King James Bible
King James Version (KJV)


Viewing page: 378 of 5385
< Previous Discussion Page Next Discussion Page >
368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Hello Jesse.
Well I would say that "if it is Gods will for me to do something, and He puts it in my heart, then in my free will, I either choose to do it or not to do it. If I choose not to do it God will not force me to do it. He will work it in my heart but will not force me. He will not "magically" make me do what He desires. We are not robots who are programmed to do specific things, we have to want to do something.
But let me explain myself. God can not violate people's free will, not because He can not do it but because He wants us to choose freely what we want to do. This is free will. It would be easy for God to appear to all mankind and everybody then would believe in Him and accept Him and Kneel in front of Him. But in such a case people would be compelled to do so. But God wants us to choose Him freely without being complelled to do so. So it will be obvious who loves the truth and who loves the darkness.
In the case of a believer God acts as an earthy father. When we want our Kids to do something i.e. clean their rooms then we talk to them, we explain to them why this is good, etc, etc, hoping that after sometime our Kids will change they way they behave and do the proper thing. Even sometimes we use punishments or rewards to achieve what we want. But that has not always the result we like, because some kids (like sometimes mine) do not obey even if I use the hard way. So I keep working the proper thing in his mind and hope a time will come that my efforts will finally have a result.
Similarly God works in our heart to make us follow His commandments using all sort of methods. And His commadments is the narrow road we have to follow to arrive to a victorious end, the salvation of our souls.
Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.
And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.
So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.
For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.
And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:
But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.
Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
Other than the use of pagan writings that Paul used; for instance to further expound on a concept (usally to reach those of a particular culture) such readings tend to lead us toward the slippery slope of poisonous leaven which seeks to diminish the Bible or make us somehow think it isn't adequate for use as 2 Timothy 3:16 states. When we start to find novel interpretations ultimately it is used to justify our sin; and unbelief of course is a very serious issue; and seems to be the worst sin as to it's destructive power. The other extreme is those who exaggerate the charismatic aspects to "spiritual gifts"; either at the expense of proper balance within the church in relation to ministry to others (order in worship for example). What often comes out of that if no discernment is used is a demonic spirit that mimics the Holy Spirit (such as Kundalini). Once false religions are allowed to come in then we have a "reimagined" Jesus; heaven and every other Biblical narrative is explained in such a way.
Eventually; of course the Bible is rejected outright if we continue to deny it's truth and exclusivity and we will become reprobate from the faith; if we are unregenerate. Thankfully His elect will return after being astray for a season; and such testimonies are commonplace today especially among young adults.
My third point on Scriptures and poison is something which involves turning literal scriptures into symbolic in order to "pidgeonhole" the particular doctrine espoused when it doesn't seem to fit in with particular sections of the Bible. This technique is commonplace with many Post-Millennials and A Millennials in particular; when they insist for instance that we are in the 1000 years in the church age rather than an event post Tribulation. There is often the concept that God must be done with Israel (despite certain eternal covenants promised to them that are unconditional).
In my post I only listed what I know, not what I believe. My belief is that that person who appears to John in Rev 1 was Jesus, but there are some things that make have some doubts.
1. It it true that in verse 1 Jesus says that He sent an angel to John to reveal him the future. So where do we get to see that angel in Rev?
2. The description of that person resembles very much to the appearance of an angel discribed by Daniel.
3. I know what that person among the 7 candlestichs says to John. He speaks as if though He is Jesus Himself. But this often occurs in OT when angels speak to people as if there were God themselves.
Examples: a. Who spoke to Moses on mount Horeb from within the flame in the bushes? Although it seems it is God in verse 5, it is actually the angel of the Lord (verse 2).
b. To whom Moses was talking to on mount Sinai when he got the 10 commandments and all the other instructions? From chapter 19 onwards it seems that it is God Himself but in Acts 7:38 Stephen says to Jews that it was an angel, "This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:"
c. In Judges 2:1-4, an angel appears to talk to Israeletes but he speaks as if he was God Himself. The same happens with Gideon (chapt. 6). So it seems in many cases in OT an angel sent by God talks as he is God Himself.
(Here I have to state that many believe that the angel of the Lord who often appears in OT is (a pre-incarnation) Jesus in the form of an angel)
So those things make me have some doubts about who is the person who speaks to John, Jesus or an angel?
