All Discussion PAGE 918

Hello J. Halli. You have probably read the whole of Colossians chapter 2 and in this chapter, the Apostle Paul gives a warning (the key verse being verse 8: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.").

As in the Church in those early days & in the Church now, there were teachers coming in with their 'own brand of Christianity', often mixed with Jewish Laws, customs, & traditions. So Paul is warning the Church to be aware of them who bring in these damnable teachings that don't align with what they have been taught by the apostles about the full worth of Jesus Christ. Instead, these teachers wanted to bind Christians to observances to maintain a piety, a cleanliness of body & spirit & self-effort to maintain a right standing before God. And this can never work because through Jesus' Death & Resurrection all who put their trust in Him have been set free from the Law that only brought death; and the vain commandments & traditions of men that may have some appeal-value, only put man back into bondage & self effort to be more acceptable to God. And this must not happen, because only through Christ are we accepted in Him ( Ephesians 1:3-6).

Such vain teachings are found in the writings of the Jewish rabbis and the ancient Jewish sect of the Essenes which were full of such precepts. Paul here, uses the language of these Jewish teachers in regard to various kinds of food and drink. "Why are ye subject to ordinances of various kinds, such as this - Touch not, taste not, handle not?" (vv20,21). These teachers want to prohibit you from even touching certain kinds of food, or tasting certain kinds of drink, or handling certain prohibited things; saying, that by doing so you will become defiled before God. This was not the teaching of Jesus & the apostles, but the teaching of carnal misguided men who, like the Pharisees, wanted to bring people back into bondage.

J halli,

(Part 2)

In Verse 22, Paul says, "Paul says which all are to perish with the using;)" All of these touch not, taste not, handle not, it's all about temporary things in the physical realm and they're going to perish anyway. And they are after the commandments and doctrines of men? So why do they do that?

In Verse 23, it says, "Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship," Ascetics like to make their form of religion public. They want people to see this form of "holiness" about their suffering, because they say the more you suffer, the holier you are. Continuing on in Verse 23, "Which is found in humility, and neglecting of the body; and not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh."

It's not going to satisfy my flesh. And that was supposed to be some kind of a public declaration of holiness!

J halli,

(Part 1)

In Colossians Chapter 2, Paul addresses a few major groups of people that are not only in Christian cult form today, but they actually began back in Paul's day. The first group that we're introduced to in Colossians 2:8-10 is Gnosticism. Gnosko is the Greek word for knowledge. The Gnostics were people who had "special" knowledge beyond the scriptures, beyond anything man has known.

The second group are the legalists. And they are found in Colossiand 2:11-17. Now the legalists said that it's okay to believe in Jesus as the Messiah, but the men had to be physically circumcised.

The third group is found in Colossians 2:18-19, and they are the Mystics. We have Mysticism around today. We have Mystic Christians. Their main emphasis is that they receive the truth from God through visions and revelation.



And then the fourth group (Asceticism) which has the answer to your question, these are the Ascetics. The ascetics believed that one can purify the spirit by punishing the body. Now stop and think about that, because this is where all the false teaching gets exposed. How is me punishing my body doing any good for my spirit? They are two different realms. If I punish my body, I'm hurting my body. That's it! I don't get more spiritual by punishing my physical body.

Colossians 2:20-23 deals with Asceticism. Verse 20 -21 says, "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not;"

So they said that you attain spirituality by self-neglect. "Don't touch that, or don't taste that! Paul in a couple of places said that the kingdom of God is not in meat and drink, but in spirit. The food comes in and the food goes out. That's it. It never touches your spirit. It has nothing to do with it! There isn't anything spiritual about it whatsoever!

I am running out of space, so I will send a Part 2

Hi Brian.

Here's a couple of verses to along with what has been already shared.

Romans 8:9. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, BUT THE SPIRIT WHICH IS OF GOD; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST.

God bless.

Amen.

That so sad I'm so very sorry for your heartbreak .

Yes, Dawn I will agree with you today. Amen.

Dear Alison Wunderland,

I agree with Genies response. Your question should be addressed to someone involved in Freemasonry.

Hi Jo Ann,

If and when we capture a Sasquatch or find an intact remains to identify it, we can then collect DNA and determine if it is a human or an animal (if it truly exists even). Until then we will not know how it fits into the phylums and classifications of species and how they are related to other organisms.

