Discuss John 20

  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Hi Woe,

    I hope you don't mind. Concerning the crucifixion and resurrection days, if we compare all the gospels, all four give the clearest truth.

    In John 12:1-12, we learn that six days before Passover, Jesus visited the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany. The following day, He rode into Jerusalem, five days before Passover. This event was significant because it coincided with the 10th of Nisan, the day the lambs were selected and held until the 14th when they would be sacrificed for Passover, the same time Jesus died on the cross, Exodus 12:1-14. These Passover lambs were eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread the day Israel went out of Egypt.

    Sunday Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:28-22:7, and John 12:12-50.

    Monday, Matthew 21:18-19 Mark 11:12-19 This was the 11th, four days before Passover the 2nd day of the week.

    Tuesday, Matthew 21:20 to 26:2 Mark 11:20 to 14:2 This was the 12th, three days before Passover, the third day of the week.

    Wednesday, Matthew 26:6-16 Mark 14:3-11 Luke 22:1-6 This was the 13th, and at sunset is Passover day the 14th. The Last Supper, the arrest, sent to Pilot, the crucifixion, and placed in the tomb were all on the 14th, Passover day. Friday would be the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

    Jesus was in the tomb Thur. Day, Fri, Night, Fri. Day, Sat. Night, Sat. Day, Sun. Night, three days, and three nights. Jesus rose on the first day of the week and fulfilled the Feast of First Fruits, Leviticus 23:10-14 This coincides with what Jesus told Mary, touch me not, He had not ascended to His Father, John 20:17. The Feast of First Fruits as we see is on the first day after the Sabbath after Passover Day.

    If Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, the women could have gone to the tomb on Friday because Friday is a preparation day for the weekly Sabbath.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Chris - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Page 2. Woe.

    The Laws that a converted Israel would receive, would no longer be as those formerly written on stone, but now 'in fleshy tables of the heart' ( 2 Corinthians 3:3). The Old has decayed and vanished away, only because of Jesus & His institution of the New Covenant. Let us not abide by things that are from the old economy, as even now, priests still wear religious garb & mitres, with their incense lamps as did the Jewish priests of old, rather to embrace what God's Spirit has for us in our hearts & lives, never leading us into condemnation.

    As for your reference to Matthew 12:36-42, I'm not going to debate that, for I believe as you do, in what Jesus said about His death & resurrection relating it to Jonah's entombment in the 'whale'. The issue is first with the references I gave earlier, viz Mark 16:1,2,9, with John 20:1 complementing it. If the two Marys came "very early in the morning on the first day of the week", & "it was still dark", that tells me that they had arrived at the sepulchre to anoint Jesus' Body before dawn broke on the first day of the week (Sunday). Yes, the Jewish Sunday started after sundown Sabbath, but it still was Sunday when morning broke. You stated: "The earliest they (the Marys) could come to the tomb and administer the spices was as Saturday ended that very evening and Sunday began to dawn, which occurs at SUNDOWN. So Mary came at sundown Saturday." If Saturday (Sabbath) ended in the evening, the dawn of Sunday was still 10-12 hours away; if a day dawns, it is when the sun begins to rise - the day cannot dawn straight after the sun sets the previous day. This shows that the women came up to 12 hours after the Sabbath Day ended (i.e. the next day, Sunday). So I don't get your timeline here.

    And just a final personal, maybe rhetorical, question: do you consider yourself to be wholly subject to the New Covenant in Christ's Blood, or do you believe it is necessary to embrace both the Old & the New to be right before God?
  • Woe - In Reply - 1 week ago
    I always start with what Jesus says;

    Matthew 12:39 Context

    36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. 38Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 39But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

    So now, do you think that Jesus said what he did in idle fashion?

    Jonah 1:17

    "Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights."

    As for what you posted, it is a misnomer. A day starts at evening and ends at evening. There is a mistranslation in scripture. It's not as the sun began to rise ....it's as the new day began to dawn or spring forth, or up. Mary came to the tomb as Saturday ended and Sunday began, which was SUNSET. When a new day begins!

    The following verse is a more accurate description and translation.

    John 20:1

    "The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre."
  • Chris - In Reply - 1 week ago
    Page 1.

    Well Woe, we were still dealing with the Decalogue & its applicability to the Church (are we done with that?), so that is why I didn't want to side track towards the dates of the burial & resurrection of Jesus. But since you have brought it up, let's proceed.

    I always begin with what we already know (from Scripture), and that is the Day of Christ's Resurrection. Mark 16:1,2,9: "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils".