GBU
In my last posting I discussed how Satan read verbatum scriptures but twisted their meaning to suit his purposes. It wasn't the text being violated but being violently hurled to attempt to appeal to lesser passions; i.e. hunger after a 40 day fast; and an attempt to alleviate suffering. This would be used later through Peter when Christ had to say "get behind me Satan" ( Matt. 16:23) when the "easy way out" was being offered. Jesus would; of course have no part of it.
The next level to "demoting" scripture is taking a promise and utilizing it for a superficial or surface level approach; ultimately to appeal to baser desires. This is; of course a well known technique of the "prosperity Gospel" crowd. The blessings are things extrapolated from scriptures such as Deuteronomy 28 which are; of course both conditional on obedience and related to certain promises specific to the territorial possessions of the nation of Israel. The list of curses following in the same chapter warn us of how God will judge those under His covenant for following false Gods in particular. The absurdity of ascribing such promises for this life and our own selfish ambition should be quelled easily enough when we study the "man of sorrows" verse in Isaiah 53:3 and the following verses in this prophetic chapter. It also robs those who are of a proper mindset from both petitioning God for the promises He has given to provide (in fear of being misunderstood or having a wrong motive). It also robs those who are of a shallow mind of being "chastised as sons" ( Heb. 12:6). That is clearly God's will; and it is not a "politically correct" prayer. Only those SERIOUS about their walk would ask such things and they obviously expect the Lord to refine them through sanctification into the finished; glorified product of His workmanship.
Further manipulation involves "hidden meanings" or other literature to add to scripture.
Case #2 Twisting scriptures
Ah; now we are getting into the enemy's camp. Most of us probably are familiar with Christ's dialogue with Satan when being tempted in the wilderness ( Matthew 4:1-11). Here there was no issue with the LITERAL interpretation of scripture but it's application. Satan wanted worship for Himself so he first used the temptation to satisfy hunger; then that of ending suffering through self destruction and finally worship for himself. In the first two cases he used scripture as his ammo. In the last case his true intentions came out; i.e. for him to be worshipped as God. Christ did the "knockout punch" there with the command to worship only God alone. Satan didn't have to use scripture to prove his point as later verses in the N.T. indicate that he has been given temporary power over the world system and Principalities in high places ( Eph. 6:12). He also knew that Jesus wouldn't be fooled by some other "religious" writings since He was the Son of God. ( James 2:19
Those who are justifying sin may or may not be believers (such as "hyper-grace" people who somehow deny that sin still is sin after they are "saved"; or those who choose to ignore certain passages or hope God will forgive them somehow for continuing in sin.
The third part is what I called "confessional regeneration"; I meant "decisional regeneration". Again as in the first two examples of the first error the Bible is used in proclaiming the truth in question (in this case the way to salvation) correctly although it is not APPLIED properly. Perhaps if it truly IS confessional which involves the "believing in your heart" part of Romans 10:9; then a verbal affirmation has more hope of being genuine.
Sadly enough; in my own experience I know of someone who hands out a rather large sum of money for those who can correctly pass a Bile trivia question. I suppose that would save "rain man" from having to have a career loading decks of cards to make money at the casino who is quite a savant person to make a living. There are articles describing some of the sickening methods used at "altar calls" such as money for those who can invite the most people so as to obtain the most "conversions".
Sounds like a great way to promote the "Judas's" in the midst waiting to take over as the new kid in town if you get my drift..
Ignoring those gross offenses; there are some as myself who didn't understand the doctrines of election; or how God has to grant repentance and change someone for genuine conversion. I'm sure there are others who made a confession as I did and are truly saved. But many aren't
1. False converts, Justifying sin; "confessional regeneration".
a. False converts: There are those who deliberately enter in whether Satan worshippers or those attempting to fleece people for money that know how to recite scriptures and use it to their advantage to reel unsuspecting people in and attempt to manipulate them. I have seen these things in a former church; I won't get into details here. Many who are "tares" aren't aware themselves that they are and therefore we must "know them by their fruits." ( Matt. 7:16).
b. Justifying sin: In order to get others to approve of wrong actions as well as justifying certain behaviors; we see error today ( Romans 1:32). This is again another thing I have seen from previous experience in church where those living in obvious sin (including shacking up as well as in same sex relations) thought that they could somehow become church members. In my opinion when there is sin within the camp and a lack of fear of the Lord such individuals are given latitude to "slip in unawares" and wreak havoc. There was enough scripture taught that eventually these people stopped attending or it became more infrequent. Thankfully; one couple decided to marry after being convicted of living that way; or at least upped the ante some.
