If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10
The truth is that every day, many times a day, we sin. This is why when Jesus was washing the feet of His disciples...
"Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean." John 13:6-11
Peter and the other disciples except Judas were all born again (washed all over) but because in our daily walk we sin and need to confess our sins (wash our feet), thus Jesus replied "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean"
Hi, Alex. The verse says that he was "in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity."
This means that Simon was jealous of the apostles' power to bestow the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, and wanted that power for himself and he believed that money could purchase power from God.
Furthermore, Peter also said, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."
Interestingly, in John 13:8 "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Peter used words similar to Jesus when He sais, concerning Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
It is not at all clear whether Simon was truly bore again and if he actually did repent and regain fellowship with God.
Your bitterness seems to be about your relationships with family members. Do some self examination. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psa 139:23-24 (KJV)
I'm having difficulty understanding that on one hand you, "want to watch a movie that has violence, cursing and the like" but on the other hand you "make a deliberate choice not to." I have to tell you that I've actually done things like that and I've paid the price of rebellion against God. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph 4:30 (KJV) When we know what is sin and willfully disobey, we grieve the holy Spirit of God. I don't want to do that any more. How 'bout you? Read the whole chapter. Read Ephesians. Get into God's Word every day. It's food for your soul. Read Psalm 19. It ends like this, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." You can't really do this when you're filling your head with violence and foul language.
Today status and serving seems to be the biggest focus amongst most church goers, now before we proceed, i go to church and love it, and i serve. but so do people in cult religions, we tend to try to teach discipleship, disciple means to follow some ones teachings, we are supposed to follow Jesus teachings, you cant do that with out the holy spirit which equipts us with the fruit of the spirit. Jesus apostles commanded to go out and preach to the world but to WAIT on the HOLY SPIRIT! we are identified as his disciples by the love we show one another read john 13:34-35. study all of john ch 13, you see the washing of the, you see a lesson in restoring and humility. the Jews religion was services which was a outwardly action, Christ in you is an inwardly action reflecting outwardly, look what Jesus tells the Pharisees in Mathews 23:25-26.. Woe unto you Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. today we compromise the truth, neglect the spirit, separate ourselves by pride, try to grow the church in volume apart from the gathering of the Holyspirit. the opposite of the way the church started in Acts 2:46-47. Lets pray we LOVE ONEANOTHER.
by the"WILL OF GOD" may the blood of"JESUS CHRIST"blessings be upon the child when conceived and keep the mother and father safe."THANKYOU, LORD JESUS"AMEN,AMENandAMEN.
Interestingly, authors sometimes use the 'third person' rather than the 'first person' nouns or pronouns. We can see it in Numbers 12:1-4 when Moses uses it in his writing. Also, John 13:23, John was speaking about himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved". Jeremiah 1:1: "The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah" but in Jeremiah 2:1, he says "the Word of the Lord came to me". And Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:2, "I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago", referring to himself.
So, it's not unusual for authors to write in the first or third person, but the reason they do it can be varied. Maybe, they prefer that style, or to keep the focus on another in some special context, or even to avoid being too forward in their writing by using the first person pronoun. And then again, these same authors can revert to the first person elsewhere, so we can't judge them without knowing their purpose for doing so but as long as we can understand & appreciate the message they gave.
I'm praying for God's financial intervention in my life & that of my family. Praying that God speedily intervenes Cause there's so much happening at same time that it's so overwhelming & discouraging, but I know that God's working at the background & He wouldn't let the unbelievers have a cause to laugh at we His children.
Also want you people to please pray that God's divine Favour & guidance leads me in righteousness & in truth to the fulfillment of my destiny & purpose here on earth. That God Almighty through JESUS Christ my Lord would keep quickening His Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding which He created in me. That my life will be a living testimony to His glory, preaching to the lost & every human that comes in contact with me. This I pray through our Lord JESUS Christ. AMEN.
Thank you Lord God for all the blessing. Please pray for my husband and I to have a baby. And to all the people who have in pain today and to our safety. Thank you Amen. God Bless Us
WRA-- in reply to Unequally Yoked on Numbers 12 - 4 years ago
Is it a sin to have a mixed marriage between black and white People? I believe there are millions of Black Believers in the world also millions of White Believers. So, What is the answer that the question is seeking. I think its maybe. How to get beyond the problem of racial issues. With these two people groups. John 13:34-35. The Lord speaks of a new commandment he is bringing to Love your fellow man. In this chapter Jesus washes the disciples feet. He lets them know that what he was doing they would understand later. I say If they were to have foot washing services in your church as they are here in Jesus day, would you wash a black persons feet or a white persons feet? I believe he was showing how seriously he takes loving our fellowman. He says He is greater that we are and he is setting an example of how far love can go. and Should go. I would really ask myself, Would I? Could I? If asked or pushed how would I feel. How would I behave. Its flippant to say I love everybody and wish well for all which shows my love of all mankind? but is this true?
