We don't stop worshipping Sunday through Friday to make Saturday Special, Nor do we do that for any other day!! We need to understanding we're vessels!!
2 Timothy 2:20-21. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
WE DON'T FILL THESE VESSELS!!
We are LAMPSTANDS!! And OUR FATHER
supplies oil!!
Matthew 5:14-16. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
""TRUE"" Worship is not of ourselves!!
Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Worship is also NOT a place you Go!!
John 4:21, 23-24. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We are fruit barriers!!!
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
WE DON'T PRODUCE THE FRUIT!!!
WORSHIP IS A NEW LIFE, NOT A 9 TO 5.
The Sabbath day is everyday because we don't do it. CHRIST DID!! We join him in his rest.
Best to read your bible and pray and ask God's Holy Sprit to help you understand what you read. There are many people out there that will try to lead you in the wrong direction.they interprete and twist the words they read in the Bible to mean whatever message they are trying to push.
The Sabbath Day has always been the last day of the week - Saturday. God gave us the Sabbath to rest, pray, reflect and give thanks to God. Yes the 4th commandment asks us to Keep Holy the Sabbath.
Many Christians and churches today do not keep the 4th commandment.
There are many references in the Bible regarding keeping God's 10 Commandments. Here is Jesus speaking the following Bible scripture below:
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
In summary: You can always believe in the bible scripture!
Brother Forest, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.
Do you think Christ feels like a ROBOT.
Do you think his Father feels unloved because he CAUSES Jesus to love him.
Jesus said HIMSELF; of myself I CAN DO NOTHING. ( John 5:30) ( John 18:28)
Jesus said HIMSELF; ye (man) can do NOTHING YOURSELF ( John 15:5)
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who WORKETH in you BOTH TO WILL and DO of HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
We make thousands of choices each day; but every choice has a CAUSE that made us make that choice, and that CAUSE is God.
God CANNOT be Sovereign and man have FREE WILL.
Ephesians 1:11 ...being predestined (everything is chosen for you) according to the PURPOSE of HIM (GOD) who WORKETH ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS WILL.
FREE WILL is the wisdom of this world that God calls FOOLISHNESS.
It is really easy to rest IN CHRIST when you BELIEVE HIS WORDS.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together IN ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, IN HIM.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be Saviour of the world.
You cannot be Saviour of the world without SAVING THE WORLD.
Romans 6:1-4 . What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
James 2:20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Matthew 7:17-20. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
2 Peter 1:20-21. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 28:9-10. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
The Same message is spread throughout the bible. a little here, and a little there.
do yuns know the 11th commandment , john 13:34 . that would be the only commandment that he gave to his diciples only . not all of Israel like in Mathew he amped up some of the 10 commandment. and also he repeats it in john 15:11
"THE LAW" as referred to by Jesus is the 10 Commandments..it doesn't say anything about stoning anyone in this LAW.
Jesus did not let the adulteress get stoned in the scripture below:
John 8:2-10 Context
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
In scripture, Jesus and his apostles refer many times to keeping the 10 commandments. Here are two verses spoken by Jesus
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
As Christians .if we keep God's commandments, we WILL NOT kill or stone anyone. The 6th Commandment: THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
Matthew 5:18. Is saying that God's 10 commandments are in force until the end of this earth.
Cheryl, May CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.
To many people have been taught something different than the good news of the GOSPEL.
The GOSPEL is CHRIST IN YOU.
The word says we are all dead; walking around believing we are alive and we determine our destiny by what we do and the choices we make.
The TRUTH IS; we can do nothing in and of ourselves: Christ determines our destiny by WHAT HE DOES FOR US.
John 3:27 Jesus answered and said, a man can receive nothing, except it be GIVEN him from heaven.
1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know NOTHING BY MYSELF; yet am I not hereby JUSTIFIED: but he that JUDGETH me is the Lord (the word is judging you NOW).
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world (those that believe they are living their lives on their own) cometh, and have NOTHING IN ME (not believing ALL IS OF GOD).
Galatians 6:3 If a man think himself to be something, when HE IS NOTHING, he deceiveth himself.
John 15:5 I am the vine you are the branches: He that abideth in me (TRUTH), and I (TRUTH) in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit (CHRIST IN YOU), for without me you can do NOTHING.
As Christ reveals himself to you through TRUTH you began to be a new creation; CHRIST IN YOU, and begin to BELIEVE what the word says. Christ is making you to be exactly like himself; everything he is, YOU ARE.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, NOW (when you BELIEVE) are we the sons of GOD, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall BE: but we know that, when he shall appear (NOW in TRUTH) we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
This is the FIRST DEATH and RESURRECTION; now in CHRIST, being JUDGED NOW in the words of Gods.
A NEW HEAVEN (You where Christ dwells); a new life and that life IS CHRIST.
Yes, salvation is a free gift. But, once saved, you need to keep yourself in God's love as Jesus stated at
John 15:10 "IF YE KEEP my commandments, ye shall ABIDE (REMAIN) in my love; even as I have KEPT my Father's commandments, and ABIDE (REMAIN) in his love."
If salvation is just believing and can't be lost, then why did Paul say at
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY."
Sounds to me that Paul disciplined himself to keep himself in God's love. He did not want to be a castaway - rejected.
Jude 1:21 "KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
Notice the words of James at
James 5:19-20 "BRETHREN, if any of YOU do ERR FROM THE TRUTH, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James is here speaking to the "BRETHREN" and says that it is possible for a brother (a true believer) to "ERR FROM THE TRUTH" - therefore, he must have been in the truth to start off with, otherwise he would not be erring from it. He has become, once again, a sinner and is in danger of death.
