To the first one: when we speak of Jesus being God, or Almighty God, we know that Jesus is not the Father - He is the Son (of God). But the question: where did Jesus come from that He should be called God, or Divine? Jesus Himself spoke of coming forth from God ( John 16:28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father").
The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14 prophesied about a special Child to be born, which was fulfilled as given in Matthew 1:22,23, "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us".
So just from these few verses we are told that God was going to bring a special Person into the World (and we know that it was for the purpose of Sacrifice & Redemption of sinners); and this Person was not born from the union of two humans, but His beginning was from God Himself. John 1:1-14 tells us that God's Word was made flesh, begotten of the Father - and John was speaking here of Jesus (Jesus' Origin & His Divine Nature).
Why does Jesus then pray to God? Because God brought forth One, a part of Himself, Who is both Divine & Human, & called Him His Son ( Matthew 3:17), for He came forth from within the Person of God. As a Son, Jesus now rightfully speaks (or prays) to His Father & was subservient to Him in every respect fulfilling the Will of the Father to one day make full payment for our sins. This Jesus has done, which God His Father accepted, & raised Jesus to be with Him sharing in His Glory, in Honor & in Power. As the Son of God, Jesus was wholly obedient to His Father's Will; now raised in Glory, the Son receives the praise & worship just as God His Father receives ( Philippians 2:5-11). Onto Page 2.
I believe your application of the Greek word HOSEI used in Both Acts 2:3 and Matthew 3:16 is correct. There was a point early on in my walk with the Lord where I used to envision a pure white dove descending from heaven upon Jesus at His baptism. It seems so easy to miss some of those little catch phrases in our study of the word.
In Acts 2:3, it's interesting because they could see an appearance of these languages dividing up and it sat upon each one of them. What they actually saw I'm not sure, but I can't help but wonder why it would happen like this for them.
I also find it interesting that both fire and wind to a Jewish person represents the very Spirit and presence of God. We see the wind in Acts 2:2. As you're probably aware, the word wind and the word Spirit, both in Hebrew and in Greek is the same word.
I look back at John Chapter 3, where Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born from above (experience a spiritual birth from heaven). And in John 3:8, Jesus says that it's like the wind, you don't know where it's coming from or where it's going to go afterwards.
It seems to me that He's interchanging wind with spirit, and the sound of the wind was to a Jewish person, the coming of the Holy Spirit. So, in Acts Chapter 2, here are Jewish people, in the upper room, they hear the sound of wind, and they have seen languages sitting upon each one of them (as of) fire sitting upon each one of them. Fascinating!
Thanks again brother Jesse for these ongoing clarifications & teaching of biblical texts; and now looking forward to learning more from the Acts of the Apostles.
I noted your Acts 2:3, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them"; where you've explained the "as of" denoting a similarity or appearance of fire, but not actually fire. Also, I found interesting that you have seen 'glossai' as pertaining to languages (i.e. the appearance of divided languages coming upon them, and presumably the apostles then spoke accordingly to those languages). I have always imagined that the 'tongues' here (glossai) spoke of the similarity or appearance to the human tongue, not referring specifically to language(s), but to its appearance as of a flickering flame resembling a tongue. So, your explanation is something quite new to me & worth bearing in mind.
And back to the "as of" fire phrase; as you wrote this was not an actual fire, but resembled it. This could be the same word (hosei) used in Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending LIKE (hosei) A dove, and lighting upon him". We see the illustration so often of a dove descending upon the Lord, that many Christians now believe that an actual dove, the shape of which the Holy Spirit assumed to come upon Jesus. Which of course is sacrilege according to the commandment ( Exodus 20:4,5; Deuteronomy 4:16-19). Rather, it seems that 'hosei' is used here as well, to show that the Holy Spirit's descent upon Jesus was seen just 'as a dove would flutter & glide towards the ground' and had nothing at all to do with an actual bird. I hope I'm using 'hosei' correctly in both Acts 2:3 & Matthew 3:16. Blessings.
RED APPLE TREATY 4 ME ONLY - In Reply - 3 months ago
Line 8-11 My Respond: I believe fruit can also allow growth and to bear.
God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
4. Excellence is a Witness to Others:
Line 5-8 My Respond: Having faith on Jesus death,burial and resurrection1 Corinthians 15:3-4 has blessed me and with integrity and Fairness.
Elder Graves Quoted Examples of Biblical Excellence
I like your scripture on Daniel and the Three Hebrew Boys:
My Respond:Daniel giving God credit, reference, Glory that is due.
Elder Graves Quoted 2.Define What Excellence Means to You:
My Respond:
Myself practicing these helps me show myself approved.
Elder Graves Quoted 3.Develop Habits of Diligence and Discipline:
My repsond:
Yes it prepared me in career, ministry, amd personal life.
My interpetation and Word spoken by Redappletreaty4meonly
For the next few days we'll consider how spiritual growth, is gracious, gradual, and guaranteed. My interpetation is God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Scriptures that will help you trust God that he establish Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV, Proverbs 10:22 KJV
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
RED APPLE TREATY 4 ME ONLY - In Reply - 4 months ago
Continued:
These are examples of people in fear, sickness and death situations and my ways and interpetation to overcome through Jesus Christ is God died /sacrifice on the cross , buried in a grave, after 3 day rose from the dead.
1) A man with health concerns was about to undergo another major surgery, he said that while he was anxious about his health and didn't want to die, he wasn't afraid of being sick or dying. He was asked why -and said he knew that whatever happened, God was in control. My interpetation he had faith ( Psalms 30:2 KJV ) and believed Jesus Christ is God ( Isaiah 56:6 KJV )
2) A trembling woman who had been sick for many years approached Jesus . Then she touched the edge of his cloak and was immediately healed! While she was afraid to speak up about what she had done. Jesus assured her that her faith in him had made her whole. Here is a textual scripture: Mark 5:25-34 KJV My interpetation is meaning she listened to God's commands believing the truth-Jesus Christ is God.( Isaiah 54:10 KJV,) bringing and end to the law Romans 10:4 KJV meaning made well and healed.