This verse says, ...we have not separated ourselves from the people of the land, doing according to their abominations. The land was an unclean land filled with the filthiness of the people doing abominations. These verses lists over 8 tribes here and nowhere does it say that these people are all black. Nore is the problem listed as a Racial one. The Issue is one of Sin. If we look at the book of Numbers 12:1, we see, what I believe to be God's opinion of Inter-Racial Marriage.
Here is another scripture I would look at in this matter. Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6 and Revelations 22:19. The Lord himself says in John 13:34-35. The Lord speaks of Love for one another to include people not to exclude a people group for skin color that they had no part in choosing for themselves.
Here, again, Christ encourages His followers to keep their "hearts" from fear and trouble. This repeats the statement Jesus used to start this message ( John 14:1), immediately after predicting Peter's cowardice ( John 13:38). Here, again, scholars suggest that Jesus is distinguishing between being troubled in one's "spirit," meaning pain and unhappiness, as opposed to being troubled in one's "heart," meaning fear and despair. Jesus was said to have a troubled spirit, at times ( John 11:33; 13:21). What He calls for here is not for Christians to be stone-faced and inhuman. Rather, it's to acknowledge the reality of suffering while at the same time trusting in God to make good on His promises.
Alex comments about y Jesus washed their feet,it was not about their feet it was about their hearts their feet was their hearts spritualy speaking that needed washing a new heart and a new spirit was what they needed . Jesus said he that eats bread with me has lifted up his Heel against me but Judas neva lifted up his heel against Jesus, Judas neva assaulted Jesus with his feet, Judas neva kicked Jesus, Judas assaulted Jesus with his heart the scriptures say that Satan had entered the HEART of Judas to betray him, Its mans hearts that need washing our hearts is satans house thats y Jesus said you are not all clean, there is a bit of our carnal mind that is in rank with satan,Thats y Jesus called Peter satan. But Judas neva assaulted Jesus with his heel, neva did kick JESUS, JUDAS ASSAULTED JESUS WITH HIS HEART, An old friend that EATS bread with me has lifted up his heel against ME, We love to eat at his table ( hearing his parables ) but we assault him with our old evil adamic nature,Thats y he told Peter thou art an offence unto me. Our carnal mind is our foot spritually speaking. We walk with Jesus in the spirit thus our heart is our feet that is made clean by his word.When he washed their feet he said you are made clean by the word i have spoken unto you. Thats y he told Judas it wd have been better if he were neva born which is true of all of us it wd have been better if our old adamic nature had neva been born that y we must be bornagain and is the reason Jesus had to die that we might all get a seed and incorruptible seed the words of the new covenant. When a seed dies it multiplies which is gonna give mankind a new heart and a new spirit a new innerman which is the H.G. The bible scholars got it all wrong the foot washing was not about out literal feet.Our personal hygene does not defile us ( our feet etc ) Jesus said its the things that come from the heart that defiles a man thus we need a new heart and a new spirit NEW AS IN NEW BIRTH THAT NEW EARTH ETC
why did Jesus wash the disciples feet, besides humility, and servanthood. there got to be something dipper than that. don't get me wrong this is very important.
