Genesis 1:26 "And God said, Let us make man in our image"
("us" is plural. God is plural.)
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."
"there are three"
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"Word was God."
There is no denying this says and means the Word was God. Who is the Word? The rest of John 1 reveals who.
John 8:19 "if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."
Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
"Christ Jesus...being in the form of God"
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
John 20:28
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
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 2:22-24
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
Very interesting question. Only God can forgive sin; but we are told to "confess our sins to one another". ( James 5:16). We are told to reconcile with a brother before "offering a gift before the altar" ( Matthew 5:24). If we bear unforgiveness in our hearts; then the effectiveness of His grace is stunted; for the woman who put the perfume on Christ was forgiven much so she loved much ( Luke 7:47).
All of us individually are accountable before God. We can forgive "seventy times seven" ( Matthew 18:22); and Ephesians 4:32 indicates that we are to forgive others even as God has forgiven us. If we don't forgive others then God won't forgive us according to Matthew 6:14-15. This wouldn't necessarily indicate that we are nonbelievers; but if we don't bear fruit "worthy of repentence" ( Matthew 3:8-10) then we have to seriously test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5).
So the short answer is that God can only forgive others if they are wanting forgiveness. Each of us is judged individually; and since we are not God we don't have the authority as Christ did to forgive sins as the Pharisees stated only God can forgive sins ( John 20:23). Confessing our sins to one another can allow transparency so that the Lord can possibly speak a word of wisdom which in turn gives someone a better understanding of themselves; as well as clearing up what can be a stone wall in relationships ( Prov. 18:19). The best we can do is a formulaic process to give a partial assessment of sins in others as only God knows the intentions and motives of the heart even if the Spirit gives us a glimpse into such things. It is the same as asking can we save anyone by "confessional regeneration". The words are only effective if God grants one repentance first ( Acts 11:18; etc). Indirectly then; forgiving one another allows God to repair the sin or estrangement with Him.
Hi Jasmine, you asked several questions but I will just address your first question about God plural. It's plural because God is a triune being composed of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Beware of anyone pushing their own ideology and twisting scripture in order to accomplish their desired outcome. The Bible already says what it means and because it says this about God I choose to believe it.
Dear "Somefair", see that you have received many nice answers, i hope u have not been confused. Many also think differently.
Jesus was without sin but in a human body, BORN of a woman with flesh, muscles and bones. At least it's safe! He ate and then everything will come out naturally, right. Our Savior was and walked the earth like us! But after His death, Mary recognized His tone/soul;
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.
What was His intention with that? And say do not touch Me. Clearly He understood that she would then have been completely confused. For others there they did not recognize Him, but she did. There was nothing to feel. He was a Spirit!
He really had a lot to do in those 40 days he was in this spirit world. He freed the prisoners who had gone before.
For afterwards, when the disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit, they did not know Him either. They did not even dare to ask Him if He was the Lord! So in the last chapter of John we read about this. So here on Earth, Jesus was before the Son of Man, then He became Spirit. Then at Pentecost He give away the Holy Spirit. So we must not think that we will no longer have a body that needs food and the necessity of emptying afterwards. All the food we then get is from Jesus.
So then we may see the Face of God. But in Earth life we can not. Then we must die. God knows how to hide. Now we are hidden in Jesus Christ.
Hope to see you all a in a different form, and that we can recognize each other in the special way a soul has. God bless us in Jesus Name, love u in Christ.
Hi Jim, just noticed your comment about denying Jesus's divinity. People try to do that from time to time, but in order to do so requires cherry picking one verse, twisting it, then ignoring the mountain of other verses in the Bible. In this case you're conflating God's son with the phrase 'sons of God' which was used in a general sense. The same unsound logic can be applied to twist anything else into what you want it to mean. It's pretty hard to deny verses like John 1:1 that clearly say Jesus is God though. It takes mental gymnastics to escape the truth of such verses. Jesus in Isaiah 7:14 is called Immanuel which literally means "God with us" but its up to each person whether they want to accept Jesus or deny Him. 1 John 2:22-24
Do you consider yourself a Christian? To be a Christian means you follow Jesus Christ and if you don't believe Jesus is Lord then that is similar to what nonbelievers think. Some even admit who Jesus is, but still stubbornly won't accept Him. It's a spiritual battle. Matthew 7:21
John 14:6 - No one comes to the Father (also God) but through Jesus.
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."
John 10:30 "I and my Father are one."
John 8:19 "if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."
Philippians 2:5 - 2:8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 20:28
Pretty hard to disregard all these Biblical truths about Jesus. He became flesh and died for you. Have you tried praying and asking who Jesus is and to reveal that to you?
Dear Leah, I am glad that you are searching Scriptures. May your study be richly blessed!
I read in Scripture that Jesus rose from the dead with the body he had before He died. He ate with the apostles and told them, "a spirit does not have flesh and bones and told Thomas to touch his wounds, which were indeed flesh. Luke 24:36-43John 20:24-30.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did so bodily. In heaven His body is glorified, but is still a body of flesh and bones, only glorified, not being able to decay, age, be sick, injured, or die. He is this way forever, fully God and fully man glorified in one body.
We will be glorified like Jesus' humanity in the resurrection. Jesus will always retain His humanity and divinity. We will always retain our humanity, but will our humanity ever be changed! It will be so wonderful we cannot even imagine what it will be like for us! Can't wait.
The Passover and how it was to be done you will find in Exodus 12:3-11, read all of Exodus 12. The Passover day is on the 14th of Nisan the day Jesus was crucified; this day is also a preparation day for the 15th the first day of 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jewish people on Passover, gather together for a ceremonial meal called a seder and telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Some Christians celebrate passion week and Easter Sunday, the day Jesus resurrected, and some just Easter Sunday. It is easy to get lost in traditions, there comfortable and many have reunions on these holidays.
You say you are concerned; Passover is one of the feasts that Israelites were required to return to Jerusalem. Many combine the Passover and the Unleavened Bread feast into 8 days and call it the feast of Passover or the Feast of Unleavened bread, they did that in the time of Jesus, Matthew 26:17Luke 22:1.
By following traditions we can overlook what Jesus fulfilled, He rode in on the 10th of Nisan, the Passover day on the 14th of Nisan, the day He was crucified, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, the Tamid, the first and the last, the feast of Unleavened Bread with His perfect life, the feast of First Fruits, the day He was resurrected, He ascended the same time as the priest waved the Omer, John 20:17 He is the First Fruits of those who slept, 1 Corinthians 15:20, that we now call Easter.