Mark 5:33 KJV
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
3)Sickness and death are things that we all fear in one way or another My interpetation believing in God and not believing in God. But as we look at these grim realities, we need to see them through the lens of a Jesus sacrifice for us My interpetation: ( Matthew 3:2 KJV, Matthew 4:19 KJV, John 3:16 KJV) and God love for us Romans 5:8 KJV.
Matthew 3:2 KJV
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:19 KJV
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Have someone ever spoke to you or gave you writings about God's love?
Written and spoken interpetation Word by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
You said, "Temptation or testing is for an answer to whether someone will be obedient or disobedient,
Ronald here's a silly illustration. When a salesman at a car dealership let's you test drive a car, is he testing to see if the car is obedient? No. He's proving the car is what he say it is.
That's why the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to show Jesus is who the father said he was in the previous verse.
Here's how it's read straight through.
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 3:17 - Matthew 4:1.
You asked, How can one be obedient if they cannot be disobedient?
That would be a good question for you and I.
We have a rebellious nature.
Disobedience is our fleshly nature. That's not so with Christ.
If you have to resist sin, you have a sinful nature. That's not so with Christ.
You asked;
If the first Adam was created with a sinful nature could God say He saw everything.
Yes Ronald, Absolutely. He made Adam just the way he planned to make him, and Adam did exactly what was expected. Christ wasn't a afterthought. God knew Adam would sin before he made him.
That is the long answers I have for you Ronald.
Again, My short answer is, Jesus is God and God cannot sin.
Thanks Brother Ronald,
We both know we don't agree on this.
I just thought it was necessary to give my thoughts.
Matthe 4:1. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Here's my understanding.
In Matthew 3 we see Jesus being baptized by John the baptist.
Then, in verse 17it reads, "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
That brings us to Chapter 4 where we see the tempting of Satan in which the word for tempted is "peiraz" which means to to test (objectively) that is endeavor 6
scrutinize entice discipline: - assay examine go about to prove.
( Matthew 4:1-11)
Verse 1 says it was the Spirit which led Jesus up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
What is Important to note in this section is that the DEVIL WASN'T BEING USED TO TEST TO SEE IF JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD. HE KNEW JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD!
In verse 3 where it says "if thou be the Son of God"
It should read "And when the tempter came to him, he said, "SINCE" thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Again, It was the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to EXHIBIT this truth that was declared in Matthew 3:17.
That's my understanding on Christ being tempted.
Also; There is nowhere in scripture that says Christ had a inherited sin nature. .
I don't hold the view that Adam was created "Without" a sin nature. Adam was made a living soul;
Christ was made a Life giving spirit. Neither had to become that or hold on to it. Adam sinned and it proved he had that in him.
Christ proved he didn't.
HERE'S HOW THEY CONTRAST; "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:46-47.
Christ was ordained to be the Lamb that takes away the sins of the whole world before the world began! He didn't have to qualify.
To know Christ and to make Him known is the theme of the Navigators ministry and correlates with 1 John and other passages.
This is a good summary of understanding the personal meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for atonement as well as our duties fulfilling our part in the Great Commission.
I imagine most here know the necessary doctrines of believing Christ is a member of the Godhead and thus Divinity Himself who was the only one who could atone for sins (as the sinless spotless Lamb of God) by becoming a man as we are without sin and remaining so throughout His earthly ministry; then dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead 3 days later. Finally; He is to return once again physically to rule and reign on the earth.
2 Timothy 2:8 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2 show we should avoid the error of stating that the resurrection has already occurred or the day of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 24:26 states that the Lord hasn't come yet for those who say He is hiding somewhere and also states the likeness of His arrival as lightning in the very next verse. This should be enough to disclaim what Preterists state that the Lord has already come. Therefore I would contend that full Preterists that state this are far enough off in doctrine that we should avoid fellowship with them.
Assuming we have the essentials of salvation straightened out; there are many other warnings and admonitions in scripture such as testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith would involve ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We need to accept that doctrines aren't just what is required to be saved; but also what is necessary to prove that we are bringing fruits worthy of repentance ( Matthew 3:8 and many other similar verses). We are not subject to the law in some sense IF we are truly dead to sin ( Romans 6:11) in one sense; because we have a new nature; but in the same token we DESIRE to obey Christ and love and serve Him as Lord; Master and Savior.
The following verse " Psalms 1:1-6 speaks volumes!
There's a lot of doctrine built around this.
Vs 3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, THAT BRINGETH FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON; HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
(HIS LEAF SHALL NOT WITHER!
Forever being fruitful!)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 is another one that picks up on this.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, NEITHER SHALL CEASE FROM YIELDING FRUIT.
Jesus uses this idiom in John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Also see John 4:10.
THANK GOD FOR HIS HOLYSPIRIT THAT SEALS AND GUIDES US!
Psalms 1:1-6.
THE UNGODLY ARE NOT SO: but are like the CHAFF which the wind driveth away.
THEREFORE THE UNGODLY SHALL NOT STAND IN THE JUDGMENT,
(They will have their own Judgment)
NOR SINNERS IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
(THE CHAFF IS NOT BINDING TO THE TREE AND HAS NO ROOTS AND NO FRUIT.)
More on the chaff. Matthew 3:11-12
Praise the Lord!
This is why Psalms 1:1 says "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Thank you for your good question Kr00031. I have tried to do a little research on this by examining other verses with this 'anomaly'. And though I can't be sure about it in every case, my guess is that in the KJBible, quotation marks are not used to indicate someone's speech or a quotation from a source.
So, in today's English usage, if I were to write, Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone...." ( Matthew 4:4), I would use quotation marks front & rear of the sentence to indicate Jesus' Words. But in the writing of the KJB, quotation apparently weren't employed but capitalizing the first letter after the speech or quotation, indicated the start of it.
You can look at the following examples to see how this works: Matthew 2:8 (Go); Matthew 2:23 (He); Matthew 3:3 (The); Matthew 3:15 (Suffer). I think you will get the idea of how the first letter of the first word is capitalized when a message is uttered or a verse is quoted.
