I would like to add to the truth Cait has given referencing Hebrews 12:18-23. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE ( HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, ) and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Notice the contrast. In Exodus 19:10-12. THE LORD TELL MOSES TO SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM TO WASH THERE CLOTHES, and bring them the third day, and they still couldn't touch the border of the law given mountain!!
In the Heavenly Jerusalem God don't wash garments, he gives new ones.
Zechariah 2:10-13.
Zechariah 3:1-9.
Ephesians 4:20-24.
Colossians 3:9-10.
Parallel-
Galatians 4:21-26. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
WHICH THINGS ARE AN ALLEGORY: FOR THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
BUT JERUSALEM WHICH IS ABOVE IS FREE, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL.
Hi Rick; Thanks for helping me in your right understanding, this is true, we are not practicing the old covenant today (Ten Commandments in stone) but rather the new covenant as in Hebrews 8:6-13. I am glad therefore you have not gone under that bondage. Stay blessed
Dr. Lyle Lee Actually the exact opposite is was I stated, In our time biblically age of Grace we operate in the law of agapeo love of God in Christ which put an end to the law.
Hi Rick; by your response you have led me to believe you think as Christians we should practice the Ten Commandments in stone, this of course would be bondage, as Christians are now commanded to obey the Ten Commandments in the heart according to Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:6-13 This old law of God had an expiry date according to the Lord Jesus who taught it would expire as soon as he fulfilled it. Matthew 5:18 The question should be asked, when did he fulfill it? The answer is then given in Luke 16:16 by the time of John the Baptist, as it would expire at that time. Today the Ten Commandments in stone is dead. Romans 7:4 and 7:6-7 We are now commanded to keep the new covenant which is the Ten Commandments written in the heart where there is no Sabbath or generational curses.
Galatians 4:21-31 Here the Apostle Paul takes five shadows and typologies in order to create an allegory, he used Abraham to represent God the Father, the two wives Hagar and Sarah to represent the two covenants, the old covenant which is the Ten Commandments in stone and the new covenant, which is the Ten Commandments in the heart. The two children Ishmael and Isaac, represent the two children of God, the first born son of Abraham represents God's first born son Israel, and the second born son of Abraham, represents God's second born son Christianity. Then does the Apostle Paul refer unto the prophecy of Isaiah concerning the two woman, the married woman is Israel, who was married to God, yet did not have as many children as the baron woman, which is Christianity, who is engaged to God, she has more children. Then he turns his attention to Christians who obey the Ten Commandments in stone and teaches their mother is Hagar, the old covenant, yet the prophecy will be fulfilled spiritually, as the old covenant, Hagar and her son, all those who obey the Ten Commandments inb stone shall be cast out of the millennial kingdom of heaven and will not reign with the Lord Jesus Christ or the Christians who obeyed the Ten Commandments in the heart, having Sarah as their mother.
Great read. I like to add some input on the blessings Jacob gave his sons.
I believe the blessings to Abraham and Issac went through the Lineage of Judah.
Here's why.
Genesis 22:18.
Galatians 3:14.
Galatians 3:16.
Now here is Judahs blessing.
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
THE SCEPTRE SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH, NOR A LAWGIVER FROM BETWEEN HIS FEET, UNTIL SHILOH COME; AND UNTO HIM SHALL THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE BE.
Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Genesis 49:8-12.
Abraham's blessing to Issac was because he was Promised! He was God's doing! We are children of Promise as well.
Galatians 4:28.
Ishmael was the works of their own hands "Works of the flesh " ( This has a lot of spiritual application )
Here is the Contrast of the two.
Galatians 4:29-31.
Verse 30 says Issac is the heir this connects him to the promise on through Jacob on Judah to Christ. Revelation 5:5.
What's interesting is Jacob blessing Joseph sons out of order instituting the reverse sovereign order of the firstborn as seen in Romans 9:11-12. Romans 9:11.
("that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;")
I believe we see the contract of Works and Grace, Flesh and Spirit, The narrow gate and the wide gate. And the putting asleep of Abraham when the unconditional covenant was made. All in These verses.
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} on Galatians 4 - 3 years ago
Galatians 4:4
Precious friends, please be Very Richly Encouraged In The Only TRUE Hope, Found In God's Precious Word Of Truth!
"Christ's coming and birth at Bethlehem was not an accident; it was an appointment. Jesus Christ came at God's appointed time, not a moment too late, and not a second too early. The first Christmas miracle started long before Bethlehem. It took place over many centuries as God worked, foretold, and prepared Israel for His Son's coming."
'Borrowed' from an Excellent Article: "The Fullness of the Time" by Kevin Sadler
Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
2 Timothy 2:15Romans 16:25Ephesians 3:9 = Grace/Mystery fellowship {Romans - Philemon}, For ALL "to SEE," today,?
Jeremiah 31:31. As it reads God is going to make a new covenant with the house of Israel.
Jeremiah 31:32 The Lord says this new covenant won't be like the old covenant that he gave their fathers, ( On Mount Sinai by Moses. )
Note: "A Mount that could not be touched"
Jeremiah 31:33-34. Tell us what the New covenant shall be. And how it will function!!
"I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
" Not on tables of Stone "
You see an example of this in
2 Corinthians 3:3.
This new covenant is NOT where they were bond to a law in which they could not keep because of the weakness of the flesh.
See Romans 8:3-4.
That Covenant and tabernacle was a shadow of the (TRUE) tabernacle.
( Hebrews 8:2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the TRUE tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.)
See Hebrews 8:1-13.
See Hebrews 9:1-28.
See Hebrews 10:8-17.
THE ENERGY BEHIND THE DESIRE TO KEEPING THE LAW BEHIND THIS COVENANT WASN'T COMMANDMENT,
This covenant is set in motion and Moved by the Holyspirit. This is an inward action not an outward one.
This New Covenant is what the Old covenant/Law pointed to.