Paul also said at
1 Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he STANDETH take heed lest he FALL."
Some say that Paul is referring to those who THINK they are standing but really are not. If that were so, then why does he say LEST HE FALL. If they are not standing, they certainly cannot fall.
What Paul is really saying is: Let him that thinks he is standing SOLIDLY, take heed that he does not fall after all.
All this pointed to a time in the future when God would then "provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." ( Genesis 22:8). So the Old Testament showed the people their sin & need for a substitute sacrifice but all it did was to temporarily cover their sin (i.e. avert God's Anger against them) until the coming of "the better hope & the better Covenant" ( Hebrews 7:19,22). What was this new Hope & Covenant for Israel? Sin was still sin & the penalty then was the same penalty now, but the difference now was that God Himself would provide His Own sacrificial Lamb. All other sacrifices fell far short in God's justice system & could never deal with the sin issue - all people remained condemned before Him.
But the same love that God had for His people in those old days was still very much the same to be demonstrated in these last days. John 3:16 best describes that Love which not only was for Israel but through this special Sacrifice, would encompass all people that each one could be saved by it, simply by looking to Him in faith. And the only Sacrifice that could demonstrate that Love & fulfil His Holy demands was that God Himself would, through His Son (the Word given flesh), would lay down His Life for us all. There could be no other suitable or acceptable sacrifice for our sins & to divert God's Anger against us that would send us to Hell for eternity. No man or animal could fully pay the price - God willingly gave of Himself for us all. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" ( John 15:13 & 1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because HE laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren). And the 'brutality of His Death' was because of the prevailing Roman form of execution, i.e. the release of Barabbas that Jesus might be crucified in his place.
Revelation 22:18 - 19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
John 15: 2-8 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Brother Mitchell, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.
When you came to the understanding that WE CAN DO NOTHING; but, Christ does all things for us. You will BE SET FREE.
You want have to achieve the hope set before you, Christ started it. he will complete it. In fact; Christ sees it as already COMPLETE. This is what is meant by coming INTO HIS REST; the works were completed before the foundations of the world were laid.
Ephesians 1:4
Hebrews 4:3
John 15:5
Psalms 92:4-6
YOU ARE DEAD (on your cross); He is alive on HIS THRONE (in you) living HIS life FOR YOU.
I would share another angle of the verse you quoted. Please, read carefully the verse.
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate "US" from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word "US" is referring to believing and obedient Christians. It is not referring to those Christians who have stopped believing and obeying God. There are those who that. Very faithful for years and then they apostatize. We can keep ourselves in God's love or we can not keep ourselves in God's love. It is our choice. We are told by the Apostles to fight hard to not stop believing or willfully practice sin.
John 15:10 "IF ye KEEP my commandments, ye shall abide (remain) in my love; even as I have KEPT my Father's commandments, and abide (remain) in his love."
Jude 1:21 "KEEP YOURSELVES in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I (Paul) therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and bring it INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY.
2 Timothy 4: 7-8 "I" (Paul) have FOUGHT a good FIGHT, "I" (Paul) have FINISHED my course, "I" (Paul) have KEPT the faith: HENCEFORTH there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Revelation 3:5 "He that OVERCOMETH, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name OUT of THE BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
The danger of believing that we cannot lose our salvation is that a person may thus not take seriously the importance of carefully safeguarding our "faith" and not giving in to "willful" sin that can rupture our relationship with God. John 15:10 ; Jude 1:21.
2 Peter 3:16 "As also in all his (Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they...wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and bring IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY."
2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I" (Paul) have fought a good fight, "I" (Paul) have finished my course, "I" (Paul) have kept the faith: HENCEFORTH there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
To say that a person who stops believing and obeying God was never really a Christian is superfluous. God promises that if a person repents and believes in Christ, he will have his sins forgiven. Acts 3:19. When gentiles did this, they received the Holy Spirit from God and were baptized in water. They became part of the Church. Acts 10:44-48. However, they must now be careful not to abandon their faith (apostatize) or give in to the sinful flesh with no care or repentance.
Hebrews 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD; lest any ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP trouble you, and thereby many be DEFILED; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, HE WAS REJECTED: for he found NO PLACE OF REPENTANCE, though he sought it carefully with tears.
1) When someone "truly" believes in Christ Jesus, he automatically receives the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:44) and is attached to the vine, Jesus Christ. This is nicely explained in the parallel account of John 15:1-6 at:
Romans 11:19-21 "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be GRAFFED IN. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and THOU STANDEST BY FAITH. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest HE ALSO SPARE NOT THEE.
Notice, the "gentile" believer, like a branch, is graffed into the olive tree because of his faith in Christ Jesus. But, Paul says to fear - why? Because God can "spare not thee" as he "spared not" the unbelieving Jews.
2) The apostle Peter was writing to faithful believing Christians. See 2 Peter 1:1. He is giving them a warning against false prophets. See 2 Peter 2:1. He specifically says about these ones that they "have forsaken the right way". See 2 Peter 2:15. So, at one time, they were on the right way. At 2 Peter 2:20, he says that they "had escaped the pollutions of the world" but, unfortunately, "they are again entangled therein". They have returned to the world.
Thus, they are likened to a dog who has vomited out his vomit and left it for good. But, then, he returns. Or, the sow (pig) who used to role in the mud. Then he leaves the mud and is cleansed. But, unfortunately, he then returns. In a similar way, these ones who believed in Christ Jesus and received the Holy Spirit and were cleansed of their old, sinful ways, have now returned to their sinful practices. Peter says "too bad for them". Jude says they have "died twice". See Jude 14.