Again; it is easy to look at sexual sins and obvious failings and not look at pride and jealousy and gossip as being dangerous elements threatening to tear apart the unity in a church. ALL of these things; of course are covered in scripture and in this case you can't make a "literal vs figurative" argument. To look at how one path has led to a domino effect we only need to examine increasing divorces post WW2; followed; of course by increasing numbers of remarriages. Then we see the next generation more likely to be single parents; then the 1970's free love; and now today's LGBQ etal trends.
Matthew 12:34 states that "out of the abundance of the heart; the mouth speaketh." Isaiah 8:20 speaking about those who are false Prophets says "to the word and the testimony". They are said if not to speak the truth to have "no light of the dawn". Contrast this with Revelation 12:11 where the word of their testimony of the Tribulation martyrs indicates that they "loved not their lives unto the death." With today's churches having doctrines as skewed as they are we aren't safe to assume that occultic demonic "doctrines of demons" haven't already infected many congregations as 1 Timothy 4:1 warns. But for the remainder of this discussion I will assume that at least a respectable version of the scriptures is being preached in the churches I am examining here.
The Lord stated how "a little leaven ruins the whole loaf". ( Galatians 5:9 and other verses). No one is going to offer arsenic with a little inert ingredient to temper the flavor as an appetizer; but if being devious will put a little poison in something that is tasty. Satan won't come along saying that he is a deceiver; liar and murdurer and by the way wouldn't you like to join my cause? Admittedly there are a few who are sadistic enough to play the fiddle with the Devil as it were with some fantasy that they are so vile that they can command the Devil what to do; and there are some who despite knowing his nature think that Satan won't grind them into powder as was requested by Satan to Christ in the case of Peter.
The greatest danger; therefore lies when sin enters within the tent; the congregation of meeting and scripture is mixed in to instill false confidence in one's spiritual standing; or twisted to justify what eventually becomes a festering cancer after initially being toyed with by a few in idle conversation. There is also the ever present danger of trying to justify a doctrine; either true or false by turning literal scriptures to figurative.
That is the gospel to be obeyed.
Matthew 28:19 & John 3:3-5 is fulfilled in Acts 2:38.
The epistles from Romans- Jude was not written to the world, not written to the sinner. It is written to the brethren.
To those that disagree, you need to ask the Lord for a revelation.
Believing in Christ is just the beginning. Amen
I mistakenly mentioned Donatists in my last post, but I meant Docetist, who emerged in the first century teaching that Jesus did not have a true human body. It was to these that the apostle John was speaking of in his epistles I cited.
I have been doing a Psalms project and am about half way through. David's Psalms in particular often talk about things that could either relate to Christ; and/or himself. Prophetically the amount these things intersect is quite interesting; and is not limited to Psalms; it is found in Isaiah and many other texts as well. This is another proof that no man could possibly invent the Bible; and the fact that much prophecy has multiple future applications is a further dimension bolstering that point.
You could go to Romans 1 of course where the Godhead and knowledge thereof is said to be clear to all. ( Romans 1:19).
That corresponds to the message in Psalm 19.
Interesting in my opinion there seems to be less conceptually today in the "church age" or at least in what I have read and talked about with others the understanding of God the Father in the Godhead. Maybe it is my issue; I can see how God so loved the world from John 3:16 but of course we go through Christ even though we see God in Him and by the Spirit living in us. I find it interesting that before coming to faith I saw God in nature but didn't understand what was wrong with the world (didn't see my own sin at the time very clearly or at least only in specific areas). Once I came to faith I realized that it was only evidence of God I understood previously and not Christ as He was at all. Only later did I realize that I didn't know God at all before then after I understood Christ was in reality God in the flesh. Hope that makes sense! Now I can only anticipate the day when I am released from this old sinful flesh into glory!
It would seem that those who are kings and priests in Rev. 5:9-10 are those of the church and also those who are rewarded and receive crowns and are raptured. This is not; in my opinion all those confessing Christ at this time as some aren't truly saved and others may be left behind. That is controversial but even if they are raptured or martyred; the Tribulation saints will be overcomers and saved but some according to 1 Cor. 3:15 get in by the "skin of their teeth" and suffer loss. There are also specific crowns for various rewards; such as for martyrs; those patiently waiting for His coming; pastor/elder; etc.
The exhortation of Revelation 3:11 is something I mention frequently. We can "lose a reward to another". The opposite may hold true as well; should we be teachable and desire to grow in the Lord discipled by more mature believers we may be able to gain heavenly rewards. We also gain treasures in heaven through investing our time; talents and monies to those truly serving the Lord.
Anyway; have a blessed Sunday of worship..