    In these verses, we read that Jesus was resurrected early on the first day of the week (v9), that the two Marys would have rested on the Sabbath Day & prepared their spices (as you mentioned), and as soon as it was morning (actually, still dark - John 20:1) after the Sabbath, these women came to the sepulchre. Some have swapped the commas here, to read: "Now when Jesus was risen, early the first day of the week he appeared". Even if one does that, with the Jewish day reckoned from sundown to sundown, the Sabbath would have ended about eleven hours before, thus confirming that Jesus didn't arise from the dead on Sabbath Day, but on the first day of the week, Sunday. Onto Page 2.
  • Chris - In Reply - 1 month ago
    Thanks for that quick reply brother Jesse, confirming & adding to my understanding of 1 Corinthians 16:22. And your reference to Romans 9:3, which I had forgotten about, gave strong support to the apostle's passion for the Gospel and willingness to become God's anathema & off scouring for the sake of the many destined for hell.

    That Damascus Rd experience must have truly set his heart on fire for the Savior & for lost souls. He heard Jesus speak, he believed & went forth with a singular determination in his heart. We haven't seen with the physical eye or heard with the ear, yet with Spirit-given faith we ought to have the same heart & fervour for Jesus and those lost without Him: "blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" ( John 20:29). Every blessing.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 1 month ago
    (1 Corinthians Part 10):

    1 Corinthians 7:1 - Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

    There are various commentaries that will tell you the different views about what the word touch means. It doesn't mean just to come in contact with somebody. In fact, the Greek word is the word HAPTO, and it means to cling or to be attached. As a reference, we can look at John 20:17, after Jesus rose from the dead and He said to Mary, "don't touch me." She was clinging to His ankles, and she wasn't going to let Him go.

    He's saying that you have to stop clinging to me because I have not yet ascended up to my Father. So, it doesn't mean don't touch. It means don't fasten yourself onto something and not let go

    1 Corinthians 7:3 - Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

    He says let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence. In the Greek, it's that which is owing to her. So that which is owing to her, and likewise also the wife what is owing to the husband.

    1 Corinthians 7:4 - The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

    The wife has not power, and that's literally the word authority. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does: and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

    Hitting at the very source, probably the biggest problem in a marriage relationship is when people play games with the physical side of the relationship. Paul says that is not to be because your body belongs to the partner for what satisfies him or her. And this so that a person can avoid fornication. If he or she is happy, they won't go looking around elsewhere. So, God has made that provision within the marriage relationship.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 month ago
    Hi Jackieboy80,

    The simplicity that is in Jesus, 2 Corinthians 11:3.

    John also confirmed this, he said there were many things Jesus said and did that were not written down, but John wrote this, John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Jesse - In Reply - 4 months ago
    John (Part 40):

    John 20:19 - Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

    Then the same day at evening, so this is the same Sunday, what we call Easter or Resurrection. In the evening time being the first day of the week, and again we make reference to the first of the week days which is Sunday, when the doors were shut.

    Now the word for shut in Greek comes from the word key, like to unlock a door. The reference here is the fact that they locked the doors.

    They put a bar over the doors. And it tells us where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews. They said "They have killed Jesus. Certainly, if they find us, they are going to kill us too!" So, they locked the doors, they barred the doors for fear of the Jews, and Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.

    Luke says they were scared half to death. They thought it was a phantom, a ghost. And that is why Jesus said peace be unto you. They were already afraid of the Jewish leaders coming to round them up. And so, when Jesus shows up, now they are seeing ghosts. Now the situation is getting pretty bad. But Jesus says peace be unto you. He didn't rebuke them!

    John 20:21 - Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you:

    In other words, the first time was to calm their fear. Now He is telling them "What I'm going to tell you, it's in peace. I am not here to rebuke you or do anything that you should be afraid of." Peace be unto you: for as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. The word send is in the Present Tense. "I am sending you out." It is the verb form of the word apostle, which John doesn't use in his gospel.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 4 months ago
    John (Part 39):

    John 20:14 - And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

    And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and in the Greek text, the word for "standing" is in the Perfect Tense, which means He had been standing there the whole while. When she turned around that is when she noticed Him. But He was there ever since she came to the tomb door and looked in and began to talk to the angels. And so, she saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

    John 20:17 - Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

    Jesus said unto her, Touch me not. Now it is interesting what the text says. The word "touch" is the word HAPTO, and it means to fasten. It does not mean to touch, as in "Don't touch me, stay away from me!" It means don't fasten yourself to me. It is a Present Imperative, which indicates that she is already doing it. "Stop clinging to me" is what Jesus is saying.