3) As for Hebrews, Paul is speaking to believers.
Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST,". This happened when they believed. See again Acts 10:44.
Thank you for asking me to share my thoughts. Here they are:
In John 15:6, the word abide (MENO) denotes permanency. There are branches that are in the tree but are dead branches, and there are those branches that abide permanently in the tree or vine. It says if a man abide not in me. So this is talking about someone who is not saved. A saved person is a person who is abiding in Him, and that person is the one who abides permanently. It's the dead branches (Unsaved) that are cast into the fire. These branches do not produce fruit because they are dead.
I can't take Romans 11:21 without considering Verses 19 and 20 also. Why were the natural branches not spared? These branches were broken off because of their unbelief. This is referring to the Jews who rejected their Messiah. No salvation there.
2 Peter 2:20-22 does not tell me they were saved. Having knowledge of the Lord does not mean they were saved. In Verse 21, the emphasis is on what they know. They haven't surrendered their life to Christ. Verse 22 would indicate to me that they were never saved. They had the knowledge of the truth, but never surrendered to Christ.
There has to be a transformation and a change because a pig will always go back. You can wash it, put a bow around its neck, spray it with perfume, and you know what's going to happen. It's going to dive right back into that mud hole again.
Both verses in Hebrews are referring to Jews who were following along with the teachings and were being enlightened to the truth, but never surrendered their life to Christ because of the persecution they would face if they were to do so. Do you realize what it would cost a Jew, even today if they were to give up Judaism to receive Christ as their Messiah? These Jews were being enlightened to the truth but instead of surrendering to Christ, they decided to return back to Judaism.
I totally understand your prospective, but lets think for a min. Did Paul and the other
Apostles contradict what Christ himself came to tell us? Christ said: ( Matthew 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. So I ask you, has the Heaven and Earth passed away? not at all. So, Here is Christ, himself telling you that the Law is not fulfilled or the Prophets. He also told us to keep his commandments, am I right?
( John 15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Here is Christ giving you a definition of what the Love of the Father is, it's keeping his commandments.
( 1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
( 1 John 5:2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
( John 14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I can go on and on, The Commandments are a must, it's not an opinion of the Disciples, it's the Doctrine of Christ. The Churches have lied to us when they say we don't have to keep the commandments.
Now, you say once saved, a person must keep himself in God's Love, I showed you what God's love is, Keeping the Commandments but you have twisted that as well. ( Matthew 24:13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This means that you are not saved until the end, meaning if you die now or when Christ returns. The scriptures are self evident, they need no interpretation from man.
The Creator gave us a road map and free will, Choose wisely but I beg anyone reading this, don't let the Church do your work, Christ gave you Books, read them and pray for understanding, The Spirit will guide you into all Truth!
The Bible warns many times that a person can lose their salvation. Here are a few places.
John 15:6 "If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
Romans 11:21 "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee."
2 Peter 2:20-22 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 6:4-6 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 10:26-29 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
Unfortunately, many misunderstand what being saved by grace means.
Yes, there is nothing we could do to save ourselves. Jesus had to die for us to save us. However, we have to repent of our sins and believe (or trust) in Jesus Christ as God's means of removing our sins and saving us. Repenting means that we tell God that we are sorry and that we no longer want to live in sin.
But, once saved, a person must keep himself in God's love.
Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide (remain) in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide (remain) in his love."
We also need to walk in the light if we are to have the blood of Jesus wash away our sins.
1 John 1:7 "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."
The apostle Paul fought a good fight to remain in God's love and thus could receive the crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:7, 8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Perhaps, an example could help.
A man kills another man. He will be executed. The judge has mercy on him and tells him he will free him if the man repents and promises to not repeat his act. The man agrees. The man was freely forgiven as an act of grace and mercy. There was nothing he could do to save himself. But, now, he must keep to the terms and not kill again. If he does, he will be executed.
Philippians 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
Living under the new covenant today does not take away from God's 10 commandments. Many people today quote and misquote apostle Paul's writings. This simple truth is that the apostle Paul does not have the authority to cancel any of God's commandments.
Jesus respected his Father and his commandments and Jesus did not cancel any of the 10 commandments. Please read and try to understand the following scriptures spoken directly by Jesus Christ while he was on this earth.
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14:21
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Matthew 5:17
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matthew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Paul and the other disciples honored and followed the 10 commandments including the 4th commandment. See apostle John's scripture below:
1 John 2:3
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."
1 John 5:2
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:3
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
2 John 1:6
"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."
Please read the scriptures and pray for understanding.
Brother Richard, may CHRIST IN US grace us with HIS wisdom and HIS understanding.
The lake of fire is the same thing; that, in the Old Testament was called the Fire of the Lord. Natural eyes see this as literal fire; but is it?
Judges 6:20 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, take the flesh and unleavened cakes (represents us) and lay them upon this rock (represents Christ), and pour out the broth And he did so.
Judges 6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and unleavened cakes (US), and there rose up fire from OUT OF THE ROCK (OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE), and consumed the flesh and unleavened cakes (US).
Zachariah 14:12 ......Their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet....
Revelation 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword (is the word of GOD, God is FIRE) of him upon the horse, which sword (WORD) proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their (own) flesh.
To understand who the fowls are; we have to go to the parable of the sower of the seed.
Luke 8:5 A sower went out to so his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the FOWLS OF THE AIR devoured it.