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
My understanding is Passover is a sacrifice that Jesus fulfilled; and no other blood sacrifice is needed, if done in faith, how you remember or honor it is up to you.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
(1) His miraculous birth was prophesied 800 years before His coming: "Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel" ( Isaiah 7:14, KJV).
(2) The prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" ( Luke 1:30, 31, KJV).
(3) Jesus demonstrated human characteristics: He became tired ( John 4:6). He thirsted ( John 19:28), He ate food ( Luke 24:40-43), He showed feelings ( Mark 6:34), He wept ( John 11:35), He knew temptation ( Hebrews 4:15), and He died ( John 19:30).
Jesus Christ Accomplished the Works of His Father:
(1) He died on the Cross. This is the fundamental theme of the Gospel.
The fact of His death-One-fourth of the Gospels are dedicated to His Passion and Resurrection. (a) For this purpose He came into the world ( John 12:27). (b) His death was prophesied hundreds of years before He came ( Isaiah 53:3-8).
The meaning of His death. (a) It was a ransom for sin ( Matthew 20:28; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 1:18). (b) It was to pay the penalty for sin ( Romans 3:24; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). Man is the object of God's wrath because of rebellion and sin, but God took the initiative in satisfying His wrath by sending His own Son to Calvary. (c) It is a reconciliation. The enmity between us and God has ended ( Romans 5:10), and we are restored to God ( 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). (d) It is a substitution: He died in our place ( 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). (e) In summary, the matter of sin has been completely dealt with ( 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:12).
(2) He was resurrected from the dead: This is unique and fundamental to Christianity.
The reality of the Resurrection ( John 20:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
The credibility of the Resurrection: (a) Jesus predicted it: Matthew 13:39-41; Luke 24:1-7. (b) The tomb was empty: John 20:11-13. (c) Many witnesses saw Him alive: the women ( Luke 23:55, 56); Mary Magdalene
You ever notice after a wedding difference people will focus details on certain aspects of things? Sometimes it's things that you yourself didn't notice or didn't seem as significant as something else. Some talk about the cake, another about the people that attended, another can't get over how white the dress was, others saw the doves released.
There's also differences in personalities It may be one of reasons that Jesus chose the varying difference in people that wrote the Gospels. Knowing each would have a unique perspective & emphasis on different details.
Matthew speaks much about angels, major significant events pertaining angels. Matthew 4:6,11, Matthew 13:39,41,49, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 22:30, Matthew 24:31,36, Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 26:53, in context: Matthew 26,
Mark 1:13, Mark 8:38, these following 3 Matthew & Mark both discuss: Mark 12:25, Mark 13:27,32,
Luke has emphasise on several events others do not mention: Luke 1, Luke 2, but, like Matthew & Mark mention Luke 4:10,
Luke 9:26, mentioned by atleast 1 other. Luke 12:8,9,
You asked also if the others were present or witnessed the angels, it looks like Luke 24:23, testifies to that question. & John 20:12, testifies to angels being present.
That would appear to be the case and I never notice this before and I've read God's word for over 45 years. I always took as he was transforming or changing from flesh to spirit but after Thomas touched him he said can a man touch spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:52
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
King James Version (KJV) this is the verse that came to my mind maybe Jesus was I also found this verse
Revelation 12:5
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."
King James Version (KJV) You have some studying to do on this question
Please see these references: Mark 9:1-7, Matthew 17:2, Matthew 28:3, Luke 9:29, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 1:14, Mark 16:5, John 20:12, Acts 1:10, Ecclesiastes 9:8, Revelation 3:4,5, Revelation 7:9-17, Revelation 20:11, Isaiah 1:18, Revelation 6:2,11, Revelation 9:18, Daniel 11:35, Revelation 4:4, Daniel 7:9, Revelation 2:17, Daniel 12:10,
John 4:35,
But Also : Genesis 40:16-23, Joel 1:7, Leviticus 13, Revelation 15:6,
This day most Christians celebrate as Easter, resurrection day. This day, the first day after the Sabbath following Passover day was the Feast of Firstfruits, Leviticus 23:9-14. This feast is for the first harvest, the priest must wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted before any of the first harvest could be eaten.
Mary came before sunrise and Jesus appeared to her first, she went to touch Him and He told her "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father". Jesus is the Firstfruits of those who slept, and as the priest had to wave the sheaf over the alter before the LORD to be accepted, Jesus had to ascend to His Father to be accepted to fulfill the Feast of Firstfruits before He could be touched.
Just think, sunrise, on the morning of the Feast of First Fruits, the priest waving the sheaf of grain before the altar, and the other women arriving at the Lord's tomb, the same time Jesus ascended. The angel told the women to go tell the disciples to go to Galilee, and on their way, He returned and appeared to them, then they could touch Him, Matthew 28:5-10 but Mary could not because He had not yet ascended, same as the sheaf had to be waved before the LORD and accepted before they could eat of the first harvest.
From the beginning of Jesus time on earth the disciples thought He was going to set up the kingdom then, and just before He ascended, they asked Jesus if he at that time was going to set up the kingdom, Acts 1:6. My understanding of scripture after Jesus returned He was hear forty days teaching the apostles, Acts 1:1-5 before His ascension in Acts 1:9. He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the baptizing of the Holy Ghost, this the second harvest (Pentecost).
He is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, the only mediator between us and God 1Timothy 2:5. He will be coming back as He left Matthew 24:30, to set up the kingdom on earth.
From reading the gospel accounts post resurrection Jesus appeared now and then go His disciples, but it does not seems like He stayed on earth and resided at length between the resurrection and the Ascension . When He was talking with Mary He had arisen but had not gone to the Father in heaven yet. It seems that He went into heaven shortly after meeting with Mary, but this was not the Ascension. (Which happened 40 days after He arose from the dead). So He was in heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit most of the time between His resurrection and Ascension (the 40 day period).
Perhaps when He met Mary He did not have His incorruptible body yet and needed the Father to take Him to heaven to receive it.
But others may have different ideas about this.
Thanks for asking. It makes us think more deeply about this matter.