I don't know how but I left letters out of Elohim three times.
The passages should have read as follows
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our "God/Elohim".
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME: AND THE LORD, WHOM YE SEEK, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD/Yehvh of hosts.
And
Isaiah 40:1-5
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your "God / Elohim."
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's/Yehvh hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our "God/Elohim".
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD/Yehvh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD/Yehvh hath spoken it.
It's interesting that you have Yehvh, lhym, and dn 'dn being represented as the same individual in these passages and if you add Mark 1:1-4Matthew 3:3 and John 1:14-29.
"Ye have wearied the LORD/Yehvh with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD/Yehvh, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God/lhym of judgment?
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME: AND THE LORD, WHOM YE SEEK, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD/Yehvh of hosts.
Isaiah 40:1-5
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God/lhym.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's/Yehvh hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our God/lhym.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD/Yehvh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD/Yehvh hath spoken it.
It's interesting that you have Yehvh, lhym, and dn 'dn being represented as the same individual in these passages and if you add Mark 1:1-4Matthew 3:3 and John 1:14-29.
What you are telling me Jesus is your minister to do the devil's dirty work to sin? God forbid. If you are saved You do not sin. What do you not understand the words " does not commit sin" and "Cannot sin?" What don't you believe? When Jesus in John 5:14 said, "Go and sin no more"
1st John 3:[8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God
If Jesus told you: "Sin no more.You would answer him by saying, "I can't."Or "I don't believe you."Or "No one is able to stop sinning except you.""???
Matthew 3: 1 At that time John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
2 He said,Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Your just calling Jesus a liar when you claim you can not stop sinning as sin is ungodliness it is of the devil 1st John 3:8. Do you think the grace of God came so that we can still live like bastard children of the devil and no change in our life? God forbid. No sinner can make heaven unless thry repent abd give it up.
Titus 2:11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
[12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
[13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
[14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Jesus never died to make a new type of sinner? Called a Christian sinner? he died so that we can be free from the devil we can be holy, rightous, santified, perfect, ready to meet him.
When Christ was telling those that were listening to him.
One shall be taken and one left.
As were the days of Noah.
The ones taken, are taken in DEATH, the ones left never see DEATH, but are translated into the presence of God ( 1 Timothy 6:16)
The sheep and goats, one believes and one don't believe.
Two mountains, one moves to the north, and one to the south, and all nations are drawn to the BATTLE:
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this BATTLE shall be with BURNING and fuel of fire.
Isaiah 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the SPIRIT of JUDGEMENT, and by the SPIRIT of BURNING.
Matthew 3:11 ...he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and FIRE....
We know certain things to be true of God for one reason: in His mercy He has condescended to reveal some of His qualities to us. God is spirit, by nature intangible ( John 4:24). God is One, but He exists as three Persons-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 3:16-17). God is infinite ( 1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable ( 2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging ( Malachi 3:6). God exists everywhere ( Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything ( Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28), and has all power and authority ( Ephesians 1; Revelation 19:6).
Who is God? - His Work
We cannot understand God apart from His works, because what God does flows from who He is. Here is an abbreviated list of God's works, past, present, and future: God created the world ( Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 42:5); He actively sustains the world ( Colossians 1:17); He is executing His eternal plan ( Ephesians 1:11) which involves the redemption of man from the curse of sin and death ( Galatians 3:13-14); He draws people to Christ ( John 6:44); He disciplines His children ( Hebrews 12:6); and He will judge the world ( Revelation 20:11-15).
Who is God? - A Relationship with Him
In the Person of the Son, God became incarnate ( John 1:14). The Son of God became the Son of Man and is therefore the "bridge" between God and man ( John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). It is only through the Son that we can have forgiveness of sins ( Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation with God ( John 15:15; Romans 5:10), and eternal salvation ( 2 Timothy 2:10). In Jesus Christ "all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" ( Colossians 2:9). So, to really know who God is, all we have to do is look at Jesus.
Jerry that is much of what we know about God and that probably don't scratch the surface on GOD!
Jesus was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness.
Matthew 3:15.
John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the people of Israel.
John came in the spirit of Elijah to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,
Malachi 4:5-6.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's work in the world.
He is the goal and consummation of all God's saving activity.
God sent John as the final herald of the King's return, and now Jesus comes in line with this and fulfills it by submitting to John's baptism.
( He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, He was IDENTIFYING with all what was said of him in the OT. Prophet, King, Priest, ect.
Jesus was 30 years old, The required age to enter the Leviticus Priesthood.
Jesus was soon on his way to the cross where he would end that priesthood and covenant by dying and usher in a new covenant and a everlasting Priesthood.
see Hebrews 9:15-17
SIDE NOTE:
Jesus had no sin so he had no need of repentance.
John the baptist said Jesus would come and baptize with the Holyghost and with fire. Luke 3:16.
He done this after his death and resurrection, He gave us an earnest of his spirit and sealed us until the day of redemption.
We now are IDENTIFIED with Jesus death and resurrection.
There is something else that we must point out. When John tried to stop Jesus since he knew who Jesus was, Jesus answered him, Matthew 3:15, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him"
What did Jesus mean when He said that they should both fulfill the righteouness of God. My belief is different from Jesse's.
God is righteous, which means that He must condemn the sinner. But instead of condemning sinners, He condemned Jesus instead of all of us. So God's righteousness was fulfilled on Jesus. Jesus died on the cross. Jesus should never die. Death is the wage of sin and Jesus had never sinned. But He died instead all of us who believe in Him. All that of course is something all christians know, I am not saying anything new. So for people to be saved, Jesus had to be born as a man and live his life as an ordinary man, letting aside His divine powers. So He had to go all through all that that ordinary people go through. And since at that time all people had to be baptised by John since that was God's commandment, Jesus also had to be baptised although He personally didn't have any sin. So John had to let Him be baptised so that God's righteousness was fulfilled on Jesus.