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD.
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are those that hear, then cometh the devil (fowls or the air)....
Luke 13:19 It (kingdom of heaven; Christ in you) is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air (devil) lodged therein.
John 15:5 I am the vine; ye are the branches (where the fowls lodge)...
Psalms 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out DEVILS by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God (CHRIST IN YOU) is come unto you.
If you are thinking we are grafted in by keeping the Law you are mistaking, you are missing the point in Romans 11.
Romans 11:20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
You are expecting to be grafted into a branch that has been broken off!
I'm not sure if you are implying salvation comes by keeping the 10 commandments, if you are the bible don't state that.
Galatians 3:16-26. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
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.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We're not grafted into Israel. Israel is a branch. We're grafted into the vine to bare fruit.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:1.
The one True God, Yahweh is spelled with a capital G, not a lower case g. And furthermore, God exists is three persons as stated in 1 John 5:7 quotes, "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Notice how the Triune God is mentioned several times by references plural pronouns such as us and our; describing the Trijne Godhead.
Mark 12:36-37 quotes, "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly."
John 1-5 quotes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:14 quotes, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
John 19:30 quotes, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
John 15:26-27 quotes, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
The Father, Yahweh is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. They are the same person.
Thank you for those verses Earl. I will write how I perceive them.
In John 10:14. Yes the Lord knows His sheep and all that shall be saved. As He knows the end from the beginning. In that I myself could never tell anyone if they are saved, or will be, or not as it is all God's Will. Though in Matthew 7:21-23. stating there will be some that call out to Him Lord Lord!! Though He never knew them. Showing me that not all are of the Lord's sheep.
In John 10:16. I see this as the Lord starting with the children of Israel where He went about His mission for over three years. The "other sheep not of this fold", to me, are of all other people around the world or the Gentiles. That the Gospel began to be taught to after his death and resurrection. Though as we know not everyone who hears the Gospel accepts it no matter a Jew or Gentile.
With Romans 11:16. I see it as like in John 15:1-8. As Jesus Christ being the true vine and us(in Him) being the branches. As if we don't abide in Him we are good for nothing. I don't see all becoming holy(or saved) as Revelation 22:11.
Please let me know what you think. The two ways we may see these things are ok to me. I see no problem with having a bit different interpretations of these things. The Lords Will shall be done either way and I know I could be wrong. It is good for us to converse our feelings.
In reality the most important thing for all of us is to be close with the Lord and live by the Will of our Father in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 9:14.
Putting all our trust and faith in Him no matter what happens. Amen.
Hello Sarah, Only Jesus that came to the world was true and faithful, but God honors order and order supports the poor which will aways be.
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
I know of a minister that was convicted of sin and turned his life in repentance to Jesus as he was jumping on a bed with his younger brothers and sisters upstairs in an old house. From below his mother called to the children while she labored to stop jumping on the bed. Well of course it was too much fun and they continued. At least one more warning came from below went unheeded. Finally the mother started up the stairs and this boy heard her coming and quickly got off the bed and sat in a nearby chair when she arrived while the others were jumping still. All on the bed were punished. Time continued for a while until this boy felt the call of God and God called him to repentance in this disobedience and hidden deceit. He answered that call!
We should obey those that have rule over us as it allows us to live as the quiet of the land as Christian witnesses to the Truth's of God.
As you can see this boy did not have any association with abortion, but his testimony would be if he had not repented, he was destined to hell.
It should be a comfort that any innocent soul lost by somebody's else sin is saved by the blood of Jesus at Calvary. In the time of persecution girls as young as 12 were buried alive vertically given many chances to recant infant baptism instead of counting their born again experience as their drawing to their glory in the Cross.
We must stay humble before the Lord. Give our lives to Him and follow Jesus Christ as He is the only way to our Father.
I guess to end this post will be to "lukewarm" Christians. We are warned there is no middle road. It is one way or the other. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many go that way. Straight and narrow is the way to life and few that find it. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. 1 Corinthians 10:21, Matthew 6:24. As this comes to Revelation 3:15-16. People who are walking the line are going to have to make a choice. I pray they make that choice today as no one knows when the Lord shall require our life. Or when our last day shall be.
Another question I would feel to ask a believer is "are you ready"? Do you love the Lord enough to give your life for Him? As in John 15:13-14, Jesus states there is no greater love than to lay down his life for His friend. Matthew 16:24-25. Love is not perfected yet if you are still afraid as in 1 John 4:18.
I will just leave some Scriptures for others. How we should focus on things above and not of this world. Live our life for the Lord to do the Will of our Father in Heaven. As all is conditional in that the closer you draw to Him the closer He will draw to you. God Bless you my brothers and sisters in the Lord.
1 John 5:7 "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"
1 John 5:8 "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
1 John 5:10 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."
This awful type of situation can occur in any given setting. Haven't you heard the saying, the devil goes to church too. He wants to wreck havoc everywhere he goes. God's word tells us to resist the devil and he will flee. God's spirit as the Comforter will reveal every man's character. I would personally comfort this person!!! We do not run from the enemy, we put him in his place, then report him to elders, and police.
We worship EVERYDAY OF OUR LIVES!!!
We don't stop worshipping Sunday through Friday to make Saturday Special, Nor do we do that for any other day!! We need to understanding we're vessels!!
2 Timothy 2:20-21. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
WE DON'T FILL THESE VESSELS!!
We are LAMPSTANDS!! And OUR FATHER
supplies oil!!
Matthew 5:14-16. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
""TRUE"" Worship is not of ourselves!!
Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Worship is also NOT a place you Go!!
John 4:21, 23-24. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
We are fruit barriers!!!
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
WE DON'T PRODUCE THE FRUIT!!!
WORSHIP IS A NEW LIFE, NOT A 9 TO 5.
The Sabbath day is everyday because we don't do it. CHRIST DID!! We join him in his rest.
We're beneficiaries of a Promise.
GOD BLESS.
Best to read your bible and pray and ask God's Holy Sprit to help you understand what you read. There are many people out there that will try to lead you in the wrong direction.they interprete and twist the words they read in the Bible to mean whatever message they are trying to push.
The Sabbath Day has always been the last day of the week - Saturday. God gave us the Sabbath to rest, pray, reflect and give thanks to God. Yes the 4th commandment asks us to Keep Holy the Sabbath.
Many Christians and churches today do not keep the 4th commandment.
There are many references in the Bible regarding keeping God's 10 Commandments. Here is Jesus speaking the following Bible scripture below:
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
In summary: You can always believe in the bible scripture!
God Bless
Do you think Christ feels like a ROBOT.
Do you think his Father feels unloved because he CAUSES Jesus to love him.
Jesus said HIMSELF; of myself I CAN DO NOTHING. ( John 5:30) ( John 18:28)
Jesus said HIMSELF; ye (man) can do NOTHING YOURSELF ( John 15:5)
Philippians 2:13 For it is God who WORKETH in you BOTH TO WILL and DO of HIS GOOD PLEASURE.
We make thousands of choices each day; but every choice has a CAUSE that made us make that choice, and that CAUSE is God.
God CANNOT be Sovereign and man have FREE WILL.
Ephesians 1:11 ...being predestined (everything is chosen for you) according to the PURPOSE of HIM (GOD) who WORKETH ALL THINGS after the counsel of HIS WILL.
FREE WILL is the wisdom of this world that God calls FOOLISHNESS.
It is really easy to rest IN CHRIST when you BELIEVE HIS WORDS.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together IN ONE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, IN HIM.
1 John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be Saviour of the world.
You cannot be Saviour of the world without SAVING THE WORLD.
If a person truly believes he will bare fruit.
The Holyspirit will sanctify,
Romans 6:1-4 . What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
James 2:20. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
John 15:5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Matthew 7:17-20. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
2 Peter 1:20-21. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Isaiah 28:9-10. Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
The Same message is spread throughout the bible. a little here, and a little there.
All scripture should harmonize.
Amen.
Jesus did not let the adulteress get stoned in the scripture below:
John 8:2-10 Context
2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
In scripture, Jesus and his apostles refer many times to keeping the 10 commandments. Here are two verses spoken by Jesus
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
As Christians .if we keep God's commandments, we WILL NOT kill or stone anyone. The 6th Commandment: THOU SHALT NOT KILL.
Matthew 5:18. Is saying that God's 10 commandments are in force until the end of this earth.
God Bless
To many people have been taught something different than the good news of the GOSPEL.
The GOSPEL is CHRIST IN YOU.
The word says we are all dead; walking around believing we are alive and we determine our destiny by what we do and the choices we make.
The TRUTH IS; we can do nothing in and of ourselves: Christ determines our destiny by WHAT HE DOES FOR US.
John 3:27 Jesus answered and said, a man can receive nothing, except it be GIVEN him from heaven.
1 Corinthians 4:4 For I know NOTHING BY MYSELF; yet am I not hereby JUSTIFIED: but he that JUDGETH me is the Lord (the word is judging you NOW).
John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world (those that believe they are living their lives on their own) cometh, and have NOTHING IN ME (not believing ALL IS OF GOD).
Galatians 6:3 If a man think himself to be something, when HE IS NOTHING, he deceiveth himself.
John 15:5 I am the vine you are the branches: He that abideth in me (TRUTH), and I (TRUTH) in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit (CHRIST IN YOU), for without me you can do NOTHING.
As Christ reveals himself to you through TRUTH you began to be a new creation; CHRIST IN YOU, and begin to BELIEVE what the word says. Christ is making you to be exactly like himself; everything he is, YOU ARE.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, NOW (when you BELIEVE) are we the sons of GOD, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall BE: but we know that, when he shall appear (NOW in TRUTH) we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
This is the FIRST DEATH and RESURRECTION; now in CHRIST, being JUDGED NOW in the words of Gods.
A NEW HEAVEN (You where Christ dwells); a new life and that life IS CHRIST.
John 15:10 "IF YE KEEP my commandments, ye shall ABIDE (REMAIN) in my love; even as I have KEPT my Father's commandments, and ABIDE (REMAIN) in his love."
If salvation is just believing and can't be lost, then why did Paul say at
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and BRING IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY."
Sounds to me that Paul disciplined himself to keep himself in God's love. He did not want to be a castaway - rejected.
Jude 1:21 "KEEP YOURSELVES IN THE LOVE OF GOD, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
Notice the words of James at
James 5:19-20 "BRETHREN, if any of YOU do ERR FROM THE TRUTH, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
James is here speaking to the "BRETHREN" and says that it is possible for a brother (a true believer) to "ERR FROM THE TRUTH" - therefore, he must have been in the truth to start off with, otherwise he would not be erring from it. He has become, once again, a sinner and is in danger of death.
Paul also said at
1 Corinthians 10:12 "Wherefore let him that thinketh he STANDETH take heed lest he FALL."
Some say that Paul is referring to those who THINK they are standing but really are not. If that were so, then why does he say LEST HE FALL. If they are not standing, they certainly cannot fall.