The apostles did not deny or abandon Jesus they were confused, scared, shocked. They believed Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God, they did not doubt that. Even though Jesus told them several times, Jesus being arrested, crucified, buried, and resurrected, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:18-19John 20:9, and more. It was hidden from them. Luke 18:32-34. When He was arrested, crucified, and buried in a tomb they were in shock.
During the time they were with Jesus they thought He was going to set up the kingdom then. They even asked Him before He ascended if He was going to set up the kingdom, Acts 1:6. When He was killed, they did not know what to do, the Messiah, Jesus the Son of God was supposed to set up the kingdom, now He is dead. For three days they mourned and cried not knowing what they would do now.
Then Jesus told them when He met and ate with them and opened their eyes where they would understand, Luke 24:44-47. The purpose of His death and resurrection was hidden from them and Satan. Things was held from them and much they did not remember as Jesus told them in John 14:26.
We think about all the apostles were told and being with Jesus for 3.5 years how we would act if we were there. It is not that simple, as John wrote if everything that Jesus said was written down the world could not hold it, John 22:25.
They never lost their faith they were just in shock for three days and as we see 120 of the disciples were together at Pentecost,
1. Yes I believe in some ways our faith may be considered more complicated because they being with Jesus " physically " John 3:12, John 14:11, yet scripture says : 2 Chronicles 20:20, we have so many accumulated testimonies, prophecy fulfilled, the written WORD of GOD from many generations past in many ways we have all that to help build upon our faith. Then we have personal experiences & witness of miraculous events in our present days & years. I believe it's powerful to see the biblical text, New & Old Tstm & imagine the future with the stacked testimonies & understanding time accumulates more information. When the days of tribulation come the stacked accounts with all scripture will be that much bigger. GOD is amazing. I realized the other day the wealth of faith building information at our reach. I told a young man, "Yes, these days are difficult but we have so much to draw from". & GOD in HIS infinite wisdom gives each generation what they need. Romans 10:17, John 20:29,
2. Luke 23:43, I guess it applies to today to yes prove "nothing is impossible with GOD" Luke 1:37, & possibly to encourage us that it's not too late to repent, in dying moment.
Next. (?) Interesting observation. Matthew 4:12, Matthew 23:37, GOD gives people many chances to do good. Mark 6:20, Mark 6:19-31, read though, Mark 6:32-46, did Jesus even take time to mourn? It seems HE went to take a moment, yet compassion moved HIM to minister.
At 1st read I had thought you asked about Peter & Paul comparison of Peter released & Paul was not, also same "(charges) Acts 12:5-17, Acts 21:30-40, - Acts 22, - Acts 23, - Acts 24, - Acts 25, - Acts 26, - Acts 27,-, Acts 28,
My emotion would want to say "all chains are evil" however Mark 5:3-20, Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4,
GOD uses all for good , Psalms 105:17-25, Romans 8:28-30, while Paul was in prison he wrote letters that became an important part of our HOLY Bible today.
I believe so, Stuart. When we die, our flesh breaks down entirely, returning to the earth. We lose everything: our bodily weaknesses, piercings, even tatoos. But in the resurrection, we will be given new glorified bodies, fit for Heaven, when even the desire for tatoos or the pleasures of this Earth, won't be in our hearts. This is a part of the blessed expectation of all who are found in Christ Jesus, those who are redeemed from sin & Satan's hold, by faith in Jesus' Sacrifice for them.
The bible says first the physical and then the spiritual. You are saying first the spiritual and then the physical. I'm sorry but you have it backwards. Jesus is first mentioned in Genesis 3:15. He was in Gods mind right from the beginning. In the exodus it is said the rock 1 Corinthians 10:4 that followed them. It says spiritual rock which means the rock symbolized Christ. Jesus Christ was in Gods mind right from the beginning. He was not an actual being until his birth about two thousand years ago.
It says Jesus was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21. Conception is when two seeds are joined together. Jesus started life as a baby and grew from there.
At Jesus resurrection what did Jesus say to Mary?
John 20:17 I ascent to my Father and your Father and to my God and to your God.
I agree, no matter where you are in your Christ walk, reading of His life in the gospels is always wise. He is the author and finisher of it faith (Heb.12:2)
He is our Lord and our God
( John 20:28) He is the Resurrection and the Life ( John 11:25) He is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of God's Person ( Hebrews 1:3) he is worshipped by all the angels
( Hebrews 1:6) He is our Great God and Savior ( Titus 2:13-14) He is King of kings and Lord Of lords ( Rev. 19:16)
And so much more. Therefore should we not have great interest and earnest desire to read of His life, words and actions from the Gospels often?
For me, I love all sections of the Bible, but lovebtheGspels the most. It is here in the Gospels that I intake the truth of my Savior and become familiar with Him as the One I worship, adore, follow, serve, and hold out to others to come to know by faith.
It is Jesus that we should know the most about. We should be thoroughly familiar with His life in the Gospels so that we can better understand the teachings about Hom in the Epistles, Revelation, and OT. This is why I always suggest that people wishing to know the Bible better begin with the Gospels.
I'd keep reading. Seek the truth and open yourself to learn who God really is and what He will reveal to you. Pray for wisdom and understanding. I wouldn't stop after one section and make conclusions before you take the entire context of the Bible into account. There are logical explanations for your questions.
For your food question if you continued reading you would have naturally found Acts 10. There is much more info in the New Testament about what law applies today, because there is moral law, civil law, and ceremonial law. The latter two were specific to Israelites. You would also read a verse like this: Matthew 5:17-20
Regarding your other questions you would eventually read verses like these:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"Word was God"
It flat out says the Word is Jesus in John 1:14 and onward. It also calls Jesus God in other scripture too, so one has to deny much of the Bible in order to deny Jesus's divinity. Why are people so motivated to deny Jesus, one might ask? Matthew 10:32-33
The Word was God literally means the Word was God. It doesn't say the Word wasn't God. It doesn't say the Word was a different God. It doesn't say the Word was God the father. It doesn't say was kind of a God, but not really. People seem to really enjoy twisting this and trying hard to make it mean something else, but it doesn't mean something else. The Word was God still means the "Word was God." It cannot be denied what it so clearly says.
I heard someone who seemed motivated to not want Jesus to be his Lord or God go on to say that the Word didn't mean Jesus and wanted it to mean the Bible. But that person forgot that the Bible already says the Word is Jesus in John 1:14. It again calls Jesus the Word in Revelation 19:13.