Note with both Covenants in view.
Galatians 4:23-28. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
You may want to go back over what you are disagreeing on.
The Emphasis here is by faith Abraham was counted righteous APART from the deeds of the Law.
Please see Galatians 4:21-28
Here's the Context of my Original post
Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Isaac is not a Child of the flesh
" NOT OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH'S DOING THEY WERE BARREN."
The Promise was given BEFORE Abraham believed.
This promise was "INITIATED" and confirmed by a covenant back in
Genesis 15:8-12. Not in Genesis 22.
Abraham was put to sleep so God entered the covenant alone.
Only he can break it!!
It's not broken or held up by any condition of Abraham.
"A conditional covenant needs both parties passing between the divided carcass."
Now let's go over the steps in sequence.
1 Abraham is given a Promise by God.
Genesis 15:4-5.
THEN.
2 Abraham believed God. What did he believe in? God's PROMISE.
Genesis 15:6.
3rd God performs the covenant.
Genesis 15:8-12.
Note: The Land is tied to the promise, But that's for a different study.
" Hebrews 11:8-10."
THIS IS WHERE THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED TO ABRAHAM.
" Galatians 3:5-10."
1) We have God's PROMISE " His Word.
2) We have Abraham believed the PROMISE "Faith "
IMPORTANT TO NOTICE.
( Ephesians 2:8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:)
3) In Genesis 22 We will see the Resurrection.
GENESIS 22.16.
Here in Genesis 22 what is it Abraham believed in? This is about 33 years after the "PROMISE OF ISAAC" in Genesis 15.
Answer: Hebrews 11:17-19. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
ACCOUNTING THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD; from whence also he received him in a figure.
This is what is getting covered up by spritualizing certain text.
And How it relates to us.
Hebrews 6:13-19 (KJV) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE, and MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY THEE.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the IMMUTABILITY of his counsel, CONFIRMED IT BY AN OATH:
That by TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST, AND WHICH ENTERED INTO THAT "WITHIN THE VEIL;"
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Here's the covenant and Promise between God and Abraham.
TAKE NOTICE OF WHO IS THE LONE PARTICIPANT IN PERFORMING THE COVENANT.
Here's Isaac being Promised.
Genesis 15:4-5.
Abraham's participation.
Genesis 15:6.
Here's the covenant performed.
Genesis 15:8-11.
NOTICE WHAT GOD DOES TO ABRAHAM.
Genesis 15:12.
This covenant being instituted by God only suggests its faithfulness depended on Gods PROMISE NOT ABRAHAM'S FAITHFULNESS!!
Abraham faith was in God's PROMISE!!
That's Mercy, Grace, and Faith apart from works. And Eternal Security all in view here.
Galatians 4:28. !!
Galatians 3:8-9.
Galatians 3:13-15.
THE PROMISE OF A SAVIOR GIVEN BEFORE THE INSTITUTION OF THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH!!
Galatians 3:16-17.
2 Corinthians 3.
Galatians 3:18.
THE TRUE VINE!
AND OPERATION OF THE HOLYSPIRIT IN THE NEW COVENANT.
Hebrews 10:16.
Romans 6:6.
Romans 8:10-11.
( 2 Corinthians 3:5. )
This is what's being attacked by those crept in from unawares.
I've had it explained to me that it was finished when Noah finished it, "that GOD couldn't move until Noah finished it" that "GOD's timing isn't man's timing. He waits sometimes for completion of events not like world thinks". That significance is amazing to consider. Genesis 6:22,
Daniel 7:22, Galatians 4:22, Ecclesiastes 3:1-17, Daniel 7:25, Exodus 9:16-19, Hebrews 9:8-10, Psalms 105:17-19, Micah 5:2-4, seems to be significant even in future Luke 16:16,
Galatians 3:17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. There's a lot tied to that promise. The birth of Isaac was a product of that promise, So are we.
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Abrahams offering up of Issac demonstrates the prophetic Ties the promise has with the Resurrection and new life by the Spirit.
Hebrews 11:18-19. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Nor is the word Trinity, but we assume this that it is speaking of God the Father, God the Son, & God the Holy Spirit as referring to the Godhead. What brother in Christ Alex is speaking about is new birth inside of us. Galatians 4:19, Paul is speaking of another labor in which the Spirit of Christ is formed in us. This is why Paul is speaking that it is no longer I speaking, but Christ in me. John 17, Jesus is praying that they would be one as He is one with the Father.
Mary gave birth to the Christ in the flesh - which we profess that He Jesus the One and only One begotten of the Father the True Messiah has come in the flesh. According to Galatians 4:19 we are to give birth to the Christ formed inside of us. As John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord, the Holy Spirit helps us birth the Christ in us - basically He Christ must increase and we must decrease.
Brother Alex was just using an analogy to describe this process of new birth as relating to Grandson. Let us proceed in brotherly love and do our best to keep unity in His peace. We are all uniquely created and beautifully made by His hands.
Let us proceed we with Love that edifies for it is truly Christ that has justified us and called us into this Great hope.
Let are minds and eyes be opened to this Love.
May God bless us all and our families richly and increase going forward!
It is true that God knows His sheep. A person who has experienced a spiritual re-birth (Born again) is a person who God knows. All others are impostors. There will come a day that many will profess that during their lifetime, they did many wonderful things "in His name," and the Lord will say to them "Depart from me, I never knew you." This would be all those who died without receiving Christ. You are correct in that there are two future resurrections. There will be a resurrection for those who have died "In Christ," and then there will be another resurrection after the thousand-year reign of Christ for those who died without Christ, those who rejected Him in their lifetime. The first resurrection is the one you want to be a part of because those in the second one will be cast into the lake of fire.
I don't think the bible teaches that a person who dies without Christ in their life will be given a second chance after death, if that's what you are saying. Again, God knows all His sheep, those who have received Christ while still alive on this earth. In Galatians 4:9 Paul says, But now, and if I may point this out to you because it is very subtle, and he said it in Colossians also.