What Paul is really saying is: Let him that thinks he is standing SOLIDLY, take heed that he does not fall after all.
Kindly.
You will find God's 10 Commandments in your bible in Exodus chapter 20 verses 1-17.
You will find many, many references to these commandments throughout your bible in the old and new testaments.
Jesus and his apostles followed God's ten commandments. And Jesus said:
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Jesus also said:
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
You will find there are many people today, even on this web site that will minimize or disregard God's 10 Commandments.
God Bless
All this pointed to a time in the future when God would then "provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering." ( Genesis 22:8). So the Old Testament showed the people their sin & need for a substitute sacrifice but all it did was to temporarily cover their sin (i.e. avert God's Anger against them) until the coming of "the better hope & the better Covenant" ( Hebrews 7:19,22). What was this new Hope & Covenant for Israel? Sin was still sin & the penalty then was the same penalty now, but the difference now was that God Himself would provide His Own sacrificial Lamb. All other sacrifices fell far short in God's justice system & could never deal with the sin issue - all people remained condemned before Him.
But the same love that God had for His people in those old days was still very much the same to be demonstrated in these last days. John 3:16 best describes that Love which not only was for Israel but through this special Sacrifice, would encompass all people that each one could be saved by it, simply by looking to Him in faith. And the only Sacrifice that could demonstrate that Love & fulfil His Holy demands was that God Himself would, through His Son (the Word given flesh), would lay down His Life for us all. There could be no other suitable or acceptable sacrifice for our sins & to divert God's Anger against us that would send us to Hell for eternity. No man or animal could fully pay the price - God willingly gave of Himself for us all. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" ( John 15:13 & 1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because HE laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren). And the 'brutality of His Death' was because of the prevailing Roman form of execution, i.e. the release of Barabbas that Jesus might be crucified in his place.
John 15: 2-8 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
When you came to the understanding that WE CAN DO NOTHING; but, Christ does all things for us. You will BE SET FREE.
You want have to achieve the hope set before you, Christ started it. he will complete it. In fact; Christ sees it as already COMPLETE. This is what is meant by coming INTO HIS REST; the works were completed before the foundations of the world were laid.
Ephesians 1:4
Hebrews 4:3
John 15:5
Psalms 92:4-6
YOU ARE DEAD (on your cross); He is alive on HIS THRONE (in you) living HIS life FOR YOU.
YOU have become ONE WITH CHRIST.
John 17:21
Luke 14:27
Matthew 10:38
Luke 9:23
We are THE POT he is THE POTTER.
I would share another angle of the verse you quoted. Please, read carefully the verse.
Romans 8:38-39 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate "US" from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word "US" is referring to believing and obedient Christians. It is not referring to those Christians who have stopped believing and obeying God. There are those who that. Very faithful for years and then they apostatize. We can keep ourselves in God's love or we can not keep ourselves in God's love. It is our choice. We are told by the Apostles to fight hard to not stop believing or willfully practice sin.
John 15:10 "IF ye KEEP my commandments, ye shall abide (remain) in my love; even as I have KEPT my Father's commandments, and abide (remain) in his love."
Jude 1:21 "KEEP YOURSELVES in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I (Paul) therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so FIGHT I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and bring it INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY.
2 Timothy 4: 7-8 "I" (Paul) have FOUGHT a good FIGHT, "I" (Paul) have FINISHED my course, "I" (Paul) have KEPT the faith: HENCEFORTH there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Revelation 3:5 "He that OVERCOMETH, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will NOT blot out his name OUT of THE BOOK OF LIFE, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."
Good day, Jesse.
The danger of believing that we cannot lose our salvation is that a person may thus not take seriously the importance of carefully safeguarding our "faith" and not giving in to "willful" sin that can rupture our relationship with God. John 15:10 ; Jude 1:21.
2 Peter 3:16 "As also in all his (Paul's) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they...wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I KEEP UNDER MY BODY, and bring IT INTO SUBJECTION: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY."
2 Timothy 4:7-8 "I" (Paul) have fought a good fight, "I" (Paul) have finished my course, "I" (Paul) have kept the faith: HENCEFORTH there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
To say that a person who stops believing and obeying God was never really a Christian is superfluous. God promises that if a person repents and believes in Christ, he will have his sins forgiven. Acts 3:19. When gentiles did this, they received the Holy Spirit from God and were baptized in water. They became part of the Church. Acts 10:44-48. However, they must now be careful not to abandon their faith (apostatize) or give in to the sinful flesh with no care or repentance.
Hebrews 12:15-17 Looking diligently lest any man FAIL OF THE GRACE OF GOD; lest any ROOT OF BITTERNESS SPRINGING UP trouble you, and thereby many be DEFILED; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, HE WAS REJECTED: for he found NO PLACE OF REPENTANCE, though he sought it carefully with tears.
Good day, Richard.
1) When someone "truly" believes in Christ Jesus, he automatically receives the Holy Spirit (see Acts 10:44) and is attached to the vine, Jesus Christ. This is nicely explained in the parallel account of John 15:1-6 at:
Romans 11:19-21 "Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be GRAFFED IN. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and THOU STANDEST BY FAITH. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest HE ALSO SPARE NOT THEE.
Notice, the "gentile" believer, like a branch, is graffed into the olive tree because of his faith in Christ Jesus. But, Paul says to fear - why? Because God can "spare not thee" as he "spared not" the unbelieving Jews.