So, all the other speculation doesn't really matter. People's devised human arguments in order to rationalize or distort to fit what one wants to believe is all irrelevant. The fact is John 1:1 says Jesus is God and the real question is does someone believe in the Bible as God's word or not? I choose to believe it. I hope others do too. Satan loves deceiving and tricking people into rationalizing away and cherry picking certain things over others.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (Jesus made all things), John 1:1 (Jesus was there in the beginning), John 5:18, (equal with His father), Jesus is the John 8:58, "I AM", Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:8. John 20:28.
There are spiritual forces at work trying to deceive and twist and misinterpret. Beware of false teachers. The Bible already says what it means. Do we choose to believe and trust?
You initiated a reply to me. I'm not sure how interested you are in my belief, but I am happy to dialogue with you as long as it is respectful and grounded in the truth of God's word, not man's opinion. You shared scripture which is great, I believe all the scripture you shared, but I don't believe your interpretation of it. I believe you have misinterpreted it and I can be very specific to the exact reasons why for each point if you are genuinely open to it. For the scripture you shared there is more scripture that says Jesus is God. He's not God the Father, but God the Son. I believe this, because the scripture says this, not because of feelings, bias, or agenda, but because it literally says Jesus is God in John 1:1. Do you believe John 1:1?
Your comment began with a question not about the trinity as the Bible says in 1 John 5:7. But your question wasn't about what the Bible says in 1 John 5:7, but the word 'trinity'. Since we don't know each other I don't know your motive for saying that, but I can say that some others use it as a common straw man argument to deceive others in order to discredit Jesus. The word the "Bible" isn't in the Bible either, so is it not a Bible? The word used in 1 John 5:7 is the three are 'one', so if you can use that if you don't like the word trinity.
John 1:1
1 John 5:7
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7
John 10:30
John 8:19
John 1:1
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
1 John 5:7
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 5:8
1 John 2:22-24
Isaiah 7:14 - Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us"
Matthew 1:23-25
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
Isaiah 44:6 - Lord is King of Israel, Besides me there is no God.
Rick, I quoted John 20:22. So I will stick with that, as the Holy Spirit indwells believers, as the disciples were at that time.
There is no where in Scripture that says that regeneration only happened after Pentecost. But John 20:22 does indicate it. As in Genesis, God spoke and it came to be at the speaking of His word. So it is in John 20:22. He gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples when He spoke and breathed. Just as in Genesis when God breathed into Adam, Jesus breathed the
Spirit into the disciples, I believe.
There is nothing to say that they received the Spirit at a later date. In Acts chapter 1, Jesus said that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, but it does not say they did not already have the Spirit in them nor did it say that they would be saved by the Spirit coming upon them. Don't you think that Jesus would have said that they became believers or saved if that is what happened when the Spirit came upon them? It would seem that that would be an important thing to distinguish since He told the apostles to make disciples and baptize them.
Anyway, you asked me a question and I have answered even though it seems you have moved on from your recent post to me.
I was responding to what you said in your post. "They had no spiritual understanding of what he was communicating until they were born again at Pentecost." The text does not say that they were born again at Pentecost. They were believers before Pentecost and were gathered together as Jesus instructed, praying and praising God. In John 20:22J, Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit does not indwell un-regenerated people.
I believe that what Jesus spoke happened at that moment. What happened at Pentecost was another work of the Holy Spirit that happens after conversion.
You and others have repeatedly spoken that salvation comes when one confesses with one's mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. I am pretty sure that the disciples had done this as a result of their experience with the risen Lord before He ascended. The Scripture nowhere says that an experience such as at Pentecost is the means of salvation. It is what God brings to already regenerated persons
So, for me, I believe that Jesus gave the disciples the teaching and understanding they needed to believe the gospel and take the gospel to the world prior to His ascension. The power to perform miracles, speak in tongues, and to be courageous in the face of opposition and persecution came at Pentecost. That is my point in responding to what you pointed about these disciples. You spoke as if you knew for sure that they were unsaved prior to Pentecost because, I believe as you seem to imply that that experience is the means of salvation rather than that in Romans 10, that you have often cited as the means of salvation.
Therefore, I understand what you said about the natural and spiritual man. You assumed that the disciples were not reborn and therefore had not a spiritual man in them. I contend that they did. I think Jesus was more than able to accomplish all that was needed in is disciples before He ascension. God Bless.
In other translation "Jerusalem Bible" "His brightness is like the day, rays flash from his hands, that is where his power lies hidden"
When I researched it: resemblance of the cross, injuries to the Messiah's hands, resurrection of Jesus, the scars remained. Prophecy? John 20:20, * John 20:24-31, *
Psalms 22:16
Psalms 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34,
Mark 15:24-31, Matthew 27:35-42, Psalms 22, John 19:33-37, Luke 23:33-37, Luke 24:36-42,
Hi. To answer your question simply, it would be, 'there is nothing in the Bible that supports confession to a priest before partaking in communion.'
Since I am not RC, I cannot comment fully without having to refer to the other aspects of the Mass. I don't agree to the communion emblems being spiritually re-constituted into the Body & Blood of our Lord, just as I don't agree to making confession to a priest, whether in relation to the Mass or not.
However, in support of the matter of confession, the main Scripture that the RC Church uses is John 20:23, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." This is used because of the authority Jesus gave to His disciples & then by extension, that same authority was conferred upon the priests who follow in the station of the apostles. If I might expand on that verse: the word, 'remit', sometimes translated as 'forgive', actually means 'to send away, to release'. And the word, 'retain', means 'to hold fast, not let go'.
So, the RC Church then believes that it has the God-given authority to both forgive, or release, the sins of the penitent, as well as to withhold that forgiveness - usually then requiring some type of penance be made. But is all this correct? When we study the intent of John 20:23, no such authority was conveyed to the Christ's disciples, who became His apostles; because only God can forgive us our sins through His Son, & not through man ( 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" - Jesus can only hear our confession & forgive our sins).
Therefore, John 20:23, is the authority given to His apostles to bring out this new Truth by declaring to the Church the gravity of sin & the conditions on which Christ can forgive them - if they truly confessed, the apostles had Christ's Authority to declare the sinner as forgiven (sins remitted) & restored - but not to be a mediator before God.
("us" is plural. God is plural.)
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."
"there are three"
John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"Word was God."
There is no denying this says and means the Word was God. Who is the Word? The rest of John 1 reveals who.
John 8:19 "if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."
