANNAR is the Hebrew word, and it is where we get the name Gennesaret from.
Luke 5:5 - And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
The word toiled is KOPOS, and that means to work to the point of exhaustion.
Luke 5:6 - And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The word "brake" is actually an Imperfect Tense in the Greek, which tells us that the net didn't really break because then you would lose your fish. But it was to the point that it was starting to tear. This could have been translated, "and their net began to tear."
"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."
Three in the Parable indicates a sign or a tag which the Holy Spirit uses to signify the Son as a sign. So the leaven is the Gospel referring to Jesus Christ as the Word become flesh. Man who keeps the word is "after our likeness" so his soul and spirit and body, till the whole was leavened. Moses refers to this wholeness, and it shall be in thy heart,- "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:5-6). The kingdom of God is about the fulness of God.
"All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them." (v.35)
Parables have the kingdom after our image so the wholeness is called a glorious body, "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."(Ep.5:27)
Parables are the means to separate good from the tares and Us from Them.
"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world"(v.35) This explains the "After our likeness" whereby the seven days carry signs that keep the Word and the Man as Associates as well as after a similitude. 'The seed in itself' on day three is with regards to the word of God. So Jesus faults the Pharisees,"But ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.:( John 8:37) and "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up".(Matt.15:13) Jesus as a sign was in his birth as well.(Is.7:14). Parable keeps the leavening process across so Principle of Association is set forth in Matt.10:40. The Word as a seed after a similitude works Up and Down.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Word is God and Jesus in his prayer makes clear what Us and Them entailed. Ministry of Jesus began on the human level where the twelve received him as the Word made flesh."They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." In v.20 Jesus refers to a larger group,"also which shall believe on me through their word." In short 'Thy word' made them Us and the world that refused were enemies to truth. In the beginning was the Word and it made the two groups as predestinated fill in their respective worlds. It is thus the King in the Parable of Jesus dismissed the goats on the left side. " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"(Matt.25:41). The word is truth because the Word was God and it shall be thus from everlasting to everlasting.
God created man "after our likeness' sets the pattern or the template where Jesus Christ as the Man is 'only begotten' because of the Word. In short what makes Us is as the v.21 tells, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." Christ was a sign and there cannot be any other sign. The Pharisees who sought a sign belonged to a wicked and adulterous generation. Sign of the times belongs to Them because for them wealth is a social symbol and the only sign on which their world is built up. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."(1 Co.3:11) Despite of this the imposter churches 'prosperity theology' and other signs. Jesus said," and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39) This sign referred to the death and resurrection of Jesus. What does the sign make Jonah? A double for the Son is it not. Why man was created 'after our likeness'? Moses, Elijah Elijah, David all serve after our likeness. Either we belong to Us or them. No exception.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
O Lord Jesus, How Long
Christ returneth
- James McGranahan
1
It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking,
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory,
To receive from the world "His own."
Refrain:
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth!
Hallelujah! hallelujah!
Amen, Hallelujah! Amen.
2
It may be at midday, it may be at twilight,
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory,
When Jesus receives "His own." (Refrain)
3
While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending,
With glorified saints and the angels attending,
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory,
Will Jesus receive "His own." (Refrain)
4
Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying,
Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory,
Hi Gianni's and thank you for your reply to me . Please don't worry about it , I thought that in the way you worded your message , you were limiting the power of God's Holy Spirit , I now realise that wasn't your intention , so that's cleared that up , thank you again and may God bless you .
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:/Who, being in the form of God,"(Ph.2:6)
Christ Who being in the form of God refers to the Word and how it may applied to man who is created a little lower than angels.
The writer to the Hebrews says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour." (He.2:9). The Word which is God when applied to man must give a pattern whereby man can approach God in terms of his experience as created of dust of the ground. So the tag 'after our likeness' gives a hands on experience within his physical world. "For our God is a consuming fire" The same quality has a spiritual significance as we see in the burning bush that did not consume itself. The Word when applied to man the bush is "after our likeness" and the fire embodies God the Spirit. On the basis 'after our likeness' casts Jesus Christ as the tree of life.
God created man after "our image and after our likeness". After our image explains tripartite nature of soul spirit and body and these perform as one. So Moses exhorts, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." Next verse refers the three, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:4-5). With all thy might refers to work of our hands, which is of the body. Soul, spirit and body as one.
"After our likeness" refers love which links man with the Being. How well should we love? With all our might. The Word was with God. Love of God links with Jesus Christ the Man who became flesh. So in what ways we may love God is explained from 'after our likeness. So Jesus is the bread from heaven. His broken body has significance for us when comes to the Lord's table." Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."( John 6:54) The Spirit explains the holy life by setting these two aspects of the Being. ( John 1:1)"
God created man after "our image and after our likeness". After our image explains tripartite nature of soul spirit and body and these perform as one. So Moses exhorts, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." Next verse refers the three, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:4-5). With all thy might refers to our work which is the body. Soul, spirit and body is implied there.