Now lets go back to that "remission of sins". John baptism wasn't just a symbolic ceremony. As I said it was a public repentance and confession of sins for the remission of sins done by people. My question is. Why had it to be done publically. Wasn't it enough that a Hebrew kneeled down at his bed and confessed their sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Wasn't it enough to be done in private? Had it to be done publically? Well, yes it seems to that it had to be done in public. In private was not enough.
So let's go now to the christian baptism. Question. Isn't it enough that we repent and ask for forgiveness (through Jesus) in private to be saved? Has it to be done in public?
Firstly lets gather all the information that we are given in the Word of God about John's Baptism.
1. In Luke 7:29-30 Jesus said to Pharisees, "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.".
So the Will of God was ALL people (Hebrews) to be baptised by John.
2. John 1:31, "And I (John the Baptist) knew him (Jesus) not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
So John's ministry was to reveal Jesus (the Savior) to people. That was done during Jesus' baptism. See John 1:32-34.
3. Luke 3:3, "And he (John) came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"
So the purpose of that baptism was the remission of sins through the repentance done in public during John's baptism.
One detail that I have read in other books but is not mentioned in the Bible is how that baptism was done. The man who was to be baptised went in the water, confessed all his sins publically and as soon as he finished confessing he submerged himself in the water and then got up. Jesus has no sin to confess that is why he went straight up, i.e. Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: ..."
I don't know if I have omitted something important but all the above sums up to:
God sent John to baptise all people. It was the Will of God that all people are to be baptized. So my belief is that that baptism was not done before, it wasn't like all the other baptisms done by Hebrews before. Through that baptism John revealed the Savior (Jesus) to people. During that baptism people repented for their sins, confessed those publically and were forgiven. About that "remission of sins" I will come back later on.
Amen! John's ministry was to baptize with water, and as you said, a baptism of repentance for the Jews to turn from Judaism, and identify themselves with Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus' ministry was (and still is) to baptize people with His Spirit.
Matthew 3:15 answers the question as to why would John have to do this, and why would Jesus let John baptize Him?
Notice it says becomes "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
It is the fulfillment of Exodus 29:4, to fulfill all righteousness! There are three things that is very interesting about Jesus' coming.
Remember at 30 years of age, that is the age of the priesthood. According to Numbers 4:30, it was 30 years of age.
The priest had to go through a MIKVEH, a baptism. They had to be baptized from head to toe. The washing, or the MIKVEH of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:4.
But what's interesting is that Moses was supposed to do the baptizing! That is interesting because here is John the baptizer standing there and Jesus says this is for "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
And so John is stepping in the place of Moses and baptizing Jesus for the priesthood. The anointing of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:7. They were anointed with oil.
Jesus was 30 years of age, and in order for Him to officially (according to the law) enter into His priesthood according to the Jews, He would have to be baptized.
It was all according to Jewish law, and they "fulfilled all righteousness." A Jew could not say from that point forward that Jesus can't tell them the truth about the kingdom of heaven because He has never gone through the official ceremony for a priest, because Jesus did.
This was why Jesus went through the Mikveh. He needed to repent, and it wasn't to set an example for us. It was to fulfill all righteousness. According to Jewish law, His ministry would have been illegitimate if He did not go through the ceremony. Plus He had to be 30 years of age to be legal.
The baptism of repentance to the lost sheep of Israel.
This was to Identify them with their savior.
In Matthew 3:15 Jesus was also baptized with this baptism to Identify the savior with the people and to fulfill all righteousness, he needed no repentance.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
JOHNS MISSION;
Luke 1:16-17. And many of ( THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ) shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready A PEOPLE prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:67-74. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Today we are baptized by the Spirit of God.
Acts 1:5. For John truly baptized with water; ( BUT) ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Herod Antipas, (born 21 bce-died after 39 ce ), son of Herod I the Great who became tetrarch (ruler of a minor principality in the Roman Empire) of Galilee, in northern Palestine, and Peraea, east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, and ruled throughout Jesus of Nazareth's ministry.
The spelling of Esaias that you see in Matthew 3:3, as well as other places in the New Testament (such as Matthew 4:14, John 12:38, Romans 9:27, etc.), is because the KJV translators preferred to record Isaiah's name as it's written in Greek (since the NT was written in that language). Whereas in the Old Testament, Isaiah is written as shown, the equivalent of the Hebrew, Ysha'yah (pr. yeh-shaw-yah), which means 'God (Yahweh) is salvation'.
There is a difference between the Kingdom of God (Christ inside you) and the Kingdom of Heaven (a place to come on earth). Please view Robert Breaker video on you tube labeled The Kingdom of God vs The Kingdom of Heaven for in depth Bible scripture.
Matthew 6:33 (keyword is FIRST... implying there is something to follow - second)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
You can not "see" or "observe" the Kingdom of God.
Luke 17:20
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Matthew 3:2 "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 7:21 (Heaven is a place)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Thank you GiGi for responding to my question and providing your insight. I will reflect on your answer and continue to pray for God's guidance. There have been others who have generously offered similar opinions and Bible references, I will review all responses and details and I know I will be guided by the Holy Spirit. What a blessing to have a community of Christians willing to spend time to help and support each other. Bless you ... Ani
Thankyou Chris for taking the time to reply to my question and providing so much detail and references, I will spend some time reviewing the information you have sent me. God bless you ... Ani
I have used Malachi 3:1 and associated it with Matthew 11:14,
Matthew 3:3,
Luke 3:3-4
and Isaiah 40:3-5.
but I overlooked Luke 1:16-17.
Thanks and God bless.
Hello Lovealot19. Thanks for your questions.
To the first one: when we speak of Jesus being God, or Almighty God, we know that Jesus is not the Father - He is the Son (of God). But the question: where did Jesus come from that He should be called God, or Divine? Jesus Himself spoke of coming forth from God ( John 16:28, "I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father").
The prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 7:14 prophesied about a special Child to be born, which was fulfilled as given in Matthew 1:22,23, "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us".
So just from these few verses we are told that God was going to bring a special Person into the World (and we know that it was for the purpose of Sacrifice & Redemption of sinners); and this Person was not born from the union of two humans, but His beginning was from God Himself. John 1:1-14 tells us that God's Word was made flesh, begotten of the Father - and John was speaking here of Jesus (Jesus' Origin & His Divine Nature).