Comments by Alex on y Jesus had to die. One of the facets of the cross is multiplication when a seed dies it multiplies. The blood was the most important, God so loved the world that he gave his only son,But there is a hidden facet to the cross its multiplication, that was the great Promise that Christ wd be multiplied as the stars of heaven,God himself was so passionate about the Multiplication the Promise that he swore by his veryself. In hebrews it said that by 2 immutables things it was impossible for God to lie there is NO other Promise that God made that he Swore by his very self. God had multiplication of his very self in mind, a posterity of his very self Thats y Jesus is saying to whom the WORD came it made them Gods an Israel of God, spirits as jesus said that which is born of the spirit is SPIRIT this is the H.G. The multiplcation of very God in humanity our new heart and spirit which is the very Kingdom of God in us, there is multiplcation of God in his death thats y jesus is saying smite the shephard and the sheep will be scattered then i will turn my hand to the LITTLE ONES WHICH IS MULTTPLICATION, A LITTLEONE SHALL BE COME A 1000 a STRONG NATION THIS IS THE CHILD THAT IS BORN IN REV 12 THAT IS GONNA RULE ALL NATIONS which is the H.G. our new innerman ,Thats y he refers to the H.G AS THE PROMISE the H.G is the multiplication of Christ. Thats y he always refers to himself as the SON OF MAN, MANKIND IS GONNA BIRTH A BABY CHRIST . When Isaiah saw the Kingdom coming he says unto us a Child is born, YA REMEMBER JESUS said unless you receive the kingdom of God as a lil child. That heavenly birth via his seed th WORD When THE Greeks came to Jerusalem to worshio they wanted to see Jesus but JESUS said unless a seed dies it remains ALONE but if it dies it brings forth much fruit. Had he not died there was have been only 1 Christ thus no way for the world to SEE him but b/c of his death he will be multiplied as the STARS OF HEAVEN giving everybody A BABY CHRIST
noun. a stormy wind from the north or northeast that occurs in the Levant, which caused the ship in which St Paul was travelling to be wrecked ( Acts 27:14) any stormy wind.
Rev 1 v 3 Blessed is he that readeth , and they that hear the words of this prophecy , and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand .
To him that overcometh
Rev 2 v 7
Rev 2v17
Rev 2 v 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end , to him will I give power over the nations :
Rev 3 v 5
Rev 3 v 12
Rev 3v 21
A question dear reader are you and I prepared to endure ?
If you are looking for an escape it's not there . But God is faithful to preserve us .
Was Daniel preserved in the lions den , yes he was .
Was Noah preserved from the flood yes he was .
They where obedient to the Lord and found grace in time of need .
Take heart the Lord is faithful to us , but the cost is obedience , disobedience forfeits .
In the seven churches they where instructed by the Lord that knows all what they needed to do . Many of them had to repent and follow his instructions.
He is faithful to forgive us and keep us if we obey his word .
Alex comments on matthew 13 That good seed. What is the good fruit that Jesus warns us about? Jesus said they will know you by your fruits. He tried to keep everything secret and hidden. These things are hid from the wise and prudent but revealed unto babes.Who are these babes and sucklings that Jesus wd mention sometimes ? They are our fruit unto God via that heavenly Seed that Paul mentions in romans 7 you are dead to the law by the body of Christ that you should bemarried to another even to him that was raised from the dead,THAT YOU SHOULD BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD. Here it is from a heavenly view Rev. 12 she brought forth a man Child that is gona rule all nations, we are the woman and our fruit is a baby Christ the H.G. the NEW BIRTH IS FROM HIS SEED THUS OUR FRUIT IS A BABY CHRIST THE H.G. thats y they call him the bridegroom,he sows a heavenly seed in our hearts.Thats the new covenant I will put my WORDS ( his seeds ) in their hearts and minds the new covenant is nothin less then the parable of the sower and his seed, the 2 nd coming unless ya receive the kingdom of God as a lil child you will in no wise enter there in,I will know them all from the least to the greatest, this is an intimacy that is gona result in a birth, he has to know us, Thats when that good seed is gona be sown in our hearts,being bornagain of an incorruptible seed etc, and here is the kicker, JESUS said to whom the word came ( that good seed ) it made them Gods, Thats y the prophets were saying what manner of love is this that we should be called the sons of God meaning absolute Sons, impling the very kINGDOM of God is gonna be with IN us. God himself as jesus said if any man hears my words ( seeds ) my Father and i will come and take our abode with him ty jesus for being able to understand this great mystery even a sinner like me thus in the end every sinner is gonna be made fruitful. 27 times the PROPHETS saw this world in travail and birth pains .Isaiah said unto US a Child is born.
The Holy Ghost is Holy and was sent by Jesus who is Holy, after he rose from the dead after Calvary, to comfort and teach the repentant believer that looked up, how to be like Jesus while remaining in this world with love in their heart foremost for God who is Holy and also for their neighbor as an example of the Holiness of God present with mankind in His Body of believers. Finally the Gospel Story from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 is about Love and Holiness and it's presentation as a non- resistant Lamb makes us always, unworthy.