He says but after you have known God, or (rather) are known of God. You see, Paul corrected himself. He corrected himself in Colossians as well. And we do it all the time. We ask people "Do you know the Lord?" But the scripture says does the Lord know you? That's what's important. It's not that I know Christ, but He knows me.
Nanette, does the Lord know you? Have you received Him? Have you surrendered your life to Him? It is my hope that you have already done so and that you belong to Him. If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, please do not hesitate to do so. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Believing that we get a second chance at salvation after death is not a risk anyone should take!
Satan is the prince of this world and The world also hate Jesus.
Here's why the world hated Jesus.
This persecution Started in Genesis and on through us today. Genesis 3:15.
John 7:7. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, BECAUSE I TESTIFY OF IT, THAT THE WORKS THEREOF ARE EVIL
And the world presently hates Jesus disciples as well as any people who has a role in God's redemption program.
The Lord called out Abraham and blessed him and Made an unconditional covenant with him. And he would be the Father of many nations Genesis 17:4-13.
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Galatians 3:28-29. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
God is not done with Israel as some think,
And the Church did not replace Israel.
They play a role in the future.
Acts 15:14-16. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
( AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN, AND WILL BUILD AGAIN THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, )
which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
This is a spiritual warfare!!
That's the short of it. Perhaps someone can go into more detail.
All the hatred in the middle east is because Abraham didn't want to wait on God . He took the ability to have sexual relations that God had restored to him and used it outside of God's plan. God said that Sarah would be the mother of the nation not Hagar. Any time that we do not follow God's will for our lives it will result in damaging our walk with Christ.
Brother Leon. Concerning Scripture, I believe it is to be read normally & naturally (or else there would be no reason to read it at all), & where amplification is given or a deeper special meaning intended, the Word will show it for our benefit. For example, in Galatians 4:22-26, Paul speaks of Sarah & Hagar (Genesis chap 16 onwards). If we didn't have Paul's allegorical connection of Sarah & Hagar to the covenants, one of 'Freedom & Promise' in Christ & the Gospel, & the other of 'Bondage' to the Law, I wonder whether we would have missed it altogether?
Even in the Book of the Revelation, some things are clearly metaphorical & left unexplained, while others are explained: e.g. Revelation 9:3ff on locusts as opposed to Revelation 1:20, the stars & candlesticks. With the latter, the meaning is given, but with the former, we can get several theories on who or what the locusts are. If one proclaims that he has the meaning, how are we to accept that without any Scriptural backing? If a mystery is unlocked & faith & joy have increased exponentially as a result, can it be expected that another person can share that same exuberance without confirmation from other Scriptures? Likewise, the two states of the Earth (once without form & void because of satanic interference & then re-created in perfection a second time with beaming light), becomes difficult to comprehend.
You said, "The reconstituted creation did not contain the same evil which previously existed." I thought that this 'reconstituted creation' already had the same evil present - in Satan, who was there ready to pounce on the new humans to make them like himself. Adam & Eve's disobedience manifested into evil only because of the evil already present. And as a result, the whole creation groaneth & travaileth in pain till the present. But "the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" in that coming day. Blessings to you brother.
Hi brother Norman. God has never stopped revealing Himself to mankind - it's just the manner of His revelations.
In the Old Testament days, God spoke & showed Himself in more visible ways: in choosing certain people to fulfil His Will & Program, in choosing a people (Israel) to be called His very Own, & to declare His Word to His people through the prophets He sent.
And then in these "last days" (when God's Promises to His people (under the Old Covenant) would end (= fulfilled) by the introduction of the New Covenant, through His Son: Hebrews 11:1,2), God has chosen to reveal Himself & of Kingdom living in new way. No longer is the requirement of the physical Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle or the Altar for burnt sacrifices. No longer is the need for God's audible Voice to His prophets. All this has been fully met in the Person of His Son: He is the reason for God's continuing Mercy on us, a miserable, unregenerate, sinful people. Jesus is the Living Word to bring God's final Word of warning to us, indeed, to ultimately lay down His Life so that we might still have this Age of Grace to live in & live for Him.
So, to all who would believe on Jesus for their salvation, repenting of their sins & confessing His Name, God's Testimony & Word has not diminished. He sent forth His Spirit into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father" ( Galatians 4:6). The same God Who hid His Face from His Son in the agony of the crucifixion, did so, so that His Face might now be fully revealed to us His sons & daughters by His Spirit. The Word that the prophets & saints of old heard audibly, we do also now by His Spirit. His manifestations seen in the powers of Heaven & on Earth in those days, are now seen in His Power in us & in the miracles He does for each of us, some seen, some unseen. Nothing has changed - God's revelation to His people (both to the saved Jew & Gentile) are still the same, & I would say, even of greater magnitude as His Spirit reveals more, does more, says more, to us now.
Hi Adam. I agree with you in your definition of a Christian, & more: conviction of sin, repentance, re-birth, Spirit baptism & indwelling, fruit/gifts of the Spirit received, earnest desire to live for God & not for oneself & the World, hates sin & struggles against temptation & sin, has his citizenship in Heaven, longs to talk to his Heavenly Father & also to hear from Him, & ultimately will persevere in this life of burden, cares & suffering, being triumphant in the battle against Satan.
One might say that I've added more to its meaning, as shown in Romans 10:9, making the definition too restrictive. But the Roman's formula (confess + believe = salvation) is the essence, but the Christians' desire to hate sin, to live for God, to worship this Saviour God, to persevere, etc., are responses of the Holy Spirit indwelling. This must be the case, for that is the very Work of the Spirit, to form Christ in us ( Galatians 4:19) which is not always an immediate but an ongoing work in a believers' life. That's why I like Jesus' simple parable of the Sower ( Matthew 13:3-23); even though it speaks of the reception of God's Word to the hearer, Jesus is questioning how people would respond when the Living Word of God standing before them would receive & respond to Him. A proper response to that Word, its planting, germination, growth, fruitfulness & abiding until the time of physical deterioration & death, is the definition of one in whom God's Word & Seed of Salvation has truly done its blessed work.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my 2 questions.