"After our likeness" refers love which links man with the Being. How well should we love? With all our might. The Word was with God. Love of God links with Jesus Christ the Man who became flesh. So in what ways we may love God is explained from 'after our likeness. So Jesus is the bread from heaven. His broken body as significance as partakers of the Holly Communion." Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."( John 6:54) The Spirit explains the holy life by setting these two aspects of the Being. ( John 1:1)
To note, in verse 8, the original language omits "And there are three that bear witness in earth". It is understood that the translators interpolated this part of verse 8 from the understanding of verse 6. That the witness of Jesus on Earth was given by three: the Holy Spirit, through Jesus' Baptism inaugurating His Ministry, & the witness of the Cross in His shedding of His Blood for us.
As there are three witnesses of Jesus' Coming agreeing to the same matter & purpose, so too is the record of witness in Heaven. And that witness is from our Father God, from God's Word Who was made Flesh, & from the self-same Spirit of God. So we are comforted & assured of the Spirit's Witness in Heaven & on Earth that Jesus as Man was no ordinary Man, but that His Coming was from the very Person of God & Jesus' Life was the Sacrifice of God Himself given to redeem sinful man who had no hope of securing freedom from guilt & damnation. Blessings to you Everett as you continue to study & meditate on this precious Word of God.
Hello Everett and welcome to this Site. You're certainly doing the right thing by contributing to our discussions & hope to hear more from you; and speaking for myself, I do enjoy reading other people's perceptions that they receive from God's Holy Word.
Yes, we do see the triune aspect of man in the Bible as we also see of the LORD God, yet we acknowledge that we don't fully comprehend the mystery of such natures. We can certainly overlook our proper understanding/division of man's soul & spirit & just leave that it in God's Hands, but when it comes to God's Nature, we really need to get it right, for so much of Who God is, His Love, His Mercy towards sinners and Saving Work in the lives of men, depend on it.
As you thought of 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 observing the three-part nature of man & this aspect revealed of the LORD God, my mind turned to 1 John 5:6-8:
"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one". Onto Page 2.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:/(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)/Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
"And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" is to all intent and purpose is to put on the mind of Christ. This was spelt out in the Sermon on the Mount. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Perfection is one single word to define the mind of God. Holy is his name.
Jesus was among them as the Word made flesh. He sat with publicans and sinners but he did no sin and knew no sin. For those who wanted him to be involved in their personal quarrels he simply told them off. "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" In his doctrine he set forth the perfection of his Father who sent the rain on the unjust as well as the just. He also said,"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."(5:40; Luke 12:13). In the way he obeyed his Father naturally he was like his Father; and in his perfect submission on the cross he established the same mind and same holiness so his name was more excellent than all other names.
"And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."( John 2:25)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Those who are your enemies show the quality of their father while if you have the mind of Christ you shall do just well as he did. It is what putting on Christ signifies.
Luke 2:28 - Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
So, Simeon takes Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God. Again, here is the word EULOGEO, for eulogy, speaking well of God, giving God praise and thanks for this baby.
Luke 2:47 - And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Now the word astonished in the Greek text means to be struck out of your mind, to be mad, to be beside yourself. They were so astonished they were beside themselves. They couldn't contain themselves. They were saying I don't believe this. This is a 12-year-old kid.
And then it says, "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." The word sorrow in the Greek means to grieve with pain. They were frantic!
Where is their son, 12 years old? And he is wandering all over, and there were millions of people in Jerusalem. Who knows who might have kidnapped Him?
Luke 4:1 - And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
It tells us that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan. After He was baptized, He returned from the Jordan, and he was full of the Holy Spirit. This word "full" in Greek doesn't mean full as in opposite of empty, but full as in the influence.
For instance, the Greek word in the book of Acts when the various disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at various times, it means the Holy Spirit took over their human faculties. He filled their human faculties. There are times when the Holy Spirit is there. He is always in us, and He is always active, but he is not always using our human faculties to minister to others.
Luke 1:52 - He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
The words "low degree" comes from the word TAPEINOS which means humbleness. This is something else we don't get from our English text. The humble will be exalted!
Luke 1:54 - He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Holpen is the word helped or supported.
Luke 1:68 - Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
He says in Verse 68, blessed be, and again this is the word EULOGEO, to speak well of. I point this out because we see the word "blessed" used several times in our English text, but we are not going to get the true meaning of the word unless we know that there are different words in the Greek for our word blessed.
Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
That is a title, firstborn, the one who inherits. It also tells us, as the other Gospel writers have, that she had more children after Jesus.
And then it says, "wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. Here it is literally: "wrapped him in linen cloth and laid him in a feeding trough."
Luke 2:13 - And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Now right here in the original language, there was an angel speaking and then all of a sudden, the entire sky was filled with angels that accompanied this angel.
Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Here is the literal translation from the Greek. "And upon the earth, peace towards men of goodwill. That is to say those who have a good response to God. It is telling us that God's peace will be on those who have a good heart and a good response to Him.
Luke 1:45 - And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
This word blessed here is different from the same word used in Luke 1:42. The word here is MAKARIA, which is the feminine form, and it means to experience the fullness of something. The first two words in Luke 1:42 for blessing were to speak well of or to speak good about, but this one here means to experience the fullness.