    In fact, in Matthew Chapter 28 Verse 9, Matthew tells us that she had a death grip on His ankles. She was not going to let Him out of her sight again! So, He wasn't telling her "Don't touch me." He was saying let go, do not cling to me, stop clinging to me.
  • Jesse - In Reply - 4 months ago
    John (Part 38):

    John 19:6 - When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

    The word "him" is not in their chant. They are just going, crucify, crucify, crucify, crucify, over and over again and people are being worked up into a frenzy.

    John 19:7 - The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.

    Here's what it says in the Greek. It says, Son of God, not "the" Son of God, but just Son of God. That is a title. And to the Jews, it means God in the flesh. The word Son, HUIOUS, doesn't have anything to do with somebody who is born from a woman. This is somebody who's been placed in a position of inheritance.

    He's the one that inherits all things from God. The word TEKNON, for a child who has been born, is never used of Jesus Christ. That is why when people say "Well if He is the Son of God, how can He be God? He's not a Son by birth. He is a Son in the Jewish social frame of mind of the receiver of the inheritance. The Jews knew what that meant. So, they came and said here's His title. He says He's Son of God.

    John 20:1 - The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

    It says, "the first day of the week," but I would like to share some technical things as to how this language works.

    In the Greek text, it literally says, "the first of the Sabbath's," plural! In the scriptures, the Sabbath Day is singular and the weekdays are plural. So, you have the Sabbath Day, and then you have the Sabbath Days, which are used to denote the weekdays.

    This is the first day of the week, Sunday. This Sunday is the first Sunday after Passover, which means the Sabbath of Passover has passed. The Sabbath of Saturday, the normal Sabbath, has passed. And now we are into Sunday.
  • Chris - In Reply - 5 months ago
    Great Scriptures Everett that you have given to clearly show the the Nature of the Triune God & the Deity of Christ Who has come forth from (Gk. Ek: to come out of - not a separate a creation) the Father. If I might include these others in support of your list: Mark 2:5-7; John 16:28; John 17:5; John 20:27,28; Philippians 2:5-8. To deny these Scriptures, distorts the whole Character of God and dilutes His great sacrificing Love reaching out to & imploring sinful men to turn from sin unto the Love of God in Christ. We need to take all Scriptures into account or else our view will be lop-sided & erroneous. GBU.
  • Chris - In Reply - 6 months ago
    Page 2.

    How could Jesus have shared God's Glory before the creation of the worlds, if He only came as a Man over two millennia ago? Was Jesus wrong or misguided in His prayer? Or, have we somehow misunderstood this verse, which seems quite plainly given?

    John 20:17 and 1 Corinthians 11:3 (& others): all showing Jesus' subordinate position to the Father, by virtue of His coming in the Flesh.

    1 John 2:22. One can easily interpret this verse as given: 'if a person denies the Messiahship of Christ, then he denies/rejects the relationship of the Father to the Son'. But when we couple the same John writing, "And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" ( 1 John 4:3), we see another view of his understanding.

    What are the possible interpretations of this? There may be some who altogether deny the historical Jesus (though they would be few in number, leaning towards ignorance). Then there would be some who believe that Jesus did not come as a human at all, but as a 'phantom', or a vision/dream. This might be believed by some now, but certainly not to those in His days where He preached, showed compassion, touched & was touched physically by so many. So given that John here believes that Jesus' Life on Earth was not as some would proclaim, but rather that John is pointing his readers to this Jesus, Whom they have seen & touched, is not a mere man, but the One from God. The spirit that is not of God doesn't deny the reality of the historical Man Jesus, for "the devils believe, and tremble", but that spirit that is 'against Christ' will always move men to discard the Pre-existent Christ, not affording Him His full Deity & Glory. Onto Page 3.
  • Ronald Whittemore - 6 months ago
    In Love, by the glory of the Father.

    Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

    John 17:1-3 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

    John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

    1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

    1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

    2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

    Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

    1 Corinthians 15:25,28 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

    1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

    Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Bennymkje - 7 months ago
    Ge.27:22 "Thy voice"

    "'The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau."

    The word of God does not err. The risen Jesus was recognised by his voice. "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master." ( John 20:16).When God commanded "Let there be light" The voice was true and is what made the Son qualify as the true Light. "After our likeness" is the sign and it can be as bread from heaven and as the stone cut not with hands, each of which serves his Father according to His purpose. When God blessed man in his Son the voice was clear and true. "arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me." (27:19) Isaac did not err in his soul. What is soul but the breath of God? God breathed into the nostrils of man he made him a living soul. The Spirit instructs us that every man has received this faculty to hear the voice which is what the ear of faith, or the inner man represents.

    "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." By the same token we have the gift freely received to obey God as Jesus Christ showed. St Paul writes, "but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." (Ro.5:11-12) How can Calvin speak of limited atonement? It is an outright heresy, a lie.