Agape. Rich P
I mistakenly mentioned Donatists in my last post, but I meant Docetist, who emerged in the first century teaching that Jesus did not have a true human body. It was to these that the apostle John was speaking of in his epistles I cited.
Are you sure you are not referring to Peter instead of Paul. This seems like the account given to us in Acts Chapter 12.
We learn a lot about the 24 elders Revelation 5:9-10.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED US TO GOD BY THY BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God KINGS AND PRIESTS: and we shall REIGN ON THE EARTH.
1) We know they were redeemed.
2) They were made Kings and priests.
3) They shall reign on earth.
I believe this represents the Church.
Here's why.
They were redeemed out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation. Ephesians 1:7.
They were made kings and Priests.
1st Peter 1:9.
These kings and Priests shall reign on earth.
Revelation 1:5-6.
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I hope this helps.
God bless.
You left the best part out. Where you having dinner at?
Perhaps also the concept of doing things as James states is a result of faith WITH works; without such it is not true faith at all.
All works of course originate from our heart; and it's condition of being either good or evil (good fruit vs bad) as the input result in the output and the "reward" in it. So for the unregenerate the law may constrain sin; for instance; but as Psalm 119 illustrates we learn to LOVE the law even though it is something without His strength that we cannot obey. So it is the same God who is present and seen in some form who we all interact with. Hebrews 6:4 makes it evident that there is some experiential commonality as it were with all men; but the difference is having the Lord make residence in our hearts vs. being on the outside looking in as it were. Admittedly these are tough concepts and no matter how much intellectual understanding there is we have certain things hidden to us as to the full meaning ( Deut. 29:29). Our own worst enemy is; of course our own self and sin within. Saints of God understand this and therefore He "chastises all He loves" ( Hebrews 12:6). This differentiates Judas Iscariot from Peter in regard to the betrayal and the end result; for example. In the short term; it may be hard to discern the wheat from the tares but for many time will prove what fruit is present in their lives although sadly it takes until the end of someone's life for it to be clear (and that is almost always bad news). In the end we can only exhort; and rebuke and hopefully some will be retrieved from "out of the fire" as it were. Those who are His own learn to listen to the HARD verses in scripture and are offended when a lukewarm message is being offered or it is compromised in any way.
Hope some of this helps. Agape. Rich P
Heavenly Father, Marc and his Mom are in dire need of help with finding a place to live that they can afford on the limited income they receive. So, we ask You in the name of Jesus, to provide a new living space for them that will accommodate all of their needs and be affordable for them. We ask that You bless Marc as he cares for his mom and bless her as she lives out the last years of her life here. Your abundant provision is what they need today, Lord, so we trust that You will provide over and above what they can ask of think because of Your love and mercy towards them. Amen.
Hopefully this is helpful
I believe Alsie is asking about "the image given" in Revelation 1:13-16. Is the description literally as what Christ really looks like.
Are you saying the vision John is seeing is the angel in verse 1?
If so, I believe the person "who I believe is Christ answers this in the text especially in verses 17 and 18.
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
17) And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
God bless.
I am a little confused on what you are saying here. It seems as though you are implying that man's free-will overrides God's will and that God will not interfere with our free will.
Am I missing something here? This doesn't seem like something you would say, and I could be just misunderstanding you. Hopefully that's the case.
Can you please explain what you mean by saying "God will do anything from His side but man has to respond, if not God can do nothing."
Are you saying that if it is Gods will for me to do something, and He puts it on my heart, but in my free will, I choose to do my own thing, God cannot do anything?
I'm not trying to create problems here, but just trying to understand what you are saying.
Thank you for your time and for the things you share!
The Bible says that nobody has ever seen God neither they can because they will die. And with the word "God" all three persons are implied. So nobody has ever seen the Father, the Son(His divine appearance), and the Holly Spirit. The Son was born as a man and lived among people. So people have seen the fleshy(human) part of Son, man Jesus Christ. After Jesus was resurrected His fleshy body was transformed, it became immortal (His disciples saw that body but it can take any form since sometimes His disciples didn't recognise Him) and glorified. Now there are two interpretations (that I know) about the person that appears to John in Rev.
1. That person was Jesus in His glorified body.
2. That person is an angel who speaks in Jesus' sake. People who believe it this way use verse Rev 1:1, "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; AND HE SENT AND SIGNIFIED IT BY HIS ANGEL unto his servant John:" So according to that theory that person was an angel. This seems logical because that person's appearance resembles much to the appearance of an angel described in Daniel 10:1-6.
GBU