This is something we don't catch in our English bibles.
Luke 1:47 - And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
The word rejoiced is not the normal Greek word. This is the word for celebration, the same word as Hannah started off in 1 Samuel 2:1, when Hannah prayed and said "My heart rejoiceth.
Again, that's the word celebration, in the Lord. My horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice, I celebrate, in Thy salvation. So, both women begin their songs with celebration.
But look what Mary says in the content in Verse 47. My spirit celebrates in whom? God my Savior! She has an awareness already that she needs a Savior. That means that she has an awareness that she's a sinner and needs a Savior just like everyone else does.
Please keep that in mind about Mary. We don't want to put her down, but we want her put her in her place and realize that she is blessed among women, but she is still a sinner like you and I, and she needs a Savior.
Luke 1:48 - For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
She says, for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: Handmaiden is the word DOULAE, the feminine form of DOULOS for servant (or slave).
Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
You may not see anything wrong in this verse, but I believe this is a very bad translation. It should read the Holy One, not "holy thing," because he is making reference to the child (Jesus) conceived. Jesus should never be referred to as a "thing!"
Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
As I mentioned previously, when you see the phrase "those days" in scripture, it is talking about feasting, festivals, or feast days. Anytime you see that phrase in the gospels "in those days" it is a tip off to you that these are the feast days. Not just any old day, but the feast days.
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
This particular section, Luke 1:42-45, is an official title in literature and is called beatitude, the beatitude of Elizabeth, because of the word blessed. There are three blessings that are mentioned in her song in Verses 42 through 45. In Greek literature, it is called the beatitude of Elizabeth, and she pronounces three blessings.
First of all, she said blessed are you among women. Notice that it doesn't say blessed are you above women, but among women. And blessed is the fruit of your womb. These two words for "blessed" mean to speak well of. It comes from the Greek word EULOGEO.
It is not a pronouncement of a blessing on somebody. It is to speak well of them. It is to thank God for them. You are blessed, and the fruit of your womb, and she's speaking well of that.
Luke 1:11 - And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
So, Zacharias goes in, and an angel of the Lord had been standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Notice how I read that "had been standing." In the Greek, it is in the Perfect Tense. That means the angel was there.
He didn't just appear suddenly; he had been standing there. It is just that Zacharias didn't know it. But when he revealed himself to Zacharias, and when he saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Well, that is saying it lightly. Poor guy!
Luke 1:17 - And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord.
If you are using the King James, it is giving you the literal English translation of the Greek Elias. But he is talking about Elijah.
Luke 1:18 - And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
It sounds very poetical but in the Greek text it's literally "according to what shall I know this" KARATI NOUSOMAI TOUTO. According to what shall I know this? Basically, what he is saying is how do I know you are telling me the truth? Give me a sign.
Luke 1:23 - And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
This is one of those verses we read and it's like what in the world does that mean, "the days of his ministration were accomplished?"
This means that his course (ministry) was finished for the week, and he departed to his own home.
Adam and Eve were in a sinless state before disobeying God's commandement. The angels are also in a sinless condition, but this didn't prevent satan and others from revolting against God. We don't know whether Adam and Eve were having, as well as the angels are having, God's Spirit in them, do we? But the way I understand it is that even if one has the Spirit without measure in them they still have a free will and can still disobey God if this is what they want to do. Our free will is not affected by God's Spirit. We can still do what we want and choose to do. (this why we can meet christians who do not have a fruit in their life, and this is because they don't give room in their heart to the Spirit). So even Jesus who as a man had the Spirit without measure could had chosen to quit His struggle against satan while he was hanging on the cross. He was feeling the same pain and agony as any other human person and He could had quited. He could have said, "I can not stand it any more, let me stop the whole thing here." The Spirit could not affect such a decision. And He would had canceled God's plan for salvation. On the cross was where He fought against satan without being in any superior state than any other human being.
Now back to the original question. Can somebody who has God's Spirit in them without measure be tempted to sin? Well my answer is yes, they can still choose not to obey God. So for Jesus it was a matter of decision, to obey God and go all the way to the end or stop. Well I don't want to go further on because I feel I am walking on an unkown path. I may be wrong and change my mind later on. GBU
I show all the scriptures; these are just a few, but they get brushed aside. What sincere Christian would do such a thing?
1. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. [ Col 2:9]
2. All of God is in Christ. [To wit, that God was in Christ] 2Co 5:19]
3. All the fullness of the Father dwells in Christ. [For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, Col 1:19]
4. God was manifested in the flesh. [And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, 1Ti 3:16]
5. God dwelt among us. [And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, Joh 1:14]
6. Jesus is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father. Isa 9.
7. All things were created by Jesus. Col 1:16.
8. Jesus is God with us (Immanuel). Matt 1.
Anyway, it looks like I am in the right place, and I am glad-just one thing. I am not a wordy person, and I like to keep it simple. With Christian love, thank you. Everett.