John 13 v 5 Jesus telling them they needed to have their feet washed but they had already been water baptised,Jesus knew that they all had been water baptised but he warns them of another baptism more important then water baptism If i wash thee not you will have no part with me. just think of that he tells his own disciples if i wash thee Not you will have no part with me this speaks volumes of another baptism of the Spirit H.G baptism which was the Word that heavenly seed that wd form Christ in them,abide in me and i in you, this H.G BAPTISM WD form Christ in us as a Child,when he said that which is born of the spirit is spirit thats the H.G. THAT HEAVENLY CHILD that results from his seed the living word, Being bornagain of an incorruptible seed even by the Word of God, They don't call him the bridegroom for nothin he has a seed to sow in humanity ya remember he said the field was the world where that good seed will be sown,HE IS NOT GONNA CULL ANYBODY .remember when he fed the multitudes he fed everybody,the good the bad the UGLY THE world GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD ETC. if i belifted up i will draw ALL men unto me,even as Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness even so must the son of man be lifted up.Its our hearts that needs to be washed not our feet,Its that H.G BAPTISM that washes our hearts resulting of a birth of Christ in us thats y he always refers to himself as the SON OF MAN,MANKIND NEEDS TO BIRTH CHRIST IN HIS HEART, thats the essence of H.G. baptism,iTS A SEED THAT IS GONA FORM CHRIST IN US VIA A BIRTH,conception comes by hearing and understanding ,Remember when Pharoahs daughter came to wash she found a Child hid in the brushes,when we come to wash via repentence and hearing we will find a child in the Water of the Word.There is a child hid in the waters of salvation which is H.G baptism.She brought forth a man child that will Rule ALL nations which is the H.G.Whosoever receives one such Child in my name receives me the Child is the H.G. th plumline
Paul is telling us to grow up. He told the Corinthians in chapter 3 that they were babes and could not handle meaningful doctrine while they were still carnally minded. Then in chapter 12 their self serving focus on the gifts was actually hindering the intended use of them which is to build up the body of Christ. He then shows them the better, mature way which is charity.
Charity is essentially what Jesus commanded in John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Also in John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Which incidentally points to the Cross.)
Ephesians 4:11-16 gives a fuller development of this necessary work of edifying the body, that we henceforth be no more children...
The 4th day is about the government of God upon us.the kingdom/reign of God. We are to fear God who is One and keep His commandments.
God made 2 great lights.
God set the 2 lights in the firmament (the opened hearing ear) of Heaven. Hear, O Israel.
The greater light is the first and greatest commandment to rule the children of the Day who are to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.
The second, lesser light is like the first. to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we have love for one another, all people in this dark world shall know we are His disciples ( John 13:35). We shall shine as the stars in the darkness of this world. We are to love even our enemies who hate us. In doing so, there is rule over those who are of the night in the darkness of their minds as we let God avenge us ( Romans 12:19) .
Mark 12:29-31 KJV
(29) And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
(30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
(31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
He made the stars also.as we shall shine as lights/luminaries in the darkness of this world in the doing of His 2 greatest commandments. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.
Philippians 2:14-16 KJV
(14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
(15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the Word/Saying of Life: that God is Light.
(16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
The Scriptures - not tradition - puts Jesus crucified on Friday.
Jesus represented a sacrificial lamb in the 1st Jewish Feast, Passover. The timing was as predicted in the Bible. Jesus knew that His time has come.
Ex. 12:6 "And ye shall keep it [lamb] up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening."
John 13:1 "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."
1 Cor. 5:7 "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:6-10
The truth is that every day, many times a day, we sin. This is why when Jesus was washing the feet of His disciples...
"Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean." John 13:6-11
Peter and the other disciples except Judas were all born again (washed all over) but because in our daily walk we sin and need to confess our sins (wash our feet), thus Jesus replied "He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean"
This means that Simon was jealous of the apostles' power to bestow the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, and wanted that power for himself and he believed that money could purchase power from God.
Furthermore, Peter also said, "Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God."
Interestingly, in John 13:8 "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Peter used words similar to Jesus when He sais, concerning Peter, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
It is not at all clear whether Simon was truly bore again and if he actually did repent and regain fellowship with God.