Why does Jesus then pray to God? Because God brought forth One, a part of Himself, Who is both Divine & Human, & called Him His Son ( Matthew 3:17), for He came forth from within the Person of God. As a Son, Jesus now rightfully speaks (or prays) to His Father & was subservient to Him in every respect fulfilling the Will of the Father to one day make full payment for our sins. This Jesus has done, which God His Father accepted, & raised Jesus to be with Him sharing in His Glory, in Honor & in Power. As the Son of God, Jesus was wholly obedient to His Father's Will; now raised in Glory, the Son receives the praise & worship just as God His Father receives ( Philippians 2:5-11). Onto Page 2.
I believe your application of the Greek word HOSEI used in Both Acts 2:3 and Matthew 3:16 is correct. There was a point early on in my walk with the Lord where I used to envision a pure white dove descending from heaven upon Jesus at His baptism. It seems so easy to miss some of those little catch phrases in our study of the word.
In Acts 2:3, it's interesting because they could see an appearance of these languages dividing up and it sat upon each one of them. What they actually saw I'm not sure, but I can't help but wonder why it would happen like this for them.
I also find it interesting that both fire and wind to a Jewish person represents the very Spirit and presence of God. We see the wind in Acts 2:2. As you're probably aware, the word wind and the word Spirit, both in Hebrew and in Greek is the same word.
I look back at John Chapter 3, where Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born from above (experience a spiritual birth from heaven). And in John 3:8, Jesus says that it's like the wind, you don't know where it's coming from or where it's going to go afterwards.
It seems to me that He's interchanging wind with spirit, and the sound of the wind was to a Jewish person, the coming of the Holy Spirit. So, in Acts Chapter 2, here are Jewish people, in the upper room, they hear the sound of wind, and they have seen languages sitting upon each one of them (as of) fire sitting upon each one of them. Fascinating!
Blessings to you also!
I noted your Acts 2:3, "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them"; where you've explained the "as of" denoting a similarity or appearance of fire, but not actually fire. Also, I found interesting that you have seen 'glossai' as pertaining to languages (i.e. the appearance of divided languages coming upon them, and presumably the apostles then spoke accordingly to those languages). I have always imagined that the 'tongues' here (glossai) spoke of the similarity or appearance to the human tongue, not referring specifically to language(s), but to its appearance as of a flickering flame resembling a tongue. So, your explanation is something quite new to me & worth bearing in mind.
And back to the "as of" fire phrase; as you wrote this was not an actual fire, but resembled it. This could be the same word (hosei) used in Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending LIKE (hosei) A dove, and lighting upon him". We see the illustration so often of a dove descending upon the Lord, that many Christians now believe that an actual dove, the shape of which the Holy Spirit assumed to come upon Jesus. Which of course is sacrilege according to the commandment ( Exodus 20:4,5; Deuteronomy 4:16-19). Rather, it seems that 'hosei' is used here as well, to show that the Holy Spirit's descent upon Jesus was seen just 'as a dove would flutter & glide towards the ground' and had nothing at all to do with an actual bird. I hope I'm using 'hosei' correctly in both Acts 2:3 & Matthew 3:16. Blessings.
God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
Elder Graves Quoted Motivations for Christian Excellence
4. Excellence is a Witness to Others:
Line 5-8 My Respond: Having faith on Jesus death,burial and resurrection1 Corinthians 15:3-4 has blessed me and with integrity and Fairness.
Elder Graves Quoted Examples of Biblical Excellence
I like your scripture on Daniel and the Three Hebrew Boys:
My Respond:Daniel giving God credit, reference, Glory that is due.
Elder Graves Quoted 2.Define What Excellence Means to You:
My Respond:
Myself practicing these helps me show myself approved.
Elder Graves Quoted 3.Develop Habits of Diligence and Discipline:
My repsond:
Yes it prepared me in career, ministry, amd personal life.
My interpetation and Word spoken by Redappletreaty4meonly
West Angeles Church Cogic Cathedral member
For the next few days we'll consider how spiritual growth, is gracious, gradual, and guaranteed. My interpetation is God's confirming his covenant & to be God's son and in growth. Galatians 3:17 KJV
And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
Though we have an important role to play, even our determination to flourish with fruit of the Spirit is evidence of God's grace.
Eveidence- Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Myself trusting God and having faith has blessed me with evidence to receive (fruit of the Spirit)
Ways you can have faith is by reading your Holy Bible, prayer, attending church, involved in ministry, volunteering.
The Holy Spirit is the one who stimulates our desire to grow in Christ. Growth is gracious. My interpetation is God's grace Matthew 3:2 KJV, Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Trust that growth will happen, and when it does, thank Jesus for the fruit produced by his appointment.
Scriptures that will help you trust God that he establish Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV, Proverbs 10:22 KJV
Producing fruit John 15:7-8 KJV
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Written and Word spoken by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
These are examples of people in fear, sickness and death situations and my ways and interpetation to overcome through Jesus Christ is God died /sacrifice on the cross , buried in a grave, after 3 day rose from the dead.
1) A man with health concerns was about to undergo another major surgery, he said that while he was anxious about his health and didn't want to die, he wasn't afraid of being sick or dying. He was asked why -and said he knew that whatever happened, God was in control. My interpetation he had faith ( Psalms 30:2 KJV ) and believed Jesus Christ is God ( Isaiah 56:6 KJV )
2) A trembling woman who had been sick for many years approached Jesus . Then she touched the edge of his cloak and was immediately healed! While she was afraid to speak up about what she had done. Jesus assured her that her faith in him had made her whole. Here is a textual scripture: Mark 5:25-34 KJV My interpetation is meaning she listened to God's commands believing the truth-Jesus Christ is God.( Isaiah 54:10 KJV,) bringing and end to the law Romans 10:4 KJV meaning made well and healed.