6And at midnight(at the turn from he sixth to the seventh and last Day, the Lord's Day)there was a cry made,Behold,the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to MEET Him.
Acts 1:8-11
8But ye shall receive power,after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you:and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem,and in all Judaea,and in Samaria,and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
9And when JESUS had spoken these things,while they beheld,He was taken up;and a CLOUD received JESUS out of their sight.
10And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as JESUS went up, behold,TWO MEN stood by them in white apparel; (Comment: Would the two men had been Gabriel and Michael- Daniel 12:6-13 combined with Genesis 19:1-3and 12-15?By the way,what is the difference between sea & river in the Scriptures?Being the sea=waters=peoples and nations,and multitudes of all tongues,and the waters of the river:Who are them?Are not them exclusively the elected people of GOD redeemed by JESUS- John 7:38-, or even His Church,His body?)
11The two men said:Ye men of Galilee,why stand ye gazing up into heaven?this same JESUS,which is taken up from you into heaven, shall SO COME IN LIKE MANNER(in the same place,and the same CLOUD- Matthew 24:30)as ye have seen JESUS go into heaven.
1Thes.4:16-18
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout,with the voice of the archangel,and with the trump of GOD:and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the cloud,to meet the Lord in the air(in the ineffable, indescribable,unspeakable environment of the 3rd heaven)and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Matt. 25:10 ->And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came;and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage:and the door was shut.
The Word of GOD is from everlasting to everlasting,the Word is GOD, GOD Himself,self-executing.Great mystery-> Matthew 11:27
I note that you have given those words different meanings. So in my understanding, I don't believe that 'Trinity' speaks of three individuals or three gods, but the One God Who expresses Himself in the ways we read of in the Bible: and that is by His Spirit & by His Word. And both are fully within the Godhead revealing God to us in His Fullness.
The Spirit & the Word do not 'operate' independently, using their own Will or purposes to accomplish their tasks. All that the Word has accomplished, whether at the first by revelation to the prophets ( Hebrews 1:1), and now made flesh ( John 1:1,14) to be called the Son of God ( Hebrews 1:2), is what I understand from the Scriptures.
Likewise, the Spirit of God was sent out to infill people to understand & proclaim God's Word and now to baptize repentant sinners who have turned to God through faith in Jesus Christ. That the Word & the Spirit have been sent out by the Father, doesn't mean that God is now deficient in any way, remaining helpless, but all that the Father speaks & accomplishes is done by Himself alone by His Word & Spirit. I hope that I have given you a clear understanding of my position on this doctrine.
The Spirit makes an unbroken narrative thread from the beginning till eternity. In Ex.15:27 the Spirit gives us 12 wells at Elim."where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." The number 12 foreshadows Christ exhorting,"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." ( John 7:37). What Moses qualifies as 'my speech' refers to him. This is 'my doctrine, the Gospel of Christ. Up and Down and Across the Gospel has the tag 12 and it does not change.
At Elim there were 70 palm trees (7x10) and they signify trees of righteousness. We have 70 elders upon whom God sent the Spirit and they were the Associates of Moses. This Seventy foreshadows the seventy other disciples whom Jesus sent to preach. ( Luke 10:1)
"And theLordsaid unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, /And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."(Nu.11:7-8)
Compare the vision of Ezekiel with Re.22:1-2 "And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine."(Ez.47:12)
The living waters beginning from heaven holds both heaven and the earth as one and this pure river of water of life gives us what everlasting to everlasting would mean. (Col.1:17).What does this signify? Up and Down and Across can only be understood in him.
"Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth./My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:/ Because I will publish the name of the Lord."
In continuation of the post titled Thy name we have this key text as spoken by Moses. It is encapsulated by the Lord's Prayer, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." The Spirit gives us a clear demonstration of what is meant by "After our likeness" in putting words of the Son in Moses. He is what the similitude in theological sense delineates. It is similtude of the Lord as the verse makes clear. "With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold."(Nu.11:8). "The words of my mouth" are not parables where God and Moses are concerned. He is after our likeness, as Jesus as the Word made flesh, so we have his doctrine repleted with 'loaded' words as dew, as small rain and the showers. What holds them together? Is it not the river of time sent forth as the word gone forth from the mouth of God? We read "from the waters which were above the firmament" several states so the mist, " But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground"(Ge.2:6;1:7) mist gives over to small showers giving us a lapse of time.
The Spirit makes an unbroken narrative thread from the beginning till eternity. In Ex.15:27 the Spirit gives us 12 wells at Elim."where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters." The number 12 foreshadows Christ exhorting,"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." ( John 7:37). What Moses qualifies as 'my speech' refers to him. Up and Down and Across have tags 12 and 70 (7x10) trees of righteouss
God bless you.
"Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."
We shall accept Holiness as all-inclusive name for 'thine own name" which is on the basis "The Word was God." Virgin Mary stirred by the Spirit defines His name, "Holy is his name." He revealed to Moses, "I am that I am". ( Luke 1:49;Ex.3:14). God gives his own name so the body, the church may be one, "As we are". This pattern explains God was with the Word.