Philippians 2:5-8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
"Christ Jesus...being in the form of God"
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:"
Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
John 14:10 "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."
John 20:28
"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God."
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 2:22-24
"Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."
All of us individually are accountable before God. We can forgive "seventy times seven" ( Matthew 18:22); and Ephesians 4:32 indicates that we are to forgive others even as God has forgiven us. If we don't forgive others then God won't forgive us according to Matthew 6:14-15. This wouldn't necessarily indicate that we are nonbelievers; but if we don't bear fruit "worthy of repentence" ( Matthew 3:8-10) then we have to seriously test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5).
So the short answer is that God can only forgive others if they are wanting forgiveness. Each of us is judged individually; and since we are not God we don't have the authority as Christ did to forgive sins as the Pharisees stated only God can forgive sins ( John 20:23). Confessing our sins to one another can allow transparency so that the Lord can possibly speak a word of wisdom which in turn gives someone a better understanding of themselves; as well as clearing up what can be a stone wall in relationships ( Prov. 18:19). The best we can do is a formulaic process to give a partial assessment of sins in others as only God knows the intentions and motives of the heart even if the Spirit gives us a glimpse into such things. It is the same as asking can we save anyone by "confessional regeneration". The words are only effective if God grants one repentance first ( Acts 11:18; etc). Indirectly then; forgiving one another allows God to repair the sin or estrangement with Him.
Here are verses describing that. God bless.
John 1:1
1 John 5:7-8
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7
John 10:30
John 8:19
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
Isaiah 7:14
Jesus was without sin but in a human body, BORN of a woman with flesh, muscles and bones. At least it's safe! He ate and then everything will come out naturally, right. Our Savior was and walked the earth like us! But after His death, Mary recognized His tone/soul;
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.
What was His intention with that? And say do not touch Me. Clearly He understood that she would then have been completely confused. For others there they did not recognize Him, but she did. There was nothing to feel. He was a Spirit!
He really had a lot to do in those 40 days he was in this spirit world. He freed the prisoners who had gone before.
For afterwards, when the disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit, they did not know Him either. They did not even dare to ask Him if He was the Lord! So in the last chapter of John we read about this. So here on Earth, Jesus was before the Son of Man, then He became Spirit. Then at Pentecost He give away the Holy Spirit. So we must not think that we will no longer have a body that needs food and the necessity of emptying afterwards. All the food we then get is from Jesus.
So then we may see the Face of God. But in Earth life we can not. Then we must die. God knows how to hide. Now we are hidden in Jesus Christ.
Hope to see you all a in a different form, and that we can recognize each other in the special way a soul has. God bless us in Jesus Name, love u in Christ.
Do you consider yourself a Christian? To be a Christian means you follow Jesus Christ and if you don't believe Jesus is Lord then that is similar to what nonbelievers think. Some even admit who Jesus is, but still stubbornly won't accept Him. It's a spiritual battle. Matthew 7:21
John 14:6 - No one comes to the Father (also God) but through Jesus.
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."
John 10:30 "I and my Father are one."
John 8:19 "if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also."
Philippians 2:5 - 2:8 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"
2 Corinthians 5:19 "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."
John 1:3 - All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 20:28
Pretty hard to disregard all these Biblical truths about Jesus. He became flesh and died for you. Have you tried praying and asking who Jesus is and to reveal that to you?
I read in Scripture that Jesus rose from the dead with the body he had before He died. He ate with the apostles and told them, "a spirit does not have flesh and bones and told Thomas to touch his wounds, which were indeed flesh. Luke 24:36-43 John 20:24-30.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did so bodily. In heaven His body is glorified, but is still a body of flesh and bones, only glorified, not being able to decay, age, be sick, injured, or die. He is this way forever, fully God and fully man glorified in one body.
We will be glorified like Jesus' humanity in the resurrection. Jesus will always retain His humanity and divinity. We will always retain our humanity, but will our humanity ever be changed! It will be so wonderful we cannot even imagine what it will be like for us! Can't wait.
The Passover and how it was to be done you will find in Exodus 12:3-11, read all of Exodus 12. The Passover day is on the 14th of Nisan the day Jesus was crucified; this day is also a preparation day for the 15th the first day of 7 days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jewish people on Passover, gather together for a ceremonial meal called a seder and telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt.
Some Christians celebrate passion week and Easter Sunday, the day Jesus resurrected, and some just Easter Sunday. It is easy to get lost in traditions, there comfortable and many have reunions on these holidays.
You say you are concerned; Passover is one of the feasts that Israelites were required to return to Jerusalem. Many combine the Passover and the Unleavened Bread feast into 8 days and call it the feast of Passover or the Feast of Unleavened bread, they did that in the time of Jesus, Matthew 26:17 Luke 22:1.
By following traditions we can overlook what Jesus fulfilled, He rode in on the 10th of Nisan, the Passover day on the 14th of Nisan, the day He was crucified, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, the Tamid, the first and the last, the feast of Unleavened Bread with His perfect life, the feast of First Fruits, the day He was resurrected, He ascended the same time as the priest waved the Omer, John 20:17 He is the First Fruits of those who slept, 1 Corinthians 15:20, that we now call Easter.
1Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
My understanding is Passover is a sacrifice that Jesus fulfilled; and no other blood sacrifice is needed, if done in faith, how you remember or honor it is up to you.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
God bless
RLW
(2) The prophecy was fulfilled to the letter. "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus" ( Luke 1:30, 31, KJV).
(3) Jesus demonstrated human characteristics: He became tired ( John 4:6). He thirsted ( John 19:28), He ate food ( Luke 24:40-43), He showed feelings ( Mark 6:34), He wept ( John 11:35), He knew temptation ( Hebrews 4:15), and He died ( John 19:30).
Jesus Christ Accomplished the Works of His Father:
(1) He died on the Cross. This is the fundamental theme of the Gospel.
The fact of His death-One-fourth of the Gospels are dedicated to His Passion and Resurrection. (a) For this purpose He came into the world ( John 12:27). (b) His death was prophesied hundreds of years before He came ( Isaiah 53:3-8).