1) You mention that the commandment at Leviticus 12:3 was a "suggestion". When the Law was give to Israel, they made a covenant between themselves and God. Please read Exodus 34:3-8. Notice specifically
Exodus 24:3 "And Moses came and told the people ALL THE WORDS of the LORD, and ALL THE JUDGMENTS: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, ALL THE WORDS which the LORD hath said will we do."
That does not sound like a "suggestion" but a command - an order. Jewish people have thus very meticulously made certain to circumcise their children. Moses was almost killed by the LORD because he had not circumcised his son. Please read Exodus 4:24-26. That seems to me that the LORD takes circumcision very, very seriously. In fact, in the first century, even believing Jews believed that a believer in the Messiah must be circumcised to be saved.
Acts 15:1 "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED after the manner of Moses, YE CANNOT BE SAVED."
2) You mention that the first century Church followed the 10 commandments.
I do agree that they did follow 9 of those commandments. They are re-iterated in the New Testament or Covenant set up by Jesus through his blood mentioned at Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Luke 22:20. However, nowhere do the Apostles every tell the Church, in clear words, "remember to keep the sabbath". Could you provide me 1 verse where an apostle clearly says to keep the sabbath - that actual word "sabbath" being used? In fact, Paul says the opposite at Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10.
3) Now to answer your question. The apostles did not ever say that they obeyed the "10" commandments. They said that they obeyed the commandments. Those would be the commandments of the New Testament given by Jesus Christ through his Apostles via the letters of Romans to Revelation.
That means a lot to me. I never considered Galatians 4:6-9, but it makes perfect sense. And yes, I do notice the transition in verse 9, where the writer says "I am persuaded better things of you." He is now speaking to those who were probably genuine believers and continued on until the end. We don't see that in verses 4-6. There were many people following along, some continuing on, and some leaving. Those who left never surrendered their life to Christ. But then there were those who did surrender.
Hello Jesse. Thank you for taking the time to share more explicitly about that great Truth - I fully agree with what you wrote: the impossibility of a truly born again person, baptized in & filled with God's Holy Spirit, to ever find in his heart to want to leave the wonder & experience of a divine change of heart & mind, and want to turn back to the weak & beggarly things of the past life ( Galatians 4:6-9).
But for any here who will continue to maintain that our understanding is incorrect, I would then explain vv 4-6 in this way: the Hebrews writer is sharing an 'impossible' scenario. "It is impossible" because of the 'impossibility' to re-crucify Jesus again (& maybe, again & again), putting the whole blessed, final work of God for our salvation into a disgraceful mess & shame. And since that is an impossibility (that a true believer who has received the goodness of Heaven) to again shame the Lord, the Hebrews writer quickly expresses, "But (I) am "persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation" (verse 9).
So why should he write this in the first place? For the very purpose of this letter: to show to these believers who were largely saved from judaistic legalism & error, that Jesus Christ & the merits of His Cross cannot be lightly regarded, even as seen by His exemplary Character (as written right throughout Hebrews): Him being far superior to any prophet, the angels, even Moses, by His Priesthood & by the Power of Faith, Hope & Love He gave to us. So, if some say that these are saved people in vv 4-6, then the writer is saying that such a situation cannot arise, since an apostate would have to re-crucify Christ to be saved again - which thing IS an impossibility ( Romans 6:10). And the RC belief in the Eucharist & Transubstantiation are related here.
So your word is correct Jesse: these were not believers spoken about because such a scenario cannot happen, rather the writer was persuaded that the believers' faith was genuine & strong.
Jesus is called "the son of man" to emphasize the fact that he was truly human. There were some in the first century who did not teach this truth.
1 John 4:2-3 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come IN THE FLESH is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come IN THE FLESH is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
Jesus is "the son of man". The Hebrew word "Adam" means, in fact, "man". Thus, Jesus is "the son of man (Adam). He is a descendant of Adam. He had a human mother, Mary, that made that possible.
Galatians 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, MADE (BORN) OF A WOMAN, made under the law,"
Romans 1:3-4 "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh (THE SON OF MAN); And declared to be THE SON OF GOD with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Matthew 16:13 "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I THE SON OF MAN am?"
Matthew 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD."
John 10:36 "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am THE SON OF GOD?"
So, Jesus Christ is thus referred to as both "the son of man" and "the son of God".
Hebrews 6:12-19. I Erred on page 2, "I meant unconditional covenant, not oath.' Here goes-
Gen.15;1-12.
Vs 6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Vs 8:And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
VSES. 9-12. And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
God put Abraham to sleep and entered the covenant alone. only God can break it. ISSAC WAS PROMISED!! AS WELL AS WE!
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 'Unconditional!
Vs 26-27:But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
LOOK AT THOSE UNDER THE LAW IN-
VS 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. MT SINAI IS A MT YOU COULD NOT TOUCH! ( COULD'NT KEEP ) THE LAW WAS GIVEN THERE.
GEN. 22 Abraham offered up his only begotten promised son, because he believed in the previous promise/covenant. AND KNEW GOD WOULD HAVE TO RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.
Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, "That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Thank you for your comments. I was wanting to respond specifically to your comment, "I guess they think Christ died on the cross so we can be Lawless."
No, I do not believe that Jesus died for me so that I could be lawless. I do want to obey God's Laws. However, what has God commanded me to do? Would you suggest that I be circumcised so as to keep God's Law recorded at Leviticus 12:3? Why would I do that when the Apostles decided in Acts 15 that I need not be circumcised in order to serve God.