    Jacob a heel catcher and his lied before his Father whos could not go wrong. Isaac as the heir of promise poits out the discrepancy. "The voice is Jacob's, bu the hands ar the hand's of Esau." It is thus the imposter churches have practised their religion. The example of ,"Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." Is he any different than the believers of our times? He did not believe in the whole truth so we have heresies aired in this forum. Limited atonement, Bah! "(Ac,8:9-24)
  • Anna - 7 months ago
    John 8:58.

    John 20:28-29.

    Revelation 1:8.
  • Richard H Priday - 7 months ago
    More on John 16:8

    And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.

    It is interesting that all of this verse as to the work of the Spirit seems to be in regard to Christ; and seems to be rather indirect as to the individual. Rather than defining particular sins or even the sin nature; the sin of unbelief which led to the most serious errors of the Pharisees who deliberately blinded themselves to the truth and then God no doubt hardened them further is the focus here. For righteousness is again pointing toward Christ; and the focus being perhaps at His next phase at the "Second Coming" and how He will be the righteous King. We are reminded of John 20:29 said to Thomas that blessed are those who have NOT seen yet believe. The third part of this verse is judgment; but it points to Christ again; but this time to Satan's condemnation already established; rather than our own.

    Since this verse is a positive influence leading to salvation for His elect and one of condemnation for the unregenerate; we see that this by default puts us in the position to face what Satan does as he is our de-facto ruler if Jesus isn't. (see Matthew 25:41). Hell wasn't apparently created for us but if we are cursed we end up there. Our ruler the prince of the power of the air ( Eph. 2:2) is controlling the masses through his elaborate economic and spiritual world system which is coming to its full and ugly climax as we see Babylon in both forms described in Revelation 17 and 18; and in much of Jeremah in the O.T.

    Isaiah 10:7 states Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.

    This shows even Antichrist doesn't know how bad he is
  • GiGi - 9 months ago
    The Deity of Jesus

    Then Peter says that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Remember that the Jews of the first century understood that Son of God is a divine title, as I explained earlier. So for Peter to say that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, He is saying that Jesus is God.

    In Matthew 16:16-17 Jesus again asked a very profound question. "Who do you say that I am." Again, Peter the same statement. "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus receives this statement as true and declared that Peter didn't come up with this idea on his own but that the Father had revealed this truth to Peter (because God can only tell the truth).

    In john 20:28, Thomas, upon seeing and touching the risen Jesus exclaims, "My Lord and my God." Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for saying He is God, nor does He say Thomas is mistaken and then correct Thomas. No, Jesus accepts Thomas' statement of worship.

    In Is. 43;15, YHWH says, "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, you King." In Jn. 1:49, after Jesus calls Natanael, Nathanael says, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus does not negate what Natanael states because this disciples is equating Jesus with YHWH of Is. 43:15.

    Also, even demons knew that Jesus was God, calling Him the "Holy One of God" in Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34.

    Next, I want to go to Hebrew1:6 where the inspiration of God had the author say that the angels worship Jesus, In Rev. there is worship of Jesus, the Lamb, along with the Father, who sits on the throne. How could this worship be allowed in heaven if Jesus was not God?

    For now I will stop. There are many, many more verses that speak to Jesus; divinity. One can look on this site under the question "Is Jesus God?"

    For me, I am convinced that Jesus is God and worthy of worship as God. And it is not idolatry to worship the Father and Jesus, the Son, for there are not two Gods (or three), but one God who exists as several divine persons who are one in nature.
  • Richard H Priday - 9 months ago
    An exposition of John 16:8-11

    8And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see Me; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world has been condemned.

    "And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." ( Revelation 5:13)

    "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." ( John 20:29).

    Starting with the middle verse; I thought it interesting to consider that IF this is to be taken chronologically; IMMEDIATELY after the Rapture and before the onset of the first seal being opened; everyone will praise God and Christ. I had originally noted that this occurs at the sixth seal; when mankind runs away from God and realizes His judgments have begun. This brings to mind what was said in the passage from John; we don't want to wake up in the Tribulation and have to face the horrors of that time and martyrdom to boot which will be the basic change once everything is revealed; the church age is over and the saints are to be overcome ( Daniel 7:25).

    The Spirit reflects Christ in its operation. When Jesus spoke it was often in regard to bringing out the full meaning of the law (lust and anger) as general teaching to the crowd; or specific allegations to a group of Pharisees in particular as well as lawyers.

    The Spirit causes individuals to have a general conviction of sin because we have a sense of God's holiness against our own condition. The end result of sin is death ( Romans 6:23) and hell. Godly sorrow brings repentance (and life) worldly sorrow death.
  • Richard H Priday - 10 months ago
    How to Read Scripture: Part One

    Having set forth a few warnings on how NOT to read scripture I will continue with some further analysis but thought I would begin discussion on how we should read it.