Principle of Similitude sets the realities of heaven and of the earth on a single standard which is the Word become flesh. This is designated as the Man component in whom whosoever heard the call and received Jesus Christ as his Saviour is an associate. This principle is stated in Matt.10:40. " He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."
In the Parable of the Leaven Jesus sent the Word which spreads from one end of the heaven to another. The Parable is about the kingdom of heaven. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." (Matt.13:33) The everlasting gospel works Up and Down and also Across.
God sent his Word which is sound as well as a sign. So in Lucan Gospel we have the Association,"The Word was with God" stated differently,"He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me."( Luke 10:16)
Evangelist Matthew has the charge given to 12 disciples while St Luke gives us Seventy other disciples. Matthew is referring to the Word become flesh and himself as the Gospel of Christ. St Luke is giving us instead the Word which 'in the beginning' was with God. In both cases the great commission reconciles Up and Down and Across by the risen Christ. "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth..../and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."(Matt.28:18-20)
Luke 7:23 - And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
The word offended means stumble over!
Luke 7:29 - And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
Again, the word "publicans" just means a tax collector. And they "justified God." And what that means, it is actually a Greek term for a Hebraism that means they declared God right.
Luke 7:41 - There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
So, Jesus says that there was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed him five hundred DENARII, 500 days wages.
That is a lot of money, almost two years' worth. And the other owed fifty, 500 and 50.
Luke 8:1 - And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
And it came to pass afterward, and in the Greek text it literally says in succession. This is the next thing that happened, but not exactly the same day or the next day. Some of these incidents are anywhere from three to six months apart as far as their proximity to each other.
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
This word "blessed" MAKARIOS means to experience the fullness of someone or something. And the word "poor" in this verse (PROKOS) means physical poverty! Now remember the Lord has His disciples there. He has got the 12 apostles that He has just appointed, and He's looking at them, and He's teaching the crowd, and He says pay attention here people, the fullness of God is experienced and is upon the life of the poor!
Luke 6:27 - And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
The word "saw" in the Greek text is not your normal word (BLEPO) to see somebody, but actually Jesus observed him. Jesus was studying him and watching him.
And the word "publican" means a tax collector.
Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
The word "thank" here is the word grace in the Greek text. It reads what grace do you have?
Luke 6:35 - But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
In the Greek, it's an act of violence. He is violently removed from them, and then shall they fast in those days. He will be taken away, it will be a time of grief, and then they will fast.
Luke 6:37 - And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
Again, the word "bottles" is not what we think in English. The Greek tell us that these are wine skins.
Luke 6:40 - The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
The word "perfect" is the word KARATEIDZO. This is the same word used for the fishermen who were mending their nets when Jesus came to call them.
Luke 5:18 - And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Again, this word palsy tells us that this man was a paralytic, paralyzed from the neck down. Please don't get the wrong idea about this bed because it was like a cot that just rolls up. And these men, the carriers, we are told in Mark that there were four of them. Four people that brought this paralyzed man to Jesus, and they were seeking the means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:22 - But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Jesus perceived their thoughts. And you see, they didn't say it out loud, they were thinking it. DIALOGEIDZOMAI is the Greek word. They were dialoguing in their minds. Who does this guy think He is? That is blasphemy. The Lord says "I know what you are thinking." And so, He answering said unto them, "What reason you in your hearts?"
Luke 5:24 - But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Again, this could be translated (he said unto the paralyzed man).
Luke 5:26 - And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
The Greek work for "strange things" is PARADOXSOS, and it's where we get our word paradox from. What they were literally saying was, "We have seen a paradox today!" In our English text, we can go in many different directions as to what "strange things" might mean.
Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
A man whose right hand was withered. Literally in the Greek, it is shriveled up, or shrunk.
Luke 5:11 - And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
When they had brought their ships to land, and please notice this: they forsook all. It is called an Aorist Passive Participle in the Greek. It means it was a one-time thing. They turned their back on the old life and never went back. But you have to understand what they turned their back on.
You see, we know that when Jesus called the disciples to follow Him earlier, that they left their father in the boats, and they were following Jesus. In order to completely forsake everything to follow Christ, they are giving up their inheritance because that shipping industry would be passed on to them after their father dies. So, they are leaving their whole future from a human standpoint. All of their inheritance, they forsook it all and followed him.
The word "followed" is in the imperfect tense, meaning they were continually following Him. One time thing! They left all, turned their backs on the old life, and were continually following Him. Now just by way of side note you should know that this is not the first time they've seen Jesus, nor the second. This is at least the third time.
We know that the end of John Chapter 1 that Andrew introduced Jesus Christ to Peter. He says we have found the Messiah. And it was at that time that Peter was introduced to Christ. And they left that scene, and they went back home, and they were in the fishing industry and remember Jesus walked along the shore and called them and says follow me, and they responded. And here they are again. This is the final stage where they finally left everything, and they were continually following Him.