So, what do I obey. As a Christian, I obey the instructions that the Apostles gave to the first-century Church in the epistles from Romans to Revelation. They never tell me to keep the Sabbath or be circumcised or keep the festivals of Israel. In fact, they tell me the opposite:
Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"
Galatians 4:10 "Ye observe days (sabbaths), and months (lunar month), and times (festivals), and years (sabbatical). I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
I obey the New Testament made between God and the Church of God via the mediator Jesus Christ since I am a Christian. I do not obey the Old Testament made between God and ancient Israel via the mediator Moses. I am not an Israelite.
Please see Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:7-13.
Notice that the Bible is separated into 2 portions - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus inaugurated the New Testament with his shed blood. See Luke 22:20. These are the laws that I obey - God's laws for Christians in the New Testament.
To go along with the truth you presented brings us back to Genesis to the "UNCONDITIONAL" promise God performed "ALONE" to Abraham 430 years before the law given.
Hebrews 6:13-19. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of PROMISE. Galatians 4:28.
I would like to add to the truth Cait has given referencing Hebrews 12:18-23. For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
BUT YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, AND UNTO THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD, THE ( HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, ) and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Notice the contrast. In Exodus 19:10-12. THE LORD TELL MOSES TO SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM TO WASH THERE CLOTHES, and bring them the third day, and they still couldn't touch the border of the law given mountain!!
In the Heavenly Jerusalem God don't wash garments, he gives new ones.
Zechariah 2:10-13.
Zechariah 3:1-9.
Ephesians 4:20-24.
Colossians 3:9-10.
Parallel-
Galatians 4:21-26. Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
WHICH THINGS ARE AN ALLEGORY: FOR THESE ARE THE TWO COVENANTS; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
BUT JERUSALEM WHICH IS ABOVE IS FREE, WHICH IS THE MOTHER OF US ALL.
Romans 8:3-4.
A general area to study in.
Hopefully someone will add.
God bless.
before the law and after the Law there are those who walked in the commandments and the law blameless Luke
1:6 Zacharias and Elisabeth it doesn't say faultless. So these people who believed God were made righteous by
their faithfulness in the administration they were in. They will be judged at the end and found righteous, we in
the Body of Christ the Church of God have been made the Righteousness of God in Christ Spiritually and are going
to be rewarded for out stand spiritually on the Word. Also believers in the Body are by rebirth spiritually christ in
sons and daughters by God in the old testament they were adopted by God that Includes Israel.
Great read. I like to add some input on the blessings Jacob gave his sons.
I believe the blessings to Abraham and Issac went through the Lineage of Judah.
Here's why.
Genesis 22:18.
Galatians 3:14.
Galatians 3:16.
Now here is Judahs blessing.
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
THE SCEPTRE SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH, NOR A LAWGIVER FROM BETWEEN HIS FEET, UNTIL SHILOH COME; AND UNTO HIM SHALL THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE BE.
Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Genesis 49:8-12.
Abraham's blessing to Issac was because he was Promised! He was God's doing! We are children of Promise as well.
Galatians 4:28.
Ishmael was the works of their own hands "Works of the flesh " ( This has a lot of spiritual application )
Here is the Contrast of the two.
Galatians 4:29-31.
Verse 30 says Issac is the heir this connects him to the promise on through Jacob on Judah to Christ. Revelation 5:5.
What's interesting is Jacob blessing Joseph sons out of order instituting the reverse sovereign order of the firstborn as seen in Romans 9:11-12. Romans 9:11.
("that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;")
I believe we see the contract of Works and Grace, Flesh and Spirit, The narrow gate and the wide gate. And the putting asleep of Abraham when the unconditional covenant was made. All in These verses.
God bless you and Good night.
Precious friends, please be Very Richly Encouraged In The Only TRUE Hope, Found In God's Precious Word Of Truth!
"Christ's coming and birth at Bethlehem was not an accident; it was an appointment. Jesus Christ came at God's appointed time, not a moment too late, and not a second too early. The first Christmas miracle started long before Bethlehem. It took place over many centuries as God worked, foretold, and prepared Israel for His Son's coming."
'Borrowed' from an Excellent Article: "The Fullness of the Time" by Kevin Sadler
Please Be Richly Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, and Edified!
2 Timothy 2:15 Romans 16:25 Ephesians 3:9 = Grace/Mystery fellowship {Romans - Philemon}, For ALL "to SEE," today,?
God's 'Simple' Will: Link
HE'S GOING TO WRITE HIS LAWS ON THEIR HEARTS.
Jeremiah 31:31. As it reads God is going to make a new covenant with the house of Israel.
Jeremiah 31:32 The Lord says this new covenant won't be like the old covenant that he gave their fathers, ( On Mount Sinai by Moses. )
Note: "A Mount that could not be touched"
Jeremiah 31:33-34. Tell us what the New covenant shall be. And how it will function!!
"I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts;
" Not on tables of Stone "
You see an example of this in
2 Corinthians 3:3.
This new covenant is NOT where they were bond to a law in which they could not keep because of the weakness of the flesh.
See Romans 8:3-4.
That Covenant and tabernacle was a shadow of the (TRUE) tabernacle.
( Hebrews 8:2. A minister of the sanctuary, and of the TRUE tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.)
See Hebrews 8:1-13.
See Hebrews 9:1-28.
See Hebrews 10:8-17.
THE ENERGY BEHIND THE DESIRE TO KEEPING THE LAW BEHIND THIS COVENANT WASN'T COMMANDMENT,
This covenant is set in motion and Moved by the Holyspirit. This is an inward action not an outward one.
This New Covenant is what the Old covenant/Law pointed to.
Note with both Covenants in view.
Galatians 4:23-28. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
God bless.
You may want to go back over what you are disagreeing on.
The Emphasis here is by faith Abraham was counted righteous APART from the deeds of the Law.