The meaning of His death. (a) It was a ransom for sin ( Matthew 20:28; Romans 3:24; 1 Peter 1:18). (b) It was to pay the penalty for sin ( Romans 3:24; 1 John 2:2; 4:10). Man is the object of God's wrath because of rebellion and sin, but God took the initiative in satisfying His wrath by sending His own Son to Calvary. (c) It is a reconciliation. The enmity between us and God has ended ( Romans 5:10), and we are restored to God ( 2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). (d) It is a substitution: He died in our place ( 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21). (e) In summary, the matter of sin has been completely dealt with ( 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:26; Hebrews 10:12).
(2) He was resurrected from the dead: This is unique and fundamental to Christianity.
The reality of the Resurrection ( John 20:1-10; 1 Corinthians 15:4).
The credibility of the Resurrection: (a) Jesus predicted it: Matthew 13:39-41; Luke 24:1-7. (b) The tomb was empty: John 20:11-13. (c) Many witnesses saw Him alive: the women ( Luke 23:55, 56); Mary Magdalene
You ever notice after a wedding difference people will focus details on certain aspects of things? Sometimes it's things that you yourself didn't notice or didn't seem as significant as something else. Some talk about the cake, another about the people that attended, another can't get over how white the dress was, others saw the doves released.
There's also differences in personalities It may be one of reasons that Jesus chose the varying difference in people that wrote the Gospels. Knowing each would have a unique perspective & emphasis on different details.
Matthew speaks much about angels, major significant events pertaining angels. Matthew 4:6,11, Matthew 13:39,41,49, Matthew 18:10, Matthew 22:30, Matthew 24:31,36, Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 26:53, in context: Matthew 26,
Mark 1:13, Mark 8:38, these following 3 Matthew & Mark both discuss: Mark 12:25, Mark 13:27,32,
Luke has emphasise on several events others do not mention: Luke 1, Luke 2, but, like Matthew & Mark mention Luke 4:10,
Luke 9:26, mentioned by atleast 1 other. Luke 12:8,9,
You asked also if the others were present or witnessed the angels, it looks like Luke 24:23, testifies to that question. & John 20:12, testifies to angels being present.
John also notes John 20:30-31, John 21:25,
Hopefully this is helpful
1 Corinthians 15:52
"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
King James Version (KJV) this is the verse that came to my mind maybe Jesus was I also found this verse
Revelation 12:5
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne."
King James Version (KJV) You have some studying to do on this question
John 4:35,
But Also : Genesis 40:16-23, Joel 1:7, Leviticus 13, Revelation 15:6,
Hopefully these are helpful.
This day most Christians celebrate as Easter, resurrection day. This day, the first day after the Sabbath following Passover day was the Feast of Firstfruits, Leviticus 23:9-14. This feast is for the first harvest, the priest must wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted before any of the first harvest could be eaten.
Mary came before sunrise and Jesus appeared to her first, she went to touch Him and He told her "Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father". Jesus is the Firstfruits of those who slept, and as the priest had to wave the sheaf over the alter before the LORD to be accepted, Jesus had to ascend to His Father to be accepted to fulfill the Feast of Firstfruits before He could be touched.
Just think, sunrise, on the morning of the Feast of First Fruits, the priest waving the sheaf of grain before the altar, and the other women arriving at the Lord's tomb, the same time Jesus ascended. The angel told the women to go tell the disciples to go to Galilee, and on their way, He returned and appeared to them, then they could touch Him, Matthew 28:5-10 but Mary could not because He had not yet ascended, same as the sheaf had to be waved before the LORD and accepted before they could eat of the first harvest.
From the beginning of Jesus time on earth the disciples thought He was going to set up the kingdom then, and just before He ascended, they asked Jesus if he at that time was going to set up the kingdom, Acts 1:6. My understanding of scripture after Jesus returned He was hear forty days teaching the apostles, Acts 1:1-5 before His ascension in Acts 1:9. He told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the baptizing of the Holy Ghost, this the second harvest (Pentecost).
He is now sitting at the right hand of the Father, the only mediator between us and God 1Timothy 2:5. He will be coming back as He left Matthew 24:30, to set up the kingdom on earth.
God bless,
RLW
From reading the gospel accounts post resurrection Jesus appeared now and then go His disciples, but it does not seems like He stayed on earth and resided at length between the resurrection and the Ascension . When He was talking with Mary He had arisen but had not gone to the Father in heaven yet. It seems that He went into heaven shortly after meeting with Mary, but this was not the Ascension. (Which happened 40 days after He arose from the dead). So He was in heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit most of the time between His resurrection and Ascension (the 40 day period).
Perhaps when He met Mary He did not have His incorruptible body yet and needed the Father to take Him to heaven to receive it.
But others may have different ideas about this.
Thanks for asking. It makes us think more deeply about this matter.
He has not ascended, verse 27 he tells
Thomas to touch his side.
Did he ascend in between these verses?
Or was he on earth 40 days before ascension ?
The apostles did not deny or abandon Jesus they were confused, scared, shocked. They believed Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God, they did not doubt that. Even though Jesus told them several times, Jesus being arrested, crucified, buried, and resurrected, Matthew 17:22-23, Matthew 20:18-19 John 20:9, and more. It was hidden from them. Luke 18:32-34. When He was arrested, crucified, and buried in a tomb they were in shock.
During the time they were with Jesus they thought He was going to set up the kingdom then. They even asked Him before He ascended if He was going to set up the kingdom, Acts 1:6. When He was killed, they did not know what to do, the Messiah, Jesus the Son of God was supposed to set up the kingdom, now He is dead. For three days they mourned and cried not knowing what they would do now.
Then Jesus told them when He met and ate with them and opened their eyes where they would understand, Luke 24:44-47. The purpose of His death and resurrection was hidden from them and Satan. Things was held from them and much they did not remember as Jesus told them in John 14:26.
We think about all the apostles were told and being with Jesus for 3.5 years how we would act if we were there. It is not that simple, as John wrote if everything that Jesus said was written down the world could not hold it, John 22:25.
They never lost their faith they were just in shock for three days and as we see 120 of the disciples were together at Pentecost,
God bless,
RLW
1. Yes I believe in some ways our faith may be considered more complicated because they being with Jesus " physically " John 3:12, John 14:11, yet scripture says : 2 Chronicles 20:20, we have so many accumulated testimonies, prophecy fulfilled, the written WORD of GOD from many generations past in many ways we have all that to help build upon our faith. Then we have personal experiences & witness of miraculous events in our present days & years. I believe it's powerful to see the biblical text, New & Old Tstm & imagine the future with the stacked testimonies & understanding time accumulates more information. When the days of tribulation come the stacked accounts with all scripture will be that much bigger. GOD is amazing. I realized the other day the wealth of faith building information at our reach. I told a young man, "Yes, these days are difficult but we have so much to draw from". & GOD in HIS infinite wisdom gives each generation what they need. Romans 10:17, John 20:29,
2. Luke 23:43, I guess it applies to today to yes prove "nothing is impossible with GOD" Luke 1:37, & possibly to encourage us that it's not too late to repent, in dying moment.