2) The apostle Peter was writing to faithful believing Christians. See 2 Peter 1:1. He is giving them a warning against false prophets. See 2 Peter 2:1. He specifically says about these ones that they "have forsaken the right way". See 2 Peter 2:15. So, at one time, they were on the right way. At 2 Peter 2:20, he says that they "had escaped the pollutions of the world" but, unfortunately, "they are again entangled therein". They have returned to the world.
Thus, they are likened to a dog who has vomited out his vomit and left it for good. But, then, he returns. Or, the sow (pig) who used to role in the mud. Then he leaves the mud and is cleansed. But, unfortunately, he then returns. In a similar way, these ones who believed in Christ Jesus and received the Holy Spirit and were cleansed of their old, sinful ways, have now returned to their sinful practices. Peter says "too bad for them". Jude says they have "died twice". See Jude 14.
3) As for Hebrews, Paul is speaking to believers.
Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made PARTAKERS OF THE HOLY GHOST,". This happened when they believed. See again Acts 10:44.
I invite your further thoughts."
Thank you for asking me to share my thoughts. Here they are:
In John 15:6, the word abide (MENO) denotes permanency. There are branches that are in the tree but are dead branches, and there are those branches that abide permanently in the tree or vine. It says if a man abide not in me. So this is talking about someone who is not saved. A saved person is a person who is abiding in Him, and that person is the one who abides permanently. It's the dead branches (Unsaved) that are cast into the fire. These branches do not produce fruit because they are dead.
I can't take Romans 11:21 without considering Verses 19 and 20 also. Why were the natural branches not spared? These branches were broken off because of their unbelief. This is referring to the Jews who rejected their Messiah. No salvation there.
2 Peter 2:20-22 does not tell me they were saved. Having knowledge of the Lord does not mean they were saved. In Verse 21, the emphasis is on what they know. They haven't surrendered their life to Christ. Verse 22 would indicate to me that they were never saved. They had the knowledge of the truth, but never surrendered to Christ.
There has to be a transformation and a change because a pig will always go back. You can wash it, put a bow around its neck, spray it with perfume, and you know what's going to happen. It's going to dive right back into that mud hole again.
Both verses in Hebrews are referring to Jews who were following along with the teachings and were being enlightened to the truth, but never surrendered their life to Christ because of the persecution they would face if they were to do so. Do you realize what it would cost a Jew, even today if they were to give up Judaism to receive Christ as their Messiah? These Jews were being enlightened to the truth but instead of surrendering to Christ, they decided to return back to Judaism.
I totally understand your prospective, but lets think for a min. Did Paul and the other
Apostles contradict what Christ himself came to tell us? Christ said: ( Matthew 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. So I ask you, has the Heaven and Earth passed away? not at all. So, Here is Christ, himself telling you that the Law is not fulfilled or the Prophets. He also told us to keep his commandments, am I right?
( John 15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Here is Christ giving you a definition of what the Love of the Father is, it's keeping his commandments.
( 1 John 5:3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
( 1 John 5:2) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
( John 14:15) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I can go on and on, The Commandments are a must, it's not an opinion of the Disciples, it's the Doctrine of Christ. The Churches have lied to us when they say we don't have to keep the commandments.
Now, you say once saved, a person must keep himself in God's Love, I showed you what God's love is, Keeping the Commandments but you have twisted that as well. ( Matthew 24:13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This means that you are not saved until the end, meaning if you die now or when Christ returns. The scriptures are self evident, they need no interpretation from man.
The Creator gave us a road map and free will, Choose wisely but I beg anyone reading this, don't let the Church do your work, Christ gave you Books, read them and pray for understanding, The Spirit will guide you into all Truth!
The Bible warns many times that a person can lose their salvation. Here are a few places.
John 15:6 "If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."
Romans 11:21 "For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee."
2 Peter 2:20-22 "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Hebrews 6:4-6 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
Hebrews 10:26-29 "For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
I welcome your thoughts.
Good day.
Unfortunately, many misunderstand what being saved by grace means.
Yes, there is nothing we could do to save ourselves. Jesus had to die for us to save us. However, we have to repent of our sins and believe (or trust) in Jesus Christ as God's means of removing our sins and saving us. Repenting means that we tell God that we are sorry and that we no longer want to live in sin.
But, once saved, a person must keep himself in God's love.
Jude 1:21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life."
John 15:10 "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide (remain) in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide (remain) in his love."
We also need to walk in the light if we are to have the blood of Jesus wash away our sins.
1 John 1:7 "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."
The apostle Paul fought a good fight to remain in God's love and thus could receive the crown of righteousness.
2 Timothy 4:7, 8 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Perhaps, an example could help.
A man kills another man. He will be executed. The judge has mercy on him and tells him he will free him if the man repents and promises to not repeat his act. The man agrees. The man was freely forgiven as an act of grace and mercy. There was nothing he could do to save himself. But, now, he must keep to the terms and not kill again. If he does, he will be executed.
Philippians 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
I bid you a good day.
Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.
Jesus respected his Father and his commandments and Jesus did not cancel any of the 10 commandments. Please read and try to understand the following scriptures spoken directly by Jesus Christ while he was on this earth.
John 14:15
"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14:21
"He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
John 15:10
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Matthew 5:17
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Matthew 5:18
"For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
Paul and the other disciples honored and followed the 10 commandments including the 4th commandment. See apostle John's scripture below:
1 John 2:3
"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."
1 John 5:2
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:3
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
2 John 1:6
"And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it."
Please read the scriptures and pray for understanding.
God bless
The lake of fire is the same thing; that, in the Old Testament was called the Fire of the Lord. Natural eyes see this as literal fire; but is it?