Mark 5:33 KJV
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
3)Sickness and death are things that we all fear in one way or another My interpetation believing in God and not believing in God. But as we look at these grim realities, we need to see them through the lens of a Jesus sacrifice for us My interpetation: ( Matthew 3:2 KJV, Matthew 4:19 KJV, John 3:16 KJV) and God love for us Romans 5:8 KJV.
Matthew 3:2 KJV
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:19 KJV
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Have someone ever spoke to you or gave you writings about God's love?
Written and spoken interpetation Word by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
Thanks for responding.
You said, "Temptation or testing is for an answer to whether someone will be obedient or disobedient,
Ronald here's a silly illustration. When a salesman at a car dealership let's you test drive a car, is he testing to see if the car is obedient? No. He's proving the car is what he say it is.
That's why the Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to show Jesus is who the father said he was in the previous verse.
Here's how it's read straight through.
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 3:17 - Matthew 4:1.
You asked, How can one be obedient if they cannot be disobedient?
That would be a good question for you and I.
We have a rebellious nature.
Disobedience is our fleshly nature. That's not so with Christ.
If you have to resist sin, you have a sinful nature. That's not so with Christ.
You asked;
If the first Adam was created with a sinful nature could God say He saw everything.
Yes Ronald, Absolutely. He made Adam just the way he planned to make him, and Adam did exactly what was expected. Christ wasn't a afterthought. God knew Adam would sin before he made him.
That is the long answers I have for you Ronald.
Again, My short answer is, Jesus is God and God cannot sin.
Thanks Brother Ronald,
We both know we don't agree on this.
I just thought it was necessary to give my thoughts.
God bless.
Part 2.
Tempted of Satan.
Matthe 4:1. "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Here's my understanding.
In Matthew 3 we see Jesus being baptized by John the baptist.
Then, in verse 17it reads, "And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
That brings us to Chapter 4 where we see the tempting of Satan in which the word for tempted is "peiraz" which means to to test (objectively) that is endeavor 6
scrutinize entice discipline: - assay examine go about to prove.
( Matthew 4:1-11)
Verse 1 says it was the Spirit which led Jesus up into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
What is Important to note in this section is that the DEVIL WASN'T BEING USED TO TEST TO SEE IF JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD. HE KNEW JESUS WAS THE SON OF GOD!
In verse 3 where it says "if thou be the Son of God"
It should read "And when the tempter came to him, he said, "SINCE" thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Again, It was the Spirit that led Jesus into the wilderness to EXHIBIT this truth that was declared in Matthew 3:17.
That's my understanding on Christ being tempted.
Also; There is nowhere in scripture that says Christ had a inherited sin nature. .
I don't hold the view that Adam was created "Without" a sin nature. Adam was made a living soul;
Christ was made a Life giving spirit. Neither had to become that or hold on to it. Adam sinned and it proved he had that in him.
Christ proved he didn't.
HERE'S HOW THEY CONTRAST; "Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:46-47.
Christ was ordained to be the Lamb that takes away the sins of the whole world before the world began! He didn't have to qualify.
God bless.
To know Christ and to make Him known is the theme of the Navigators ministry and correlates with 1 John and other passages.
This is a good summary of understanding the personal meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for atonement as well as our duties fulfilling our part in the Great Commission.
I imagine most here know the necessary doctrines of believing Christ is a member of the Godhead and thus Divinity Himself who was the only one who could atone for sins (as the sinless spotless Lamb of God) by becoming a man as we are without sin and remaining so throughout His earthly ministry; then dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead 3 days later. Finally; He is to return once again physically to rule and reign on the earth.
2 Timothy 2:8 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2 show we should avoid the error of stating that the resurrection has already occurred or the day of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 24:26 states that the Lord hasn't come yet for those who say He is hiding somewhere and also states the likeness of His arrival as lightning in the very next verse. This should be enough to disclaim what Preterists state that the Lord has already come. Therefore I would contend that full Preterists that state this are far enough off in doctrine that we should avoid fellowship with them.
Assuming we have the essentials of salvation straightened out; there are many other warnings and admonitions in scripture such as testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith would involve ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We need to accept that doctrines aren't just what is required to be saved; but also what is necessary to prove that we are bringing fruits worthy of repentance ( Matthew 3:8 and many other similar verses). We are not subject to the law in some sense IF we are truly dead to sin ( Romans 6:11) in one sense; because we have a new nature; but in the same token we DESIRE to obey Christ and love and serve Him as Lord; Master and Savior.
The following verse " Psalms 1:1-6 speaks volumes!
There's a lot of doctrine built around this.
Vs 3 "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, THAT BRINGETH FORTH HIS FRUIT IN HIS SEASON; HIS LEAF ALSO SHALL NOT WITHER; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
(HIS LEAF SHALL NOT WITHER!
Forever being fruitful!)
Jeremiah 17:7-8 is another one that picks up on this.
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, NEITHER SHALL CEASE FROM YIELDING FRUIT.
Jesus uses this idiom in John 7:37-39 "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Also see John 4:10.
THANK GOD FOR HIS HOLYSPIRIT THAT SEALS AND GUIDES US!
Psalms 1:1-6.
THE UNGODLY ARE NOT SO: but are like the CHAFF which the wind driveth away.
THEREFORE THE UNGODLY SHALL NOT STAND IN THE JUDGMENT,
(They will have their own Judgment)
NOR SINNERS IN THE CONGREGATION OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
(THE CHAFF IS NOT BINDING TO THE TREE AND HAS NO ROOTS AND NO FRUIT.)
More on the chaff. Matthew 3:11-12
Praise the Lord!
This is why Psalms 1:1 says "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
God bless.
So, in today's English usage, if I were to write, Jesus said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone...." ( Matthew 4:4), I would use quotation marks front & rear of the sentence to indicate Jesus' Words. But in the writing of the KJB, quotation apparently weren't employed but capitalizing the first letter after the speech or quotation, indicated the start of it.
You can look at the following examples to see how this works: Matthew 2:8 (Go); Matthew 2:23 (He); Matthew 3:3 (The); Matthew 3:15 (Suffer). I think you will get the idea of how the first letter of the first word is capitalized when a message is uttered or a verse is quoted.