Next. (?) Interesting observation. Matthew 4:12, Matthew 23:37, GOD gives people many chances to do good. Mark 6:20, Mark 6:19-31, read though, Mark 6:32-46, did Jesus even take time to mourn? It seems HE went to take a moment, yet compassion moved HIM to minister.
At 1st read I had thought you asked about Peter & Paul comparison of Peter released & Paul was not, also same "(charges) Acts 12:5-17, Acts 21:30-40, - Acts 22, - Acts 23, - Acts 24, - Acts 25, - Acts 26, - Acts 27,-, Acts 28,
My emotion would want to say "all chains are evil" however Mark 5:3-20, Jude 1:6, 2 Peter 2:4,
GOD uses all for good , Psalms 105:17-25, Romans 8:28-30, while Paul was in prison he wrote letters that became an important part of our HOLY Bible today.
3. James 1:5-8,
Hope this helps
The bible says first the physical and then the spiritual. You are saying first the spiritual and then the physical. I'm sorry but you have it backwards. Jesus is first mentioned in Genesis 3:15. He was in Gods mind right from the beginning. In the exodus it is said the rock 1 Corinthians 10:4 that followed them. It says spiritual rock which means the rock symbolized Christ. Jesus Christ was in Gods mind right from the beginning. He was not an actual being until his birth about two thousand years ago.
It says Jesus was conceived in the womb. Luke 2:21. Conception is when two seeds are joined together. Jesus started life as a baby and grew from there.
At Jesus resurrection what did Jesus say to Mary?
John 20:17 I ascent to my Father and your Father and to my God and to your God.
Thanks
I am not sure exactly what You are asking. My comment to your post was in reference to what it seemed to me that You do not believe Jesus is God.
Titus 2:13 days that we are " looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
In John 20:28
Thomas said of the risen Lord Jesus "My Lord and my God" and Jesus accepted what Thomas said. He did not deny being God.
In Matthrw 1:23 Jesus is referred to as "Immanuel" which is translated "God with us."
John 1:1 says "On the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God"
And then in John 1:14 it says of Jesus
"And the Word became 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."
So this passage in John identifies Jesus as God in the flesh (the eternal Word)
Therefore the scripture say that Jesus is God, but he was also man, having come
In the flesh. He had two natures, a divine nature and a human nature, both on the one Petson of Jesus.
His nature as God cannot sin because God is perfectly holy and never changes in such qualities of His essence.
So I think I have answered your question.
He is our Lord and our God
( John 20:28) He is the Resurrection and the Life ( John 11:25) He is the brightness of God's glory and the express image of God's Person ( Hebrews 1:3) he is worshipped by all the angels
( Hebrews 1:6) He is our Great God and Savior ( Titus 2:13-14) He is King of kings and Lord Of lords ( Rev. 19:16)
And so much more. Therefore should we not have great interest and earnest desire to read of His life, words and actions from the Gospels often?
For me, I love all sections of the Bible, but lovebtheGspels the most. It is here in the Gospels that I intake the truth of my Savior and become familiar with Him as the One I worship, adore, follow, serve, and hold out to others to come to know by faith.
It is Jesus that we should know the most about. We should be thoroughly familiar with His life in the Gospels so that we can better understand the teachings about Hom in the Epistles, Revelation, and OT. This is why I always suggest that people wishing to know the Bible better begin with the Gospels.
It's alright if you don't wish to respond to me, which ever the reasons may be. Please read: John 19:28, 1 Peter 1:20,
John 19:36, prophetic fulfilled by Isaiah the same Prophet that declares GOD's recompense, vengeance, punishment. Romans 11:2,
Luke 4:18,19, Isaiah 53, Luke 4:23-27, Galatians 3:8, Acts 8:32, Mark 15:28, Psalms 22, John 19,
John 19:37, John 20:9, 2 Timothy 3:16, Mark 12:10, John 13:18, John 7:42, John 17:12,
Luke 8:28
Jude 1,
Matthew 25:31-46,
I'd keep reading. Seek the truth and open yourself to learn who God really is and what He will reveal to you. Pray for wisdom and understanding. I wouldn't stop after one section and make conclusions before you take the entire context of the Bible into account. There are logical explanations for your questions.
For your food question if you continued reading you would have naturally found Acts 10. There is much more info in the New Testament about what law applies today, because there is moral law, civil law, and ceremonial law. The latter two were specific to Israelites. You would also read a verse like this: Matthew 5:17-20
Regarding your other questions you would eventually read verses like these:
1 John 5:7-8
John 1:1
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7
John 10:30
John 8:19
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
Isaiah 7:14
Matthew 1:23-25
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
John 1:18
Some OT prophesy of Jesus to come:
Isaiah 7:14
Psalms 72:9-10
Micah 5:2
Numbers 24:17
Genesis 22:18
God bless...
The Bible flat out says Jesus is God in John 1:1.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"Word was God"
It flat out says the Word is Jesus in John 1:14 and onward. It also calls Jesus God in other scripture too, so one has to deny much of the Bible in order to deny Jesus's divinity. Why are people so motivated to deny Jesus, one might ask? Matthew 10:32-33
The Word was God literally means the Word was God. It doesn't say the Word wasn't God. It doesn't say the Word was a different God. It doesn't say the Word was God the father. It doesn't say was kind of a God, but not really. People seem to really enjoy twisting this and trying hard to make it mean something else, but it doesn't mean something else. The Word was God still means the "Word was God." It cannot be denied what it so clearly says.
I heard someone who seemed motivated to not want Jesus to be his Lord or God go on to say that the Word didn't mean Jesus and wanted it to mean the Bible. But that person forgot that the Bible already says the Word is Jesus in John 1:14. It again calls Jesus the Word in Revelation 19:13.