    1. First and foremost; we need to be DEAD serious as to the eternal ramifications of our spiritual condition which is a result of our sinful inheritance through Adam as well as the acting out of our sins through commission of acts or omission of things the Lord has made clear result in judgment. One can quibble as to details of the description of hell; but it's reality and eternal finality are not options to disregard. To put it in simple terms those that believe in the Biblical heaven never seem to debate as to whether it lasts forever; and rarely that it is a literal place. Given the same descriptions of the finality of hell we have no reason from the text alone to debate the fact that there is a place of eternal torment for the wicked. The only caveat is that the current "holding cell" status of hell ends at the Great White Throne judgment; where all wicked are cast into their eternal existance in the lake of fire to continue their suffering in an eternal physical body that cannot be extinguished. There is hardly anything we can read or ponder on that has anything remotely resembling the urgency of the Bible. Our temporal earthly existence and our faith or lack thereof determines our eternal destiny; as well as degrees of reward or punishment based on actions on earth. Our life therefore is either in ourselves on the throne or God. Either Satan or God is our master and as the usurper of all earthly riches it is no wonder that the Babylon the Great economic system makes the love of money the root of all evil. ( 1 Tim. 6:10). What we see with human eyes at best is a dim reflection in Creation of God's glory. What is unseen is what we must believe; as every knee shall bow before Him someday ( John 20:29; Phillipians 2:10-11; Isaiah 45:23).
  • GiGi - 10 months ago
    GOD IS RIGHTEOUS

    Pt. 2

    Mt. 1:23 quotes Is 7:14 as being fulfilled in Jesus. He is "Emmanuel, God with us"

    John 20:28 Thomas calls Jesus, "My Lord and my God" and Jesus did not tell Thomas that that was NOT true.

    1Peter 1:1 says our righteousness comes from God, and it comes to us in Jesus our Savior. The righteousness

    of Jesus is the righteousness of God because He is God.

    Is. 9:6 says that Jesus is the "Mighty God"

    Rev.1: Jesus says that He is the "Almighty"

    Col. 2:9-10 says that in Jesus the fulness of the Godhead dwelled bodily. He is Emmanuel, God with us. God revealed bodily.

    Jesus is worshipped by believers (only God is to be worshipped) and Jesus accepted this worship.

    Mt. 2:1-2 (by the magi)

    Mt. 28:8-9, 17 (by the apostles)

    In Rev.5:13 we read of the worship of God in heaven. Both the Father and the Lamb (Jesus) are given worship and it is said that this worship is to be given to both forever.

    it is important for us to realize that only God is righteous enough to be our Redeemer, and that He became man in order that his holy blood could be shed for us as a sacrifice. No other blood would cleanse but the blood of God the Son. In His divinity, God has no blood because the divine nature is Spirit, but in His humanity as God in the flesh, He had divine blood to shed.

    Jesus is the most unique person in all of creation and in God's transcendent realm, being both God and man in one person.

    I have heard this quote often, don't know the author, but it is worth pondering (this is not a direct quote)

    If Jesus is not God, then there is no Christianity and those who worship Jesus are nothing but idolaters. But if He is God, then those who deny He is God are blasphemers in the worst sense of the word, because they believe in another Jesus than what Scripture presents to us.

    God's Word is truth. He revealed Himself to mankind in Scriptures so that we can know the truth about Him: what He is in His divine nature and who He is in His Persons.
  • Chris - In Reply - 11 months ago
    Well Oseas, from reading of your beliefs, I'm unable to place where you exactly are with this. You were first dealing with the Name of God in Isaiah. You've now quoted Acts 7:53-58, particularly verse 55, "But he (Stephen), being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God". In the NT, Koine Greek is the language used. If you believe that the Hebrew 'Yahweh' written of God in the OT is a devilish name, does this also apply to the Greek word for God: 'Theos'?