Luke 5:1 - And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Now this has nothing to do with Biblical Greek studies, but I just wanted to share some information about the lake of Gennesaret that's mentioned in this verse. Gennesaret is another name for the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is also called the Sea of Tiberius in John 6:1 and John 21:1. So the Sea of Galilee, the lake Gennesaret, and the Sea or Lake of Tiberius are all the same place.
The word "Gennesaret" itself comes from the Hebrew word KANNAR that means heart. And that is because the Lake is heart-shaped. And so, with certain people, at different phases of history, they didn't call it the Sea of Galilee. They called it the lake of Gennesaret because it is in the shape of a heart. So KANNAR is the Hebrew word, and it is where we get the name Gennesaret from.
Luke 5:5 - And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
The word toiled is KOPOS, and that means to work to the point of exhaustion.
Luke 5:6 - And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The word "brake" is actually an Imperfect Tense in the Greek, which tells us that the net didn't really break because then you would lose your fish. But it was to the point that it was starting to tear. This could have been translated, "and their net began to tear."
"Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."
Three in the Parable indicates a sign or a tag which the Holy Spirit uses to signify the Son as a sign. So the leaven is the Gospel referring to Jesus Christ as the Word become flesh. Man who keeps the word is "after our likeness" so his soul and spirit and body, till the whole was leavened. Moses refers to this wholeness, and it shall be in thy heart,- "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:5-6). The kingdom of God is about the fulness of God.
"All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them." (v.35)
Parables have the kingdom after our image so the wholeness is called a glorious body, "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish."(Ep.5:27)
Parables are the means to separate good from the tares and Us from Them.
"That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world"(v.35) This explains the "After our likeness" whereby the seven days carry signs that keep the Word and the Man as Associates as well as after a similitude. 'The seed in itself' on day three is with regards to the word of God. So Jesus faults the Pharisees,"But ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.:( John 8:37) and "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up".(Matt.15:13) Jesus as a sign was in his birth as well.(Is.7:14). Parable keeps the leavening process across so Principle of Association is set forth in Matt.10:40. The Word as a seed after a similitude works Up and Down.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The Word is God and Jesus in his prayer makes clear what Us and Them entailed. Ministry of Jesus began on the human level where the twelve received him as the Word made flesh."They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." In v.20 Jesus refers to a larger group,"also which shall believe on me through their word." In short 'Thy word' made them Us and the world that refused were enemies to truth. In the beginning was the Word and it made the two groups as predestinated fill in their respective worlds. It is thus the King in the Parable of Jesus dismissed the goats on the left side. " Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:"(Matt.25:41). The word is truth because the Word was God and it shall be thus from everlasting to everlasting.
God created man "after our likeness' sets the pattern or the template where Jesus Christ as the Man is 'only begotten' because of the Word. In short what makes Us is as the v.21 tells, "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." Christ was a sign and there cannot be any other sign. The Pharisees who sought a sign belonged to a wicked and adulterous generation. Sign of the times belongs to Them because for them wealth is a social symbol and the only sign on which their world is built up. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."(1 Co.3:11) Despite of this the imposter churches 'prosperity theology' and other signs. Jesus said," and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas."(Matt.12:39) This sign referred to the death and resurrection of Jesus. What does the sign make Jonah? A double for the Son is it not. Why man was created 'after our likeness'? Moses, Elijah Elijah, David all serve after our likeness. Either we belong to Us or them. No exception.
42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
O Lord Jesus, How Long
Christ returneth
- James McGranahan
1
It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking,
That Jesus will come in the fullness of glory,
To receive from the world "His own."
Refrain:
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth!
Hallelujah! hallelujah!
Amen, Hallelujah! Amen.
2
It may be at midday, it may be at twilight,
It may be, perchance, that the blackness of midnight
Will burst into light in the blaze of His glory,
When Jesus receives "His own." (Refrain)
3
While its hosts cry Hosanna, from heaven descending,
With glorified saints and the angels attending,
With grace on His brow, like a halo of glory,
Will Jesus receive "His own." (Refrain)
4
Oh, joy! oh, delight! should we go without dying,
No sickness, no sadness, no dread and no crying,
Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory,
When Jesus receives "His own." (Refrain)
You have beautifully explained that.
God bless,
RLW
Christ Who being in the form of God refers to the Word and how it may applied to man who is created a little lower than angels.
The writer to the Hebrews says, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour." (He.2:9). The Word which is God when applied to man must give a pattern whereby man can approach God in terms of his experience as created of dust of the ground. So the tag 'after our likeness' gives a hands on experience within his physical world. "For our God is a consuming fire" The same quality has a spiritual significance as we see in the burning bush that did not consume itself. The Word when applied to man the bush is "after our likeness" and the fire embodies God the Spirit. On the basis 'after our likeness' casts Jesus Christ as the tree of life.
God created man after "our image and after our likeness". After our image explains tripartite nature of soul spirit and body and these perform as one. So Moses exhorts, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." Next verse refers the three, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:4-5). With all thy might refers to work of our hands, which is of the body. Soul, spirit and body as one.