So, all the other speculation doesn't really matter. People's devised human arguments in order to rationalize or distort to fit what one wants to believe is all irrelevant. The fact is John 1:1 says Jesus is God and the real question is does someone believe in the Bible as God's word or not? I choose to believe it. I hope others do too. Satan loves deceiving and tricking people into rationalizing away and cherry picking certain things over others.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (Jesus made all things), John 1:1 (Jesus was there in the beginning), John 5:18, (equal with His father), Jesus is the John 8:58, "I AM", Exodus 3:14, Revelation 1:8. John 20:28.
There are spiritual forces at work trying to deceive and twist and misinterpret. Beware of false teachers. The Bible already says what it means. Do we choose to believe and trust?
You initiated a reply to me. I'm not sure how interested you are in my belief, but I am happy to dialogue with you as long as it is respectful and grounded in the truth of God's word, not man's opinion. You shared scripture which is great, I believe all the scripture you shared, but I don't believe your interpretation of it. I believe you have misinterpreted it and I can be very specific to the exact reasons why for each point if you are genuinely open to it. For the scripture you shared there is more scripture that says Jesus is God. He's not God the Father, but God the Son. I believe this, because the scripture says this, not because of feelings, bias, or agenda, but because it literally says Jesus is God in John 1:1. Do you believe John 1:1?
Your comment began with a question not about the trinity as the Bible says in 1 John 5:7. But your question wasn't about what the Bible says in 1 John 5:7, but the word 'trinity'. Since we don't know each other I don't know your motive for saying that, but I can say that some others use it as a common straw man argument to deceive others in order to discredit Jesus. The word the "Bible" isn't in the Bible either, so is it not a Bible? The word used in 1 John 5:7 is the three are 'one', so if you can use that if you don't like the word trinity.
John 1:1
1 John 5:7
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7
John 10:30
John 8:19
John 1:1
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
1 John 5:7
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 5:8
1 John 2:22-24
Isaiah 7:14 - Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us"
Matthew 1:23-25
Hebrews 1:8 "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."
Isaiah 44:6 - Lord is King of Israel, Besides me there is no God.
"Sons of God" isn't THE Son of God.
Do you believe these verses?
There is no where in Scripture that says that regeneration only happened after Pentecost. But John 20:22 does indicate it. As in Genesis, God spoke and it came to be at the speaking of His word. So it is in John 20:22. He gave the Holy Spirit to His disciples when He spoke and breathed. Just as in Genesis when God breathed into Adam, Jesus breathed the
Spirit into the disciples, I believe.
There is nothing to say that they received the Spirit at a later date. In Acts chapter 1, Jesus said that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them, but it does not say they did not already have the Spirit in them nor did it say that they would be saved by the Spirit coming upon them. Don't you think that Jesus would have said that they became believers or saved if that is what happened when the Spirit came upon them? It would seem that that would be an important thing to distinguish since He told the apostles to make disciples and baptize them.
Anyway, you asked me a question and I have answered even though it seems you have moved on from your recent post to me.
Comforter, the spirit to come after as he says he is Glorified, and that occurred when he Sat at Gods Right
Hand and completed His ministry on Earth. It was not available to receive permanently gift of Holy Spirit
until pentecost and to be received we confess out saviour from sin and from the heart Romans 10:9+10
and believe in your heart. It's your privilege to believe what you will. Moving onward to the bema!
I was responding to what you said in your post. "They had no spiritual understanding of what he was communicating until they were born again at Pentecost." The text does not say that they were born again at Pentecost. They were believers before Pentecost and were gathered together as Jesus instructed, praying and praising God. In John 20:22J, Jesus breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit does not indwell un-regenerated people.
I believe that what Jesus spoke happened at that moment. What happened at Pentecost was another work of the Holy Spirit that happens after conversion.
You and others have repeatedly spoken that salvation comes when one confesses with one's mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead. I am pretty sure that the disciples had done this as a result of their experience with the risen Lord before He ascended. The Scripture nowhere says that an experience such as at Pentecost is the means of salvation. It is what God brings to already regenerated persons
So, for me, I believe that Jesus gave the disciples the teaching and understanding they needed to believe the gospel and take the gospel to the world prior to His ascension. The power to perform miracles, speak in tongues, and to be courageous in the face of opposition and persecution came at Pentecost. That is my point in responding to what you pointed about these disciples. You spoke as if you knew for sure that they were unsaved prior to Pentecost because, I believe as you seem to imply that that experience is the means of salvation rather than that in Romans 10, that you have often cited as the means of salvation.
Therefore, I understand what you said about the natural and spiritual man. You assumed that the disciples were not reborn and therefore had not a spiritual man in them. I contend that they did. I think Jesus was more than able to accomplish all that was needed in is disciples before He ascension. God Bless.
In other translation "Jerusalem Bible" "His brightness is like the day, rays flash from his hands, that is where his power lies hidden"
When I researched it: resemblance of the cross, injuries to the Messiah's hands, resurrection of Jesus, the scars remained. Prophecy? John 20:20, * John 20:24-31, *
Psalms 22:16
Psalms 22:1, Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34,
Mark 15:24-31, Matthew 27:35-42, Psalms 22, John 19:33-37, Luke 23:33-37, Luke 24:36-42,
Since I am not RC, I cannot comment fully without having to refer to the other aspects of the Mass. I don't agree to the communion emblems being spiritually re-constituted into the Body & Blood of our Lord, just as I don't agree to making confession to a priest, whether in relation to the Mass or not.
However, in support of the matter of confession, the main Scripture that the RC Church uses is John 20:23, "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." This is used because of the authority Jesus gave to His disciples & then by extension, that same authority was conferred upon the priests who follow in the station of the apostles. If I might expand on that verse: the word, 'remit', sometimes translated as 'forgive', actually means 'to send away, to release'. And the word, 'retain', means 'to hold fast, not let go'.
So, the RC Church then believes that it has the God-given authority to both forgive, or release, the sins of the penitent, as well as to withhold that forgiveness - usually then requiring some type of penance be made. But is all this correct? When we study the intent of John 20:23, no such authority was conveyed to the Christ's disciples, who became His apostles; because only God can forgive us our sins through His Son, & not through man ( 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" - Jesus can only hear our confession & forgive our sins).
Therefore, John 20:23, is the authority given to His apostles to bring out this new Truth by declaring to the Church the gravity of sin & the conditions on which Christ can forgive them - if they truly confessed, the apostles had Christ's Authority to declare the sinner as forgiven (sins remitted) & restored - but not to be a mediator before God.