I don't know how but I left letters out of Elohim three times.
The passages should have read as follows
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our "God/Elohim".
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME: AND THE LORD, WHOM YE SEEK, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD/Yehvh of hosts.
And
Isaiah 40:1-5
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your "God / Elohim."
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's/Yehvh hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our "God/Elohim".
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD/Yehvh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD/Yehvh hath spoken it.
It's interesting that you have Yehvh, lhym, and dn 'dn being represented as the same individual in these passages and if you add Mark 1:1-4 Matthew 3:3 and John 1:14-29.
Jesus showed up as a member of the Elohim.
"Ye have wearied the LORD/Yehvh with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD/Yehvh, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God/lhym of judgment?
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before ME: AND THE LORD, WHOM YE SEEK, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD/Yehvh of hosts.
Isaiah 40:1-5
"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God/lhym.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's/Yehvh hand double for all her sins.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD Yehvh, make straight in the desert a highway for our God/lhym.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
And the glory of the LORD/Yehvh shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD/Yehvh hath spoken it.
It's interesting that you have Yehvh, lhym, and dn 'dn being represented as the same individual in these passages and if you add Mark 1:1-4 Matthew 3:3 and John 1:14-29.
Jesus showed up as a member of the Elohim.
God bless
1st John 3:[8] He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
[9] Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God
If Jesus told you: "Sin no more.You would answer him by saying, "I can't."Or "I don't believe you."Or "No one is able to stop sinning except you.""???
Matthew 3: 1 At that time John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea.
2 He said,Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Your just calling Jesus a liar when you claim you can not stop sinning as sin is ungodliness it is of the devil 1st John 3:8. Do you think the grace of God came so that we can still live like bastard children of the devil and no change in our life? God forbid. No sinner can make heaven unless thry repent abd give it up.
Titus 2:11] For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
[12] Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
[13] Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
[14] Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Jesus never died to make a new type of sinner? Called a Christian sinner? he died so that we can be free from the devil we can be holy, rightous, santified, perfect, ready to meet him.
When Christ was telling those that were listening to him.
One shall be taken and one left.
As were the days of Noah.
The ones taken, are taken in DEATH, the ones left never see DEATH, but are translated into the presence of God ( 1 Timothy 6:16)
The sheep and goats, one believes and one don't believe.
Two mountains, one moves to the north, and one to the south, and all nations are drawn to the BATTLE:
Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this BATTLE shall be with BURNING and fuel of fire.
Isaiah 4:4 When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the SPIRIT of JUDGEMENT, and by the SPIRIT of BURNING.
Matthew 3:11 ...he shall baptise you with the Holy Ghost and FIRE....
God Bless YOU!
Matthew 3:22...Except those days of the great tribulation be SHORTENED, no flesh could BE SAVED.
You say your pretrib
The above scripture says you CANNOT be saved till after the great tribulation.
The word says WE ARE SAVED by the RESURRECTION of Christ.
The great tribulation had to happen before Christ was RESURRECTED.
The great tribulation was from the time Christ entered the garden till he DIED on the cross.
The doctrines of men has polluted the words of God.
God Bless YOU!
Part 5.
Who is God? - His Nature
We know certain things to be true of God for one reason: in His mercy He has condescended to reveal some of His qualities to us. God is spirit, by nature intangible ( John 4:24). God is One, but He exists as three Persons-God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit ( Matthew 3:16-17). God is infinite ( 1 Timothy 1:17), incomparable ( 2 Samuel 7:22), and unchanging ( Malachi 3:6). God exists everywhere ( Psalm 139:7-12), knows everything ( Psalm 147:5; Isaiah 40:28), and has all power and authority ( Ephesians 1; Revelation 19:6).
Who is God? - His Work
We cannot understand God apart from His works, because what God does flows from who He is. Here is an abbreviated list of God's works, past, present, and future: God created the world ( Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 42:5); He actively sustains the world ( Colossians 1:17); He is executing His eternal plan ( Ephesians 1:11) which involves the redemption of man from the curse of sin and death ( Galatians 3:13-14); He draws people to Christ ( John 6:44); He disciplines His children ( Hebrews 12:6); and He will judge the world ( Revelation 20:11-15).
Who is God? - A Relationship with Him
In the Person of the Son, God became incarnate ( John 1:14). The Son of God became the Son of Man and is therefore the "bridge" between God and man ( John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5). It is only through the Son that we can have forgiveness of sins ( Ephesians 1:7), reconciliation with God ( John 15:15; Romans 5:10), and eternal salvation ( 2 Timothy 2:10). In Jesus Christ "all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" ( Colossians 2:9). So, to really know who God is, all we have to do is look at Jesus.
Jerry that is much of what we know about God and that probably don't scratch the surface on GOD!
I HOPE THIS HELPS.
GOD BLESS.
To be baptized is to identify with.
Jesus was baptized by John to fulfill all righteousness.
Matthew 3:15.
John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for the people of Israel.
John came in the spirit of Elijah to turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers,
Malachi 4:5-6.
Jesus is the fulfillment of all God's work in the world.
He is the goal and consummation of all God's saving activity.
God sent John as the final herald of the King's return, and now Jesus comes in line with this and fulfills it by submitting to John's baptism.
( He was baptized to fulfill all righteousness, He was IDENTIFYING with all what was said of him in the OT. Prophet, King, Priest, ect.
Jesus was 30 years old, The required age to enter the Leviticus Priesthood.
Jesus was soon on his way to the cross where he would end that priesthood and covenant by dying and usher in a new covenant and a everlasting Priesthood.
see Hebrews 9:15-17
SIDE NOTE:
Jesus had no sin so he had no need of repentance.
John the baptist said Jesus would come and baptize with the Holyghost and with fire. Luke 3:16.
He done this after his death and resurrection, He gave us an earnest of his spirit and sealed us until the day of redemption.
We now are IDENTIFIED with Jesus death and resurrection.
Romans 6:3-11.