"After our likeness" refers love which links man with the Being. How well should we love? With all our might. The Word was with God. Love of God links with Jesus Christ the Man who became flesh. So in what ways we may love God is explained from 'after our likeness. So Jesus is the bread from heaven. His broken body has significance for us when comes to the Lord's table." Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."( John 6:54) The Spirit explains the holy life by setting these two aspects of the Being. ( John 1:1)"
God created man after "our image and after our likeness". After our image explains tripartite nature of soul spirit and body and these perform as one. So Moses exhorts, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord." Next verse refers the three, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."(De.6:4-5). With all thy might refers to our work which is the body. Soul, spirit and body is implied there.
"After our likeness" refers love which links man with the Being. How well should we love? With all our might. The Word was with God. Love of God links with Jesus Christ the Man who became flesh. So in what ways we may love God is explained from 'after our likeness. So Jesus is the bread from heaven. His broken body as significance as partakers of the Holly Communion." Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day."( John 6:54) The Spirit explains the holy life by setting these two aspects of the Being. ( John 1:1)
To note, in verse 8, the original language omits "And there are three that bear witness in earth". It is understood that the translators interpolated this part of verse 8 from the understanding of verse 6. That the witness of Jesus on Earth was given by three: the Holy Spirit, through Jesus' Baptism inaugurating His Ministry, & the witness of the Cross in His shedding of His Blood for us.
As there are three witnesses of Jesus' Coming agreeing to the same matter & purpose, so too is the record of witness in Heaven. And that witness is from our Father God, from God's Word Who was made Flesh, & from the self-same Spirit of God. So we are comforted & assured of the Spirit's Witness in Heaven & on Earth that Jesus as Man was no ordinary Man, but that His Coming was from the very Person of God & Jesus' Life was the Sacrifice of God Himself given to redeem sinful man who had no hope of securing freedom from guilt & damnation. Blessings to you Everett as you continue to study & meditate on this precious Word of God.
Hello Everett and welcome to this Site. You're certainly doing the right thing by contributing to our discussions & hope to hear more from you; and speaking for myself, I do enjoy reading other people's perceptions that they receive from God's Holy Word.
Yes, we do see the triune aspect of man in the Bible as we also see of the LORD God, yet we acknowledge that we don't fully comprehend the mystery of such natures. We can certainly overlook our proper understanding/division of man's soul & spirit & just leave that it in God's Hands, but when it comes to God's Nature, we really need to get it right, for so much of Who God is, His Love, His Mercy towards sinners and Saving Work in the lives of men, depend on it.
As you thought of 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 observing the three-part nature of man & this aspect revealed of the LORD God, my mind turned to 1 John 5:6-8:
"This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one". Onto Page 2.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:/(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)/Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"
"And bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" is to all intent and purpose is to put on the mind of Christ. This was spelt out in the Sermon on the Mount. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Perfection is one single word to define the mind of God. Holy is his name.
Jesus was among them as the Word made flesh. He sat with publicans and sinners but he did no sin and knew no sin. For those who wanted him to be involved in their personal quarrels he simply told them off. "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?" In his doctrine he set forth the perfection of his Father who sent the rain on the unjust as well as the just. He also said,"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also."(5:40; Luke 12:13). In the way he obeyed his Father naturally he was like his Father; and in his perfect submission on the cross he established the same mind and same holiness so his name was more excellent than all other names.
"And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."( John 2:25)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;/That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Those who are your enemies show the quality of their father while if you have the mind of Christ you shall do just well as he did. It is what putting on Christ signifies.
Luke 2:28 - Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
So, Simeon takes Jesus up in his arms, and blessed God. Again, here is the word EULOGEO, for eulogy, speaking well of God, giving God praise and thanks for this baby.
Luke 2:47 - And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
Now the word astonished in the Greek text means to be struck out of your mind, to be mad, to be beside yourself. They were so astonished they were beside themselves. They couldn't contain themselves. They were saying I don't believe this. This is a 12-year-old kid.
And then it says, "Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing." The word sorrow in the Greek means to grieve with pain. They were frantic!
Where is their son, 12 years old? And he is wandering all over, and there were millions of people in Jerusalem. Who knows who might have kidnapped Him?
Luke 4:1 - And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
It tells us that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan. After He was baptized, He returned from the Jordan, and he was full of the Holy Spirit. This word "full" in Greek doesn't mean full as in opposite of empty, but full as in the influence.
For instance, the Greek word in the book of Acts when the various disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit at various times, it means the Holy Spirit took over their human faculties. He filled their human faculties. There are times when the Holy Spirit is there. He is always in us, and He is always active, but he is not always using our human faculties to minister to others.
Luke 1:52 - He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
The words "low degree" comes from the word TAPEINOS which means humbleness. This is something else we don't get from our English text. The humble will be exalted!
Luke 1:54 - He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
Holpen is the word helped or supported.
Luke 1:68 - Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
He says in Verse 68, blessed be, and again this is the word EULOGEO, to speak well of. I point this out because we see the word "blessed" used several times in our English text, but we are not going to get the true meaning of the word unless we know that there are different words in the Greek for our word blessed.
Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
That is a title, firstborn, the one who inherits. It also tells us, as the other Gospel writers have, that she had more children after Jesus.