Please see Galatians 4:21-28
Here's the Context of my Original post
Galatians 4:28
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Isaac is not a Child of the flesh
" NOT OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH'S DOING THEY WERE BARREN."
The Promise was given BEFORE Abraham believed.
This promise was "INITIATED" and confirmed by a covenant back in
Genesis 15:8-12. Not in Genesis 22.
Abraham was put to sleep so God entered the covenant alone.
Only he can break it!!
It's not broken or held up by any condition of Abraham.
"A conditional covenant needs both parties passing between the divided carcass."
Now let's go over the steps in sequence.
1 Abraham is given a Promise by God.
Genesis 15:4-5.
THEN.
2 Abraham believed God. What did he believe in? God's PROMISE.
Genesis 15:6.
3rd God performs the covenant.
Genesis 15:8-12.
Note: The Land is tied to the promise, But that's for a different study.
" Hebrews 11:8-10."
THIS IS WHERE THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED TO ABRAHAM.
" Galatians 3:5-10."
1) We have God's PROMISE " His Word.
2) We have Abraham believed the PROMISE "Faith "
IMPORTANT TO NOTICE.
( Ephesians 2:8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:)
3) In Genesis 22 We will see the Resurrection.
GENESIS 22.16.
Here in Genesis 22 what is it Abraham believed in? This is about 33 years after the "PROMISE OF ISAAC" in Genesis 15.
Answer: Hebrews 11:17-19. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
ACCOUNTING THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham stumbled with these promises.
Gen. 17:17-18.
Thank God it's UNCONDITIONAL.
GB
This is what is getting covered up by spritualizing certain text.
And How it relates to us.
Hebrews 6:13-19 (KJV) For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, SURELY BLESSING I WILL BLESS THEE, and MULTIPLYING I WILL MULTIPLY THEE.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the IMMUTABILITY of his counsel, CONFIRMED IT BY AN OATH:
That by TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, BOTH SURE AND STEADFAST, AND WHICH ENTERED INTO THAT "WITHIN THE VEIL;"
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Here's the covenant and Promise between God and Abraham.
TAKE NOTICE OF WHO IS THE LONE PARTICIPANT IN PERFORMING THE COVENANT.
Here's Isaac being Promised.
Genesis 15:4-5.
Abraham's participation.
Genesis 15:6.
Here's the covenant performed.
Genesis 15:8-11.
NOTICE WHAT GOD DOES TO ABRAHAM.
Genesis 15:12.
This covenant being instituted by God only suggests its faithfulness depended on Gods PROMISE NOT ABRAHAM'S FAITHFULNESS!!
Abraham faith was in God's PROMISE!!
That's Mercy, Grace, and Faith apart from works. And Eternal Security all in view here.
Galatians 4:28. !!
Galatians 3:8-9.
Galatians 3:13-15.
THE PROMISE OF A SAVIOR GIVEN BEFORE THE INSTITUTION OF THE MINISTRATION OF DEATH!!
Galatians 3:16-17.
2 Corinthians 3.
Galatians 3:18.
THE TRUE VINE!
AND OPERATION OF THE HOLYSPIRIT IN THE NEW COVENANT.
Hebrews 10:16.
Romans 6:6.
Romans 8:10-11.
( 2 Corinthians 3:5. )
This is what's being attacked by those crept in from unawares.
God bless.
Daniel 7:22, Galatians 4:22, Ecclesiastes 3:1-17, Daniel 7:25, Exodus 9:16-19, Hebrews 9:8-10, Psalms 105:17-19, Micah 5:2-4, seems to be significant even in future Luke 16:16,
Hope that's helpful
Galatians 3:17. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. There's a lot tied to that promise. The birth of Isaac was a product of that promise, So are we.
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Abrahams offering up of Issac demonstrates the prophetic Ties the promise has with the Resurrection and new life by the Spirit.
Hebrews 11:18-19. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Genesis 15:1-18.
God bless you brother.
Mary gave birth to the Christ in the flesh - which we profess that He Jesus the One and only One begotten of the Father the True Messiah has come in the flesh. According to Galatians 4:19 we are to give birth to the Christ formed inside of us. As John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord, the Holy Spirit helps us birth the Christ in us - basically He Christ must increase and we must decrease.
Brother Alex was just using an analogy to describe this process of new birth as relating to Grandson. Let us proceed in brotherly love and do our best to keep unity in His peace. We are all uniquely created and beautifully made by His hands.
Let us proceed we with Love that edifies for it is truly Christ that has justified us and called us into this Great hope.
Let are minds and eyes be opened to this Love.
May God bless us all and our families richly and increase going forward!
It is true that God knows His sheep. A person who has experienced a spiritual re-birth (Born again) is a person who God knows. All others are impostors. There will come a day that many will profess that during their lifetime, they did many wonderful things "in His name," and the Lord will say to them "Depart from me, I never knew you." This would be all those who died without receiving Christ. You are correct in that there are two future resurrections. There will be a resurrection for those who have died "In Christ," and then there will be another resurrection after the thousand-year reign of Christ for those who died without Christ, those who rejected Him in their lifetime. The first resurrection is the one you want to be a part of because those in the second one will be cast into the lake of fire.
I don't think the bible teaches that a person who dies without Christ in their life will be given a second chance after death, if that's what you are saying. Again, God knows all His sheep, those who have received Christ while still alive on this earth. In Galatians 4:9 Paul says, But now, and if I may point this out to you because it is very subtle, and he said it in Colossians also.
He says but after you have known God, or (rather) are known of God. You see, Paul corrected himself. He corrected himself in Colossians as well. And we do it all the time. We ask people "Do you know the Lord?" But the scripture says does the Lord know you? That's what's important. It's not that I know Christ, but He knows me.
Nanette, does the Lord know you? Have you received Him? Have you surrendered your life to Him? It is my hope that you have already done so and that you belong to Him. If you have not yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, please do not hesitate to do so. There is no guarantee of tomorrow. Believing that we get a second chance at salvation after death is not a risk anyone should take!