    You asked, "what GOD's NAME was manifested by my Lord JESUS?" Yet, reading the rest of your comments, it appears to me that you hold to an "only Jesus is in Heaven" position, that when Jesus was made flesh, "GOD called Himself Jesus.." Really!!! So, as not to be mistaken, are you in that camp, that says 'that since God is in Christ that only Jesus is now in Heaven'? I'm hoping that I've misunderstood you, as we know most assuredly that when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He went back to the Father & is seated at His right Hand ( John 20:17, Acts 2:32,33, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 1:3, 1 Peter 3:22, etc.). So, NOT two Gods, but the One God, with Jesus His Son Who came forth out of God now distinct from Him through the incarnation. Thus He rightly fully claims the eternity of the Godhead (the Alpha & Omega), & also receives the worship of all. So your comments are troubling, if that is your position.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 12 months ago
    Hi Chris,

    Thank you again, from my heart, the truth is my search not to offend. It all goes back to one verse when I read it, it stood out in my heart, Corinthians 11:4. I know I am alone here on this, but saying Jesus is part of the Triune God, who eternally exists and expresses himself as three distinct persons with one essence all three co-equal. One God in three persons-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This to me denies the Son, 1 John 2:23

    What I see in the Bible is the relationship between the Father and the Son, the Son is obedient to the Father. Jesus said His Father is greater than Him, John 14:28. Jesus has said the Father is His God, John 20:17 Revelation 3:12.

    The Bible defines God's nature as eternal and unchanging; there is only one throne of God and through the Bible, only the Father is on the throne until the Father raised His Son from the dead and placed Him on His right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, there is nothing about the Holy Spirit.

    As we see in Revelation Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof, Rev. 21:22-23 no Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit, not another person.

    Jesus confirmed there is only one true God, Mark 12:28-34, in Jesus's prayer to His Father said in John 17:3. All the greetings in the New Testament are from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 1:3 Ephesians 6:23 1 Thessalonians 1:1 2 Timothy 1:2 Titus 1:4 2 John 1:3 and more but no Holy Spirit.

    If the Trinity true and is so important, why is it not once taught in Scripture? God cannot change and God cannot die, so how do we understand John 3:16 if God the Father did not send his actual begotten Son to die for our sins? We see Jesus also had His own will, Luke 22:42.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Chris - In Reply - 12 months ago
    Page 2.

    Hence, Scriptures such as have referred to here & in other discussions: Mark 2:5-7; John 1:1-14; John 20:27,28; Philippians 2:5-8; Colossians 1:15-17; Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; & others, are relevant in our discussions. I don't expect that we deal with all of these in one hit (maybe just the John 1 only), but in my understanding, these portions speak of Jesus prior to His coming to Earth - and these are the verses that we understand differently. The verses that speak of Jesus after His coming to Earth can only be correctly understood if we know Who He was before His coming.

    You've shared John 1:1 just here, in reference to "what beginning" is spoken about. You understood it as "it was the word of God in Jesus", and also in other comments, that this 'beginning' is the beginning of Jesus' Ministry. So what I understand from you, is that when Jesus began His Ministry, God's Word came to Him/into Him, thus He brought that Word given to Him to the people.

    The subject in John 1:1-18 is "the Word". Leaving aside for a moment 'Jesus receiving God's Word in the beginning of His Ministry', we read in John 1 that "the Word" was in "the beginning, with God & was God". So this Word is God (i.e. God cannot be Who He is without His Word actively in Him - also comparable to the Holy Spirit Who is God & a characteristic of His Existence, for out of God issues forth both His Word & His Spirit. All things were made by God through His Word (v 3), bringing Light & Life (v 4). Then John the Baptist says that he wasn't that Light but was to be a witness to it (vv 6-8); that Light which would come upon all men, made the world, but His own people rejected Him (vv 9-11). Onto Page 3.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 12 months ago
    Chris,

    Part 2

    God made Jesus Lord, Acts 2:36, made is thee Greek word ginomai that means to come into being, to happen, to become. This was foreordained before the foundation of the world and this Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, 1 Peter 1:19-20 Revelation 13:8, foreordained the Greek word proginosko means to know beforehand to appoint or decree beforehand.

    I see too many Scriptures that do not agree with the doctrine. I hope this makes sense. This is Scripture without man's knowledge or wisdom 1 Corinthians 1:22 Jeremiah 10:10 10 Malachi 2:10 Mark 12:32

    Paul wrote these; Romans 3:30 Romans 15:6 1 Corinthians 8:6 2 Corinthians 1:3 2 Corinthians 11:31 Ephesians 1:3 Ephesians 1:17 Ephesians 3:14 Ephesians 4:6 Colossians 1:3 1 Timothy 2:5

    Peter wrote this; 1 Peter 1:3

    These are Jesus's words Himself; Matthew 27:46 Same in Mark 15:34 John 14:28 John 17:3 John 20:17 Revelation 3:12

    What this says to me, there is only one true God who is the God and Father of Jesus,

    These Scriptures are clear without our wisdom or knowledge do not agree with the doctrine of the Trinity. I do thank you and again I hope you do not consider me a Gnostic that would be sad, they are more of a philosophical like the immortal soul came from Greek philosophy, I am believer and follower of Jesus our Lord and savior.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Richard H Priday - 1 year ago
    Trinity vs Oneness camp: Part 1

    I have been wiped out on my computer TWICE trying to get this posting out. Seems the enemy doesn't want me to do this.