My view is that these giants were completely human, yet God allowed genes within their DNA makeup to be expressed and have them grow very large and have extra digits on their hands and feet, also extra rows of teeth.

Explain Colossians 2 21

Please Lord God open the doors of opportunities for Dawne's Husband to be blessed with more than one job offer and guide him Holy Spirit please to the job where he is blessed to be a blessing I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.

Please consider reflecting on 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.

Could these giants be the Sasquatch people that are often seen today?

Dear Alison why do you ask christians about these things? How could one know unless he had been a member before? You should address your questions to masons themselves. Many cults use God's name to just attract people and make them trust them. And under an innocent surface often there are some awful things hidden.

Praise the Lord! I am seeking agreement in prayer for my husband to get the job God has for him. Would you please touch and agree with us for the job God has for my husband? Blessings!

This book is great so far

At the end of Genesis chapter 33 is the word El-El-o-He-Israel interpreted as God-God-Of-All-Israel, as written in the King James Bible. It is interesting to note that there are 33 degrees of Freemasonry and that one of the sacred passwords in Freemasonry is El-El-O-Eh-Israel, so why are Freemasons so cagey about their god, even to the extent that Freemasonry has no god, while here is the proof that their god is one and the same, the god of Israel. The story continues in chapter 34 where Jacob's sons Simeon and Levi conspire to kill all the males in the town of Shechem while they are at a disadvantage being sore from circumcision. One has to wonder why this is considered to be an exemplar of "Right conduct" by the Masons?

Luke 11:10-13

"10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM?"

Jeju,

Genesis 5:4 tells us that Adam produced other sons and daughters. For a time, there had to have been marriage between siblings in order to populate further. There was no law against incest at that time because the law had not yet been given until later.

Hi GiGi,

Thank you for your concern and valued opinion.

Yes, there is only one true God. I've never considered there be more, although there appears to be a myriad of false gods. Correct me if I'm wrong; neither of us will ever believe otherwise.

To restate my question "what is?": What exists? What is real and what is not? Is everything we perceive with the body's senses God's Creation? Is there such a thing as the Vision of Christ that transcends what the body's eyes behold? Is there a sure-fire way of discerning reality? I accept it to be true that what God creates has no alternative; the truth arises only from what He knows. And what He did not create (which isn't real, but I may believe it is) can only be in my own mind apart from His. I propose God is everything. What is this Everything? Anything else is nothing, and nothing and everything cannot coexist; to believe in one is to deny the other. There is no compromise between the two (duality); if one is real the other must be false. To put faith in opposite directions (reality/unreal, everything/nothing, light/darkness, love/fear) is confusing, i.e. two opposing voices speaking to the same mind. Actually, it is impossible to place equal faith in opposite directions; what faith you give to one, you take away from the other, its opposite; and what you offer the other has been removed from its opposite, e.g. what faith (belief it is reality- from God) you offer darkness you take away from light, and what you offer light has been removed from darkness. It is impossible to place equal faith in opposite directions and think sanely. What IS?

God knows you only in peace, and this is your reality.

God IS

Brian,

Being baptized by the Holy Spirit is what Jesus does. It is His ministry to baptize all who receive Him with His Spirit. If you received Jesus into your life in 1997, as you mentioned, then He has already baptized you with His Spirit (Holy Spirit) at that time. A person cannot receive Jesus into their life and not have His Spirit. You can't have one without the other. If you have received Jesus, He has given you His Spirit!

In this testimony, I am shifting the focus off myself in order to fully appreciate the extent of God's forgiving nature. Through this testimony, I want the Holiness, love and faithfulness of God to shine brighter from what I am saying. I want to make it all about Him, His greatness, His integrity and all the goodness He is. So, these experiences happened within a space of two to three years after committing the sin of abortion, where my life had begun falling apart in every way you could think.

Through a series of visions and dreams, God gave me revelation about His love and restoration. In His restoration I found rest and completion, and realized that I did nothing to deserve His forgiveness and grace over my life.

As I can not write out the entire testimony here, I have links to my website and YouTube posts on it.

Thank you and God Bless

You very funny make me laugh .

Adam and Eve have 2 sons, but where is the other poeple coming from???