Satan is the prince of this world and The world also hate Jesus.
Here's why the world hated Jesus.
This persecution Started in Genesis and on through us today. Genesis 3:15.
John 7:7. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, BECAUSE I TESTIFY OF IT, THAT THE WORKS THEREOF ARE EVIL
And the world presently hates Jesus disciples as well as any people who has a role in God's redemption program.
The Lord called out Abraham and blessed him and Made an unconditional covenant with him. And he would be the Father of many nations Genesis 17:4-13.
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
Galatians 3:28-29. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
God is not done with Israel as some think,
And the Church did not replace Israel.
They play a role in the future.
Acts 15:14-16. Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
( AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN, AND WILL BUILD AGAIN THE TABERNACLE OF DAVID, )
which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
This is a spiritual warfare!!
That's the short of it. Perhaps someone can go into more detail.
God bless.
.
Our Justification happened at the Cross and We are being Sanctified by his Word and we will be Glorified in Heaven.
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
There's a verse that wraps up the works and grace confusion when applied.
There's a lot to unlock in Torah before we even get into the study of Salvation in the New Testament!!
God bless.
Even in the Book of the Revelation, some things are clearly metaphorical & left unexplained, while others are explained: e.g. Revelation 9:3ff on locusts as opposed to Revelation 1:20, the stars & candlesticks. With the latter, the meaning is given, but with the former, we can get several theories on who or what the locusts are. If one proclaims that he has the meaning, how are we to accept that without any Scriptural backing? If a mystery is unlocked & faith & joy have increased exponentially as a result, can it be expected that another person can share that same exuberance without confirmation from other Scriptures? Likewise, the two states of the Earth (once without form & void because of satanic interference & then re-created in perfection a second time with beaming light), becomes difficult to comprehend.
You said, "The reconstituted creation did not contain the same evil which previously existed." I thought that this 'reconstituted creation' already had the same evil present - in Satan, who was there ready to pounce on the new humans to make them like himself. Adam & Eve's disobedience manifested into evil only because of the evil already present. And as a result, the whole creation groaneth & travaileth in pain till the present. But "the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" in that coming day. Blessings to you brother.
In the Old Testament days, God spoke & showed Himself in more visible ways: in choosing certain people to fulfil His Will & Program, in choosing a people (Israel) to be called His very Own, & to declare His Word to His people through the prophets He sent.
And then in these "last days" (when God's Promises to His people (under the Old Covenant) would end (= fulfilled) by the introduction of the New Covenant, through His Son: Hebrews 11:1,2), God has chosen to reveal Himself & of Kingdom living in new way. No longer is the requirement of the physical Mercy Seat in the Tabernacle or the Altar for burnt sacrifices. No longer is the need for God's audible Voice to His prophets. All this has been fully met in the Person of His Son: He is the reason for God's continuing Mercy on us, a miserable, unregenerate, sinful people. Jesus is the Living Word to bring God's final Word of warning to us, indeed, to ultimately lay down His Life so that we might still have this Age of Grace to live in & live for Him.
So, to all who would believe on Jesus for their salvation, repenting of their sins & confessing His Name, God's Testimony & Word has not diminished. He sent forth His Spirit into our hearts, crying "Abba, Father" ( Galatians 4:6). The same God Who hid His Face from His Son in the agony of the crucifixion, did so, so that His Face might now be fully revealed to us His sons & daughters by His Spirit. The Word that the prophets & saints of old heard audibly, we do also now by His Spirit. His manifestations seen in the powers of Heaven & on Earth in those days, are now seen in His Power in us & in the miracles He does for each of us, some seen, some unseen. Nothing has changed - God's revelation to His people (both to the saved Jew & Gentile) are still the same, & I would say, even of greater magnitude as His Spirit reveals more, does more, says more, to us now.
Hi Adam. I agree with you in your definition of a Christian, & more: conviction of sin, repentance, re-birth, Spirit baptism & indwelling, fruit/gifts of the Spirit received, earnest desire to live for God & not for oneself & the World, hates sin & struggles against temptation & sin, has his citizenship in Heaven, longs to talk to his Heavenly Father & also to hear from Him, & ultimately will persevere in this life of burden, cares & suffering, being triumphant in the battle against Satan.
One might say that I've added more to its meaning, as shown in Romans 10:9, making the definition too restrictive. But the Roman's formula (confess + believe = salvation) is the essence, but the Christians' desire to hate sin, to live for God, to worship this Saviour God, to persevere, etc., are responses of the Holy Spirit indwelling. This must be the case, for that is the very Work of the Spirit, to form Christ in us ( Galatians 4:19) which is not always an immediate but an ongoing work in a believers' life. That's why I like Jesus' simple parable of the Sower ( Matthew 13:3-23); even though it speaks of the reception of God's Word to the hearer, Jesus is questioning how people would respond when the Living Word of God standing before them would receive & respond to Him. A proper response to that Word, its planting, germination, growth, fruitfulness & abiding until the time of physical deterioration & death, is the definition of one in whom God's Word & Seed of Salvation has truly done its blessed work.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my 2 questions.
1) You mention that the commandment at Leviticus 12:3 was a "suggestion". When the Law was give to Israel, they made a covenant between themselves and God. Please read Exodus 34:3-8. Notice specifically
Exodus 24:3 "And Moses came and told the people ALL THE WORDS of the LORD, and ALL THE JUDGMENTS: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, ALL THE WORDS which the LORD hath said will we do."
That does not sound like a "suggestion" but a command - an order. Jewish people have thus very meticulously made certain to circumcise their children. Moses was almost killed by the LORD because he had not circumcised his son. Please read Exodus 4:24-26. That seems to me that the LORD takes circumcision very, very seriously. In fact, in the first century, even believing Jews believed that a believer in the Messiah must be circumcised to be saved.