    Or I had too many windows up at the same time. UGH.

    Whenever I go to get scripture references I take a chance on wiping out the page; although my computer for some reason stalled out last run..

    I will post this as an argument and rebuttal format just to do something different....

    First assumption (as best I understand it). Christ didn't appear any other time in a bodily form except while here on earth.

    It should be clear that Christ rose with scars remaining from His body which He had on earth that was resurrected. This is clear from "doubting Thomas" in John 20:28. There are numerous instances when Christ was indeed in a preincarnate form; such as with the incident with Abraham in Genesis 18:18 (where it also appears the discussion in the previous verses is between the Godhead as to whether these things should remain hidden). There is also the incident with the angel of the Lord in Hosea 11:4 cross referencing Jacob wrestling with God in the account of Genesis 32:22-32. For worship to occur these saints of God were indeed only to worship God. Since 1 John states that no one can see God and live; and Genesis 32:30 says that no one has seen God at any time; it seems clear that Christ was appearing in these cases. Numerous other verses could be cited.

    The "us" verses.

    We see in the original creation story in Genesis 1; as well as the narrative of the Tower of Babel ( Genesis 11:7) where "our image" and "us" is referred to in the creation of man; and the determination to confuse the language of men.

    Argument Two: Main premise that God is one appearing in different "modes" or forms. To ignore that God is in distinct persons seems absurd in light of verses such as Luke 23:46 (where Jesus commended His spirit to God at death); and all other verses which showed Christ praying to the Father.
  • Ronald Whittemore - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Giannis,

    Good to hear from you, very good question. First, the Roman Church elevated Mary to the queen of heaven the same title as Tammuz's mother we see Israel worshiping. They say she ascended to heaven and much more. If we look at Acts we see Paul said that David is still in his tomb and has not ascended to heaven, Acts 2:29 and Acts 2:34. Many believe after Jesus was resurrected saints were also resurrected and are in heaven and many pray to them. My understanding is no one has been resurrected all are in the grave asleep in death.

    When God through His Spirit the Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead He placed Jesus above all that is in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, Philippians 2:9-11. God placed Jesus on His right hand on the throne of God, therefore giving Jesus the power of the throne.

    John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Jesus also said John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

    God the Father and Jesus will dwell in us by the Spirit, not in temples made by hands like Jesus said in John 4:21-23 and we see in 1 Corinthians 3:16. We see in 1 John 4:12-16 it is by the Spirit that Jesus who is sitting on the right side of God on the throne of God as the only mediator between us and God has been given the power of the throne until all enemies are under His feet, 1 Corinthians 15:27-28.

    My humble understanding it is by the Spirit of God/Holy Spirit that Jesus can see and hear all. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and His God is our God the Father as Jesus said to Mary John 20:17.

    God bless,

    RLW
  • Momsage - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Hi Jema: I know I'm a bit late replying to this but I just now read the whole thread of what happened and I am so glad you and GiGi and Giannis are good to go with each other and I'm sorry my reaction was so strong and I caused trouble. I'm trying not to do that again. I am back to discussing the Sabbath with Giannis again, unless he doesn't want to then I won't. The only reason I continue to discuss the Sabbath is because (I'm not insulting Giannis, only stating my perception of these discussions and why I'm hanging on like a Pitbull LOL.) I don't feel like he has responded to my questions about why he believes that the breaking of bread can only mean the weekly service of the Early Church - that there can be no other possible interpretation. All his beliefs in the Early Church abandoning the Sabbath for Sunday worship are based on the breaking of bread premise that it had to only mean that it refers to the weekly meeting of the Early Church. Some scriptures do state that the Church met on the first day of the week, Sunday but that could just simply mean the church met on Sunday at different times other then on the Sabbath just as churches meet on different days today. For example, John 20:19 (the Church gathered together on the first day of the week because they were afraid of the Jews, not because it was time for church.) Giannis also used historical writings to back up his belief that the Early Church stopped worshipping on the Sabbath and I couldn't agree to that. (Giannis if you read this post, please don't think I am talking behind your back. I would never do that I am just trying to explain why I haven't given up on the Sabbath.) He asked me to provide scripture that validated they didn't give up on the Sabbath and I gave him a lot but he just wouldn't accept them with no real response why. All you have to do read these few and you can see that the Early church was keeping the Sabbath holy.. Acts 17:2, Acts 13:14, Acts 15:21, Acts 18:4. God Bless :)
  • Bennymkje - In Reply - 1 year ago
    Fredscanlan,

    St Paul says,"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God./ But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world." (Ro.10:17-18).We have the only guide which is His Word. Truth written in our inwards, which is our heart ,-not an anatomical part but a spiritual space. Writers use words to create a literary space. So when we read Gulliver's travel we are right there seeing as the author narrates it. It is an imaginary world. Not so withh the Bible. God framed the worlds by his word he made the quality of his Holiness.(He.11:3). So the unseen Will of the Father and the visible earth God the Son are mirror image created by faith. So. St Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as the visible image of God. (Col.1:15) For the same reason the Preacher says,'the Earth abides forever.'(Ec.1:4) Faith is one even as the Gospel is one. It is to which Paul refers in v.18.