Mark,

I'm a less is more person and keep it simple --anything opposite of this evil world/satan. I would start with; truth, obedience, Jesus's first/second commandment, faith, prayers, your relationship with God, Christ, and Holy Spirit....humility and trust, our pure heart. This is where our treasures are. Plus, we don't need to brag about them or tell others --God knows.

God meant for us to keep it simple and follow. We all need encouragement, but if we ask all these things in here --the Holy Spirit will show us and reveal. Nothing will ever replace God's word; He wants that relationship with us and us to seek.

God is good

Thank you for the prayers . I thank the lord for people of God like you . I believe when the prayers go up . The blessings and answers come down 10 full . Thank you and amen !

Revelation: Final introduction thoughts

The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked; who can understand it? ( Jeremiah 17:9).

Whenever we attempt to make study of this book in particular; or any other scripture as a purely academic exercise; we are always deficient of understanding at best; and subject to deceiving ourselves. 2 Thessalonians 2:11 warns that they shall believe THE lie; and that not for want of truth; but because they did not LOVE the truth as stated in the previous verse. Isaiah 66:4 warns of God "choosing" their delusions with the horrifying spectacle of hell being seen by all men during the Millennium and perhaps eternity (verse 22-24 of same chapter). ALL will worship the beast; all whose names have not been written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world ( Rev. 13:8 loosely translated).

Given these sober admonitions; we need to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith ( 2 Cor. 13:5-6). This reminds us of Christ's excoriation of the Pharisees as to Satan being their father ( John 8:44 as one example of many). We need to have true repentance; not only for our outward manifestations of sin; but a change of heart. This means the world; flesh and the Devil are all factored in here. Christ needs not only to be the center of our lives; but indeed IS our life if we are truly "crucified with Christ" ( Galatians 2:20). A sign that we have spiritual life is when we are incredulous that we really have died to self; as sin becomes more and more evident during the sanctification process. This likely is part of the verse John 18:37 where He describes those who come to the light. This needs to be an ongoing process; just as is the meaning of John 3:16. We need; therefore to be possessors of He who is faithful; not just confessors of the faith. A lack of understanding this makes one believe the fallacy that "God helps those who help themselves" which was a Ben Franklin adage. We must die daily.

I never realized that Daniel was not thrown into the fiery furnace until I went to the quiz and found out the truth. Why was Daniel not thrown into the fiery furnace? Thank you for your answer and please give me the verse in the bible where it is told.

Book of Revelation: Supplement to introduction

We are promised to receive a blessing for reading this Book; but that is for hearing it; and heeding it ( Rev. 1:3). There are things specifically for the churches and calling out in some cases just a few individuals who are "worthy" ( Rev. 3:4). The same principle applies to the Laodicean church for anyone who hears Him knocking at the door ( Rev. 3:20).

This book goes to the fate of the whole world; beyond what could be called this current "dispensation". It seems apparent to most scholars that after Revelation 4; there isn't any more mention of the church on earth until Revelation 20 with those in glorified bodies. To me; since we ALL are saved by grace I wouldn't dogmatically state that the age of grace ( Matt. 16:18) will be totally ended; only the function of the Holy Spirit once the restrainer is removed (the believing remnant church) at the rapture ( 2 Thess. 2:6). What we see change is the preservation of the church as an institution ( Matt. 16:18) and the normal experience in the Tribulation of martyrdom ( Daniel 7:21). What remains as a common thread is being WORTHY and having garments of white as our spiritual clothing ( Ephesians 5:27; Rev. 19:18). In order to achieve this status now; we need to be living unspotted from the world and to a large extent patiently waiting until the coming of the Lord; after the Rapture martyrdom will be the norm. Instead of arguing whether those who are left behind are lukewarm believers or all new converts; it is better to understand the concept that all those He has chosen will eventually come to the faith. The main harvest of countless souls attests to the fact that SOME repent when judgments come; while others of course harden their hearts beyond hope. As Jesus stated it is blessed for those who have NOT seen the Son of Man ( John 20:29). It is clear by the sixth seal who God and Christ are; but by then there is only a clear choice to worship God or Satan.

Indeed it is Rich, when the very first verse of the book reads,THE REVELATION of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to point out to His servants (what things must needs) with speed come to pass; and He having sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John:

"it is inconceivable that some have actually suggested that Christ ISN'T the main theme of the whole book of Revelation."