Acts 15:1 "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, EXCEPT YE BE CIRCUMCISED after the manner of Moses, YE CANNOT BE SAVED."
2) You mention that the first century Church followed the 10 commandments.
I do agree that they did follow 9 of those commandments. They are re-iterated in the New Testament or Covenant set up by Jesus through his blood mentioned at Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Luke 22:20. However, nowhere do the Apostles every tell the Church, in clear words, "remember to keep the sabbath". Could you provide me 1 verse where an apostle clearly says to keep the sabbath - that actual word "sabbath" being used? In fact, Paul says the opposite at Colossians 2:16 and Galatians 4:10.
3) Now to answer your question. The apostles did not ever say that they obeyed the "10" commandments. They said that they obeyed the commandments. Those would be the commandments of the New Testament given by Jesus Christ through his Apostles via the letters of Romans to Revelation.
I welcome your thoughts again.
Good day to you, Dan.
That means a lot to me. I never considered Galatians 4:6-9, but it makes perfect sense. And yes, I do notice the transition in verse 9, where the writer says "I am persuaded better things of you." He is now speaking to those who were probably genuine believers and continued on until the end. We don't see that in verses 4-6. There were many people following along, some continuing on, and some leaving. Those who left never surrendered their life to Christ. But then there were those who did surrender.
But for any here who will continue to maintain that our understanding is incorrect, I would then explain vv 4-6 in this way: the Hebrews writer is sharing an 'impossible' scenario. "It is impossible" because of the 'impossibility' to re-crucify Jesus again (& maybe, again & again), putting the whole blessed, final work of God for our salvation into a disgraceful mess & shame. And since that is an impossibility (that a true believer who has received the goodness of Heaven) to again shame the Lord, the Hebrews writer quickly expresses, "But (I) am "persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation" (verse 9).
So why should he write this in the first place? For the very purpose of this letter: to show to these believers who were largely saved from judaistic legalism & error, that Jesus Christ & the merits of His Cross cannot be lightly regarded, even as seen by His exemplary Character (as written right throughout Hebrews): Him being far superior to any prophet, the angels, even Moses, by His Priesthood & by the Power of Faith, Hope & Love He gave to us. So, if some say that these are saved people in vv 4-6, then the writer is saying that such a situation cannot arise, since an apostate would have to re-crucify Christ to be saved again - which thing IS an impossibility ( Romans 6:10). And the RC belief in the Eucharist & Transubstantiation are related here.
So your word is correct Jesse: these were not believers spoken about because such a scenario cannot happen, rather the writer was persuaded that the believers' faith was genuine & strong.
Jesus is called "the son of man" to emphasize the fact that he was truly human. There were some in the first century who did not teach this truth.
1 John 4:2-3 "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come IN THE FLESH is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come IN THE FLESH is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world."
Jesus is "the son of man". The Hebrew word "Adam" means, in fact, "man". Thus, Jesus is "the son of man (Adam). He is a descendant of Adam. He had a human mother, Mary, that made that possible.
Galatians 4:4 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, MADE (BORN) OF A WOMAN, made under the law,"
Romans 1:3-4 "Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh (THE SON OF MAN); And declared to be THE SON OF GOD with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
Matthew 16:13 "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I THE SON OF MAN am?"
Matthew 16:16 "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD."
John 10:36 "Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am THE SON OF GOD?"
So, Jesus Christ is thus referred to as both "the son of man" and "the son of God".
With kind regards.
PG 2.
Hebrews 6:12-19. I Erred on page 2, "I meant unconditional covenant, not oath.' Here goes-
Gen.15;1-12.
Vs 6: And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Vs 8:And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
VSES. 9-12. And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.
And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
God put Abraham to sleep and entered the covenant alone. only God can break it. ISSAC WAS PROMISED!! AS WELL AS WE!
Galatians 4:28. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 'Unconditional!
Vs 26-27:But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
LOOK AT THOSE UNDER THE LAW IN-
VS 25. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. MT SINAI IS A MT YOU COULD NOT TOUCH! ( COULD'NT KEEP ) THE LAW WAS GIVEN THERE.
GEN. 22 Abraham offered up his only begotten promised son, because he believed in the previous promise/covenant. AND KNEW GOD WOULD HAVE TO RAISE HIM FROM THE DEAD.
Hebrews 11:17-19 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Of whom it was said, "That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
The crucifixion of Christ played out.
GB
Thank you for your comments. I was wanting to respond specifically to your comment, "I guess they think Christ died on the cross so we can be Lawless."
No, I do not believe that Jesus died for me so that I could be lawless. I do want to obey God's Laws. However, what has God commanded me to do? Would you suggest that I be circumcised so as to keep God's Law recorded at Leviticus 12:3? Why would I do that when the Apostles decided in Acts 15 that I need not be circumcised in order to serve God.
So, what do I obey. As a Christian, I obey the instructions that the Apostles gave to the first-century Church in the epistles from Romans to Revelation. They never tell me to keep the Sabbath or be circumcised or keep the festivals of Israel. In fact, they tell me the opposite:
Colossians 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"
Galatians 4:10 "Ye observe days (sabbaths), and months (lunar month), and times (festivals), and years (sabbatical). I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
I obey the New Testament made between God and the Church of God via the mediator Jesus Christ since I am a Christian. I do not obey the Old Testament made between God and ancient Israel via the mediator Moses. I am not an Israelite.
Please see Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Hebrews 8:7-13.
Notice that the Bible is separated into 2 portions - the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus inaugurated the New Testament with his shed blood. See Luke 22:20. These are the laws that I obey - God's laws for Christians in the New Testament.
I kindly invite your comments.
Good day.
Great declaration of clear truth.
To go along with the truth you presented brings us back to Genesis to the "UNCONDITIONAL" promise God performed "ALONE" to Abraham 430 years before the law given.
Hebrews 6:13-19. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.
Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of PROMISE. Galatians 4:28.