    God breathed into the nostrils of Adam and made him a living soul. So he has truth in his heart which makes his spiritual space meaningful. It is a world where man may know whatever he needs know of God, a Spirit. This is where Jesus Christ shall abide in a believer. So his eye of faith is active when he follows Jesus who set an example. Now that he has gone and is seated on the right hand of the most High, we may believe there is a royal highway connecting. So youand I are under the mighty shadow of His wings.(Ps.91:1). When we read from the Scripture our ear of faith catches the drift and it is how faith operates. You do not need any other guide than faith and the Spirit that raised up Jesus from the dead. As many as are led by the Spirit are the children of God.(Ro.8:14)

    Before his Ascension Jesus breathed on his disciples ( John 20:22). Receive ye the Holy Ghost" God the Father and the Son work as one. So he as the visible God in his humanity proved faith, DNA of his Father. He is also called the last Adam.
  • Adam - In Reply - 1 year ago
    John 10:34- seems to be a popular verse here. People want to believe they are a god, is that what's happening here? That would be a gross misinterpretation. You know this is a quote with a question mark at the end, right? Let's be honest about it. Here's the commentary for that:

    Christ's argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?

    As per the other argument trying to discredit the word "one" sounds like your argument is that one doesn't really mean one, because Jesus used it to describe believers being one. I don't see how being one in unity as Christ's body somehow means that all the Bible verses about Jesus being God and divine suddenly don't apply? The verse about the Father and Son being one is only one of MANY verses competing the picture. The Bible already says Jesus the Word is God so how can you disregard that?

    God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 KJV

    You: Word was "NOT" God?

    "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." John 8:19 KJV

    Have you thought about how your belief reconciles with verses like this above?

    Isaiah 7:14 -

    Yes, Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us". People called Jesus "God". He's King of King and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, first and last. Do you believe Jesus is Lord? I believe that is a requirement for even being a Christian. A Christ follower should know who Christ is.

    1 John 5:7-8

    John 10:30

    John 8:19

    Genesis 1:26

    Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us" which includes Jesus, as per John 1:1)

    Philippians 2:5-8

    2 Corinthians 5:19

    John 1:3

    Matthew 28:19

    1 Peter 1:2

    2 Corinthians 13:14

    Deuteronomy 6:4

    John 14:10

    John 20:28

    1 John 2:22-24

    Matthew 1:23-25

    Colossians 2:9

    Acts 17:29

    Romans 1:20

    Isaiah 7:14

    Hebrews 1:8

    Isaiah 44:6

    Isaiah 43:11
  • Richard H Priday - 1 year ago
    Glorification: Final stage

    1 Corinthians 13:12 states: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. This relates to our perception of Christ; but also of course in glory we will see other saints in their eternal bodies as well for the first time. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

    For now we do get glimpses; should we take the time to discern them of the Holy Spirit uniquely working in each true saint of God.

    In physical appearance we still may look the same at least to the world to our early life when we were still in the world. Our identity is in Christ if indeed we are saved; and we are being transformed by the renewing of our minds ( Romans 12:2). Glorification will give us bodies it would seem like Christ when He could go through walls or doors ( John 20:19); we will be able to eat and drink ( Rev. 19:9; compare with Luke 24:42-43; and Mark 14:25). We will also rule and reign with Christ after returning with Him at Armageddon ( Rev. 19:14; Rev. 2:26-27).

    Having no more suffering as promised in Revelation 21:4 and no more death certainly is an encouraging throught. I would submit that understanding the reasons for all of our earthly struggles may be even more poignant than understanding the suffering itself. We can take heart that Christ has His church as a reward; and we also can rejoice (or should) in one another and the time on earth invested in the Body of Christ as well as helping to fulfill the Great Commission. Again; it is rewards that are the variable that we are to strive for as seen in 1 Cor. 9:24-27. I am convinved many who receieve great rewards are relatively unknown at present praying in their closet; giving secretly to missions and serving under the radar. God sees the heart (see Heb. 4:12).


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