Your bitterness seems to be about your relationships with family members. Do some self examination. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psa 139:23-24 (KJV)
I'm having difficulty understanding that on one hand you, "want to watch a movie that has violence, cursing and the like" but on the other hand you "make a deliberate choice not to." I have to tell you that I've actually done things like that and I've paid the price of rebellion against God. "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph 4:30 (KJV) When we know what is sin and willfully disobey, we grieve the holy Spirit of God. I don't want to do that any more. How 'bout you? Read the whole chapter. Read Ephesians. Get into God's Word every day. It's food for your soul. Read Psalm 19. It ends like this, "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." You can't really do this when you're filling your head with violence and foul language.
So, it's not unusual for authors to write in the first or third person, but the reason they do it can be varied. Maybe, they prefer that style, or to keep the focus on another in some special context, or even to avoid being too forward in their writing by using the first person pronoun. And then again, these same authors can revert to the first person elsewhere, so we can't judge them without knowing their purpose for doing so but as long as we can understand & appreciate the message they gave.
Also want you people to please pray that God's divine Favour & guidance leads me in righteousness & in truth to the fulfillment of my destiny & purpose here on earth. That God Almighty through JESUS Christ my Lord would keep quickening His Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge & Understanding which He created in me. That my life will be a living testimony to His glory, preaching to the lost & every human that comes in contact with me. This I pray through our Lord JESUS Christ. AMEN.
Here is another scripture I would look at in this matter. Deuteronomy 4:2, Proverbs 30:6 and Revelations 22:19. The Lord himself says in John 13:34-35. The Lord speaks of Love for one another to include people not to exclude a people group for skin color that they had no part in choosing for themselves.
T. Levis from USA
This is a hugely debated issue within churches 4 sure.
John 13:34-35
Romans 16:17-18
2 Timothy 2:14-15
If there isn't a rapture could it be the cause of a great falling away?
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3
Revelation 6:8-11
GOD be with us all who believe, love & trust HIM, to strengthen, hold, protect & keep us faithful
Jude 1:24-25
John 10:28-29
Genesis 5:21-24
2 Kings 2:11
Mark 16:19
Acts 1:6-9
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Mathew 24:37-46
I hope these are helpful
Mark 10:43 -45
He told his disciples to wait in the Upper Room for Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to them.
The seed is the Word of God. The Bible.
The Holy Spirit. It's only bears fruit if it falls on good ground.
Jesus wants us to bear much fruit. The seed--we have to get that out of the Bible. Who is the Lord of the Harvest?
To him that overcometh
Rev 2 v 7
Rev 2v17
Rev 2 v 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end , to him will I give power over the nations :
Rev 3 v 5
Rev 3 v 12
Rev 3v 21
A question dear reader are you and I prepared to endure ?
If you are looking for an escape it's not there . But God is faithful to preserve us .
Was Daniel preserved in the lions den , yes he was .
Was Noah preserved from the flood yes he was .
They where obedient to the Lord and found grace in time of need .
Take heart the Lord is faithful to us , but the cost is obedience , disobedience forfeits .
In the seven churches they where instructed by the Lord that knows all what they needed to do . Many of them had to repent and follow his instructions.
He is faithful to forgive us and keep us if we obey his word .
Yes there is a cost to follow the Lord .
Charity is essentially what Jesus commanded in John 13:34-35, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."
Also in John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (Which incidentally points to the Cross.)
Ephesians 4:11-16 gives a fuller development of this necessary work of edifying the body, that we henceforth be no more children...
God made 2 great lights.
God set the 2 lights in the firmament (the opened hearing ear) of Heaven. Hear, O Israel.
The greater light is the first and greatest commandment to rule the children of the Day who are to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind and strength.
The second, lesser light is like the first. to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we have love for one another, all people in this dark world shall know we are His disciples ( John 13:35). We shall shine as the stars in the darkness of this world. We are to love even our enemies who hate us. In doing so, there is rule over those who are of the night in the darkness of their minds as we let God avenge us ( Romans 12:19) .
Mark 12:29-31 KJV
(29) And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
(30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
(31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
He made the stars also.as we shall shine as lights/luminaries in the darkness of this world in the doing of His 2 greatest commandments. And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth.
Philippians 2:14-16 KJV
(14) Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
(15) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
Holding forth the Word/Saying of Life: that God is Light.
(16) Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
to be continued...
The Scriptures - not tradition - puts Jesus crucified on Friday.
Jesus represented a sacrificial lamb in the 1st Jewish Feast, Passover. The timing was as predicted in the Bible. Jesus knew that His time has come.
Ex. 12:6 "And ye shall keep it [lamb] up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening."
John 13:1 "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end."
1 Cor. 5:7 "For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us."