God bless.
is a key example. Exodus 4:4-9
Despite the evidence, refused to
believe. Exodus 9:27-30; Exodus 9:33-35
Denying Jesus was blaspheming against
the spirit. John 1:14-18; Matthew 5:17,18; Matthew 7:28,29
and refusing his father in heaven who sent
Jesus also. Matthew 3:16,17; John 3:14-18
Spencer
There is something else that we must point out. When John tried to stop Jesus since he knew who Jesus was, Jesus answered him, Matthew 3:15, "And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him"
What did Jesus mean when He said that they should both fulfill the righteouness of God. My belief is different from Jesse's.
God is righteous, which means that He must condemn the sinner. But instead of condemning sinners, He condemned Jesus instead of all of us. So God's righteousness was fulfilled on Jesus. Jesus died on the cross. Jesus should never die. Death is the wage of sin and Jesus had never sinned. But He died instead all of us who believe in Him. All that of course is something all christians know, I am not saying anything new. So for people to be saved, Jesus had to be born as a man and live his life as an ordinary man, letting aside His divine powers. So He had to go all through all that that ordinary people go through. And since at that time all people had to be baptised by John since that was God's commandment, Jesus also had to be baptised although He personally didn't have any sin. So John had to let Him be baptised so that God's righteousness was fulfilled on Jesus.
Now lets go back to that "remission of sins". John baptism wasn't just a symbolic ceremony. As I said it was a public repentance and confession of sins for the remission of sins done by people. My question is. Why had it to be done publically. Wasn't it enough that a Hebrew kneeled down at his bed and confessed their sins to God and ask for forgiveness? Wasn't it enough to be done in private? Had it to be done publically? Well, yes it seems to that it had to be done in public. In private was not enough.
So let's go now to the christian baptism. Question. Isn't it enough that we repent and ask for forgiveness (through Jesus) in private to be saved? Has it to be done in public?
Hello Spencer
My thoughts on John's Baptism.
Firstly lets gather all the information that we are given in the Word of God about John's Baptism.
1. In Luke 7:29-30 Jesus said to Pharisees, "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.".
So the Will of God was ALL people (Hebrews) to be baptised by John.
2. John 1:31, "And I (John the Baptist) knew him (Jesus) not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
So John's ministry was to reveal Jesus (the Savior) to people. That was done during Jesus' baptism. See John 1:32-34.
3. Luke 3:3, "And he (John) came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;"
So the purpose of that baptism was the remission of sins through the repentance done in public during John's baptism.
One detail that I have read in other books but is not mentioned in the Bible is how that baptism was done. The man who was to be baptised went in the water, confessed all his sins publically and as soon as he finished confessing he submerged himself in the water and then got up. Jesus has no sin to confess that is why he went straight up, i.e. Matthew 3:16, "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: ..."
I don't know if I have omitted something important but all the above sums up to:
God sent John to baptise all people. It was the Will of God that all people are to be baptized. So my belief is that that baptism was not done before, it wasn't like all the other baptisms done by Hebrews before. Through that baptism John revealed the Savior (Jesus) to people. During that baptism people repented for their sins, confessed those publically and were forgiven. About that "remission of sins" I will come back later on.
Amen! John's ministry was to baptize with water, and as you said, a baptism of repentance for the Jews to turn from Judaism, and identify themselves with Jesus as their Messiah. Jesus' ministry was (and still is) to baptize people with His Spirit.
Matthew 3:15 answers the question as to why would John have to do this, and why would Jesus let John baptize Him?
Notice it says becomes "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
It is the fulfillment of Exodus 29:4, to fulfill all righteousness! There are three things that is very interesting about Jesus' coming.
Remember at 30 years of age, that is the age of the priesthood. According to Numbers 4:30, it was 30 years of age.
The priest had to go through a MIKVEH, a baptism. They had to be baptized from head to toe. The washing, or the MIKVEH of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:4.
But what's interesting is that Moses was supposed to do the baptizing! That is interesting because here is John the baptizer standing there and Jesus says this is for "us" to fulfill all righteousness.
And so John is stepping in the place of Moses and baptizing Jesus for the priesthood. The anointing of the priesthood is in Exodus 29:7. They were anointed with oil.
Jesus was 30 years of age, and in order for Him to officially (according to the law) enter into His priesthood according to the Jews, He would have to be baptized.
It was all according to Jewish law, and they "fulfilled all righteousness." A Jew could not say from that point forward that Jesus can't tell them the truth about the kingdom of heaven because He has never gone through the official ceremony for a priest, because Jesus did.
This was why Jesus went through the Mikveh. He needed to repent, and it wasn't to set an example for us. It was to fulfill all righteousness. According to Jewish law, His ministry would have been illegitimate if He did not go through the ceremony. Plus He had to be 30 years of age to be legal.
Blessing!
The baptism of repentance to the lost sheep of Israel.
This was to Identify them with their savior.
In Matthew 3:15 Jesus was also baptized with this baptism to Identify the savior with the people and to fulfill all righteousness, he needed no repentance.
Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
JOHNS MISSION;
Luke 1:16-17. And many of ( THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ) shall he turn to the Lord their God.
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready A PEOPLE prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:67-74. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Today we are baptized by the Spirit of God.
Acts 1:5. For John truly baptized with water; ( BUT) ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
Matthew 3:11.
1 Corinthians 12:13.
God bless.
Herod Antipas, (born 21 bce-died after 39 ce ), son of Herod I the Great who became tetrarch (ruler of a minor principality in the Roman Empire) of Galilee, in northern Palestine, and Peraea, east of the Jordan River and Dead Sea, and ruled throughout Jesus of Nazareth's ministry.
This is from Encyclopedia Brittanica
There is a difference between the Kingdom of God (Christ inside you) and the Kingdom of Heaven (a place to come on earth). Please view Robert Breaker video on you tube labeled The Kingdom of God vs The Kingdom of Heaven for in depth Bible scripture.
Matthew 6:33 (keyword is FIRST... implying there is something to follow - second)
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
You can not "see" or "observe" the Kingdom of God.
Luke 17:20
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Matthew 3:2 "And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 7:21 (Heaven is a place)
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.