And then it says, "wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. Here it is literally: "wrapped him in linen cloth and laid him in a feeding trough."
Luke 2:13 - And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Now right here in the original language, there was an angel speaking and then all of a sudden, the entire sky was filled with angels that accompanied this angel.
Luke 2:14 - Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Here is the literal translation from the Greek. "And upon the earth, peace towards men of goodwill. That is to say those who have a good response to God. It is telling us that God's peace will be on those who have a good heart and a good response to Him.
Luke 1:45 - And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
This word blessed here is different from the same word used in Luke 1:42. The word here is MAKARIA, which is the feminine form, and it means to experience the fullness of something. The first two words in Luke 1:42 for blessing were to speak well of or to speak good about, but this one here means to experience the fullness.
This is something we don't catch in our English bibles.
Luke 1:47 - And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
The word rejoiced is not the normal Greek word. This is the word for celebration, the same word as Hannah started off in 1 Samuel 2:1, when Hannah prayed and said "My heart rejoiceth.
Again, that's the word celebration, in the Lord. My horn is exalted in the LORD. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice, I celebrate, in Thy salvation. So, both women begin their songs with celebration.
But look what Mary says in the content in Verse 47. My spirit celebrates in whom? God my Savior! She has an awareness already that she needs a Savior. That means that she has an awareness that she's a sinner and needs a Savior just like everyone else does.
Please keep that in mind about Mary. We don't want to put her down, but we want her put her in her place and realize that she is blessed among women, but she is still a sinner like you and I, and she needs a Savior.
Luke 1:48 - For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
She says, for he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: Handmaiden is the word DOULAE, the feminine form of DOULOS for servant (or slave).
Luke 1:35 - And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
You may not see anything wrong in this verse, but I believe this is a very bad translation. It should read the Holy One, not "holy thing," because he is making reference to the child (Jesus) conceived. Jesus should never be referred to as a "thing!"
Luke 1:39 And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
As I mentioned previously, when you see the phrase "those days" in scripture, it is talking about feasting, festivals, or feast days. Anytime you see that phrase in the gospels "in those days" it is a tip off to you that these are the feast days. Not just any old day, but the feast days.
Luke 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
This particular section, Luke 1:42-45, is an official title in literature and is called beatitude, the beatitude of Elizabeth, because of the word blessed. There are three blessings that are mentioned in her song in Verses 42 through 45. In Greek literature, it is called the beatitude of Elizabeth, and she pronounces three blessings.
First of all, she said blessed are you among women. Notice that it doesn't say blessed are you above women, but among women. And blessed is the fruit of your womb. These two words for "blessed" mean to speak well of. It comes from the Greek word EULOGEO.
It is not a pronouncement of a blessing on somebody. It is to speak well of them. It is to thank God for them. You are blessed, and the fruit of your womb, and she's speaking well of that.
Luke (Part 1):
Luke 1:11 - And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
So, Zacharias goes in, and an angel of the Lord had been standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Notice how I read that "had been standing." In the Greek, it is in the Perfect Tense. That means the angel was there.
He didn't just appear suddenly; he had been standing there. It is just that Zacharias didn't know it. But when he revealed himself to Zacharias, and when he saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. Well, that is saying it lightly. Poor guy!
Luke 1:17 - And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord.
If you are using the King James, it is giving you the literal English translation of the Greek Elias. But he is talking about Elijah.
Luke 1:18 - And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
It sounds very poetical but in the Greek text it's literally "according to what shall I know this" KARATI NOUSOMAI TOUTO. According to what shall I know this? Basically, what he is saying is how do I know you are telling me the truth? Give me a sign.
Luke 1:23 - And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
This is one of those verses we read and it's like what in the world does that mean, "the days of his ministration were accomplished?"
This means that his course (ministry) was finished for the week, and he departed to his own home.
Adam and Eve were in a sinless state before disobeying God's commandement. The angels are also in a sinless condition, but this didn't prevent satan and others from revolting against God. We don't know whether Adam and Eve were having, as well as the angels are having, God's Spirit in them, do we? But the way I understand it is that even if one has the Spirit without measure in them they still have a free will and can still disobey God if this is what they want to do. Our free will is not affected by God's Spirit. We can still do what we want and choose to do. (this why we can meet christians who do not have a fruit in their life, and this is because they don't give room in their heart to the Spirit). So even Jesus who as a man had the Spirit without measure could had chosen to quit His struggle against satan while he was hanging on the cross. He was feeling the same pain and agony as any other human person and He could had quited. He could have said, "I can not stand it any more, let me stop the whole thing here." The Spirit could not affect such a decision. And He would had canceled God's plan for salvation. On the cross was where He fought against satan without being in any superior state than any other human being.
Now back to the original question. Can somebody who has God's Spirit in them without measure be tempted to sin? Well my answer is yes, they can still choose not to obey God. So for Jesus it was a matter of decision, to obey God and go all the way to the end or stop. Well I don't want to go further on because I feel I am walking on an unkown path. I may be wrong and change my mind later on. GBU