Judges 6:20 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, take the flesh and unleavened cakes (represents us) and lay them upon this rock (represents Christ), and pour out the broth And he did so.
Judges 6:21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and unleavened cakes (US), and there rose up fire from OUT OF THE ROCK (OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE), and consumed the flesh and unleavened cakes (US).
Zachariah 14:12 ......Their flesh shall consume away while they stand on their feet....
Revelation 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword (is the word of GOD, God is FIRE) of him upon the horse, which sword (WORD) proceeded out of his mouth; and all the fowls were filled with their (own) flesh.
To understand who the fowls are; we have to go to the parable of the sower of the seed.
Luke 8:5 A sower went out to so his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the FOWLS OF THE AIR devoured it.
Luke 8:11 Now the parable is this: THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD.
Luke 8:12 Those by the way side are those that hear, then cometh the devil (fowls or the air)....
Luke 13:19 It (kingdom of heaven; Christ in you) is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air (devil) lodged therein.
John 15:5 I am the vine; ye are the branches (where the fowls lodge)...
Psalms 104:12 By them shall the fowls of the air have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out DEVILS by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God (CHRIST IN YOU) is come unto you.
If you are thinking we are grafted in by keeping the Law you are mistaking, you are missing the point in Romans 11.
Romans 11:20. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
You are expecting to be grafted into a branch that has been broken off!
I'm not sure if you are implying salvation comes by keeping the 10 commandments, if you are the bible don't state that.
Galatians 3:16-26. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
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.
For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We're not grafted into Israel. Israel is a branch. We're grafted into the vine to bare fruit.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:1.
Genesis 1:26, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
Notice how the Triune God is mentioned several times by references plural pronouns such as us and our; describing the Trijne Godhead.
Mark 12:36-37 quotes, "For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly."
John 1-5 quotes, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:14 quotes, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
John 19:30 quotes, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
John 15:26-27 quotes, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning."
The Father, Yahweh is God, Jesus is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. They are the same person.
In John 10:14. Yes the Lord knows His sheep and all that shall be saved. As He knows the end from the beginning. In that I myself could never tell anyone if they are saved, or will be, or not as it is all God's Will. Though in Matthew 7:21-23. stating there will be some that call out to Him Lord Lord!! Though He never knew them. Showing me that not all are of the Lord's sheep.
In John 10:16. I see this as the Lord starting with the children of Israel where He went about His mission for over three years. The "other sheep not of this fold", to me, are of all other people around the world or the Gentiles. That the Gospel began to be taught to after his death and resurrection. Though as we know not everyone who hears the Gospel accepts it no matter a Jew or Gentile.
With Romans 11:16. I see it as like in John 15:1-8. As Jesus Christ being the true vine and us(in Him) being the branches. As if we don't abide in Him we are good for nothing. I don't see all becoming holy(or saved) as Revelation 22:11.
Please let me know what you think. The two ways we may see these things are ok to me. I see no problem with having a bit different interpretations of these things. The Lords Will shall be done either way and I know I could be wrong. It is good for us to converse our feelings.
In reality the most important thing for all of us is to be close with the Lord and live by the Will of our Father in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 9:14.
Putting all our trust and faith in Him no matter what happens. Amen.
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 3:17
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
I know of a minister that was convicted of sin and turned his life in repentance to Jesus as he was jumping on a bed with his younger brothers and sisters upstairs in an old house. From below his mother called to the children while she labored to stop jumping on the bed. Well of course it was too much fun and they continued. At least one more warning came from below went unheeded. Finally the mother started up the stairs and this boy heard her coming and quickly got off the bed and sat in a nearby chair when she arrived while the others were jumping still. All on the bed were punished. Time continued for a while until this boy felt the call of God and God called him to repentance in this disobedience and hidden deceit. He answered that call!
We should obey those that have rule over us as it allows us to live as the quiet of the land as Christian witnesses to the Truth's of God.
As you can see this boy did not have any association with abortion, but his testimony would be if he had not repented, he was destined to hell.
It should be a comfort that any innocent soul lost by somebody's else sin is saved by the blood of Jesus at Calvary. In the time of persecution girls as young as 12 were buried alive vertically given many chances to recant infant baptism instead of counting their born again experience as their drawing to their glory in the Cross.
God bless our meditations.
We must stay humble before the Lord. Give our lives to Him and follow Jesus Christ as He is the only way to our Father.
I guess to end this post will be to "lukewarm" Christians. We are warned there is no middle road. It is one way or the other. Wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many go that way. Straight and narrow is the way to life and few that find it. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. 1 Corinthians 10:21, Matthew 6:24. As this comes to Revelation 3:15-16. People who are walking the line are going to have to make a choice. I pray they make that choice today as no one knows when the Lord shall require our life. Or when our last day shall be.
Another question I would feel to ask a believer is "are you ready"? Do you love the Lord enough to give your life for Him? As in John 15:13-14, Jesus states there is no greater love than to lay down his life for His friend. Matthew 16:24-25. Love is not perfected yet if you are still afraid as in 1 John 4:18.
I will just leave some Scriptures for others. How we should focus on things above and not of this world. Live our life for the Lord to do the Will of our Father in Heaven. As all is conditional in that the closer you draw to Him the closer He will draw to you. God Bless you my brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Colossians 3:1-6, Colossians 3:13-17,
Matthew 16:27, 1 Peter 1:17,
Malachi 3:7, James 4:6-8,
Luke 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"
1 John 5:8 "And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one."
1 John 5:10 "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
1 John 5:11 "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son."