Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 412

Adam

We are really talking here about the Nature of Salvation.

Eph 2:8-10

For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

So what is a "work" or a "good work"? A "good work" is obedience to any commandment of God that applies to us.

During the Church Age (which I believe has now ended and we are livling in the period that God calls The Great Tribulation, Matt 24 & 1 Peter 4:17) we were commanded to be baptzed in water if we identified with a local church. But water baptism was a cermonial sign, like the Lords Supper (Communion), and we no longer are to observe these ceremonial signs and that believers actually have been commanded to get out of the local churches. Just like when Jesus came physically the first time, God was finished with National Isreal as His corporate representation and we no longer observe the cermonial laws of the old testiment.

But even during the Church Age, water baptism was still a WORK which we were commanded to observe and did not contiribute to our salvation in any way. Just as the observance of the Old Testement ceremonial laws did not contirbute to the salvation of any Old Testement believer.

Mark 16:16 is talking about the baptism that SAVES, it is the baptism that God performs in washing away our sins. Not water baptism.

And if we are TRUSTING in any WORK that we do, including the WORK of water baptism as initiating, maintaining, assisting, supporting, etc. our salvation in any way, we are walikng on very dangereous ground (Read Galations, in particular Gal 2:16) and falling into the same snare as some of the early New Testement Jews. Note also in Gal 2:16 that the faith by which we are saved is Christ's faith, not our faith.

Just do it ! It really is that simple .

Thanks Gerald, but God did not reveal the underlying reason that what made some animals clean and others unclean.

Hello Giannis, good post.

From what I know, one can marry a Catholic and not be required to become a Catholic. This happens all of the time. The matter is that of whether the marriage is considered am approved "Catholic" marriage or not, and this varies from priest to priest, or from bishop to bishop in this denomination.

Also on what you said concerning the commitment of Catholics to true faith, while this is often the case, this is also true of people in other denominations. There are devote and sincere believers in all denominations. And there are those in every denomination who are what is often termed "nominal" or in name only.

A person who is sincerely committed to Jesus should seek to marry someone who is also so. But thinking of the age at which most people marry, both people usually are somewhat immature in life and in faith. So, we marry whom we have chosen and mature in Christ and life together.

Hello Young md,

I just looked this word up and it seems that the meaning is somewhat obscure and is interpreted in different ways depending on what one thinks the base word it is derived from. Some of these bases words have meaning such as:

to praise

to lift up praise

to stop and listen

the Lord has spoken

to rest and consider

a musical instruction

So, from these we may think of Selah as to pause, either music or singing to left up praise to God or to stop and listen prayerfully, or to pause and reflect or think upon what is said int he music/song, or to take time momentarily to meditate or contemplate.

Thanks Cindy, I am working on the stretches given to me by the orthopedist. These include this stretch you mentioned. I have a boot splint that can be adjusted to create an angle of the flexation of the ankle to stretch both my plantar fascia and the achillies tendon. They do help, and was having good improvement, but for some reason, this week both of my feet are painful.AS they say a few steps forward, one step backwards is often the route of progress. I appreciate the prayers of others. I know that God will bring healing to both feet.

Thank you Donna, for your prayers. I am thrilled to hear of Daniel's progress! I will continue to pry for him.

So happy to hear of your good health and that your sister is being healed from cancer. All praise to our Lord and God!

Hi Lollyman.

I concur with Brother Chris.

The disciples were looking for the Messiah to set up the kingdom hereonearth. ( which is yet future)

As mentioned Isaiah 40:1-5 is one of the scriptures is why they expected this order of events.

"Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

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 hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

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 SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

( This haven't happened yet. )

This concerns the restoration of Israel when Christ sits on David's Throne.

Matthew 17:11-12 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. ( Still future. )

But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. ( John the baptist was the forerunner. He was to announce the King.) They rejected John and they rejected their King. ( John 19:15.)

During the tribulation they will be driven to seek their Messiah and he shall come. ( Matthew 23:37-39.)

God bless.

Amen Brother Chris.

In Matthew 17:11-12 Jesus pretty much says it all.

Vs 11. "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

( Meaning yet future)

Vs 12. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. ( Speaks of John the Baptist Earlier ministry)

God bless.

The apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. Hopefully this helps Tessie! God bless!

Selah can mean rests or silence between the end of songs or poems as is in Psalms, hopefully this helps Youngmd. God bless!

alex1939...Hi Lollyman 7...Good question But i don't think that Jesus was refering to any man being a 2 nd Elijah...Or another John the baptist...God cannot put any trust in man...John the baptist doubted in the end sending 2 of his disciples to ask Jesus if he were the Christ or look for we for another...John doubted...And i dont judge that great man of God...But this last Elijah has to be the H.G. As Jesus said in John 16:13 When he the spirit of truth is come ( the H.G. ) he will guide you into all truth...He cannot speak of himself simply b/c he has to be born in us...He is just a spritual infant and infants cannot speak for a while...Only God the HG. can lead us into all truth Thus this 2 nd Elijah has to be the Spirit of truth...As Jesus is saying in John 16:13 that is gona lead the whole world....Reprove the whole world of sin and Righteousness and judgement...No man cd fulfill that task it wd have to be God himself...Isaiah said he looked this way and that way but he found no man thus his own arm brought him salvation etc

.....Thats all i had to say thank you lollyman 7

Psalm 59.

Fierce opposition may be something in this country that we are not normally accustomed to but one has to ask why in light of 2 Timothy 3:12-17; John 15:18-21; 2 Corinthians 11:26 etc.

Perhaps I made this statement earlier in the Psalms discussion; but we need to distinguish between unconditional love and the fact that "enemies" still exist. Romans 5:10 and apparently 29 other verses show that indeed we all are enemies of God prior to our conversion; hence all unregenerate remain in that state.

There is something to be said for the O.T. times when the mindset was more "an eye for an eye"( Exodus 21:24). In terms of today; Christ demonstrated no personal condemnation for a particular individual; but He certainly spent chapters excoriating the Pharisees and others which caused multiple attempts at His life along the constant persecution.

Again as I stated in other Psalms regarding David's multiple hiding periods from Saul he showed respect for him by preserving his life multiple times when he could have ended it; and also he mourned over his death when the Lord finally made Saul reap what he sowed. When someone tries to kill you 21 times as Saul was said to do (not to mention other enemies of his); then we can understand a desire to see justice. Christ alluded to judgment with unbelief among the places that had seen mighty works such as Matthew 11:21 (the "woe to you" term was also used with the Pharisees).

Individual judgment to come or the fate of nations is not something we should gloss over. We as watchmen are responsible to sound the alarm ( Isaiah 52:8 and other verses in Jeremiah; etc). In evangelism warning of a national fate seems to be generally disregarded as opposed to warning individuals as to the wrath to come. I can't see studying how Christ preached that it can be ignored. We can study scripture and history to see how Isaiah and Jeremiah for instance were martyred for such messages.

Let us preach truth in love.

alex1939..Hi Lollyman 7..Good Question..But i think they are both right...Jesus was speaking in the Spiritual realm of a heavenly Elijah which is the H.G. that is gonna turn folks hearts to the Children which are spirits...Jesus said that the good seed are the Children of the Kingdom...And that which is born of the spirit is spirit which are the Children of Promise which are born in us via his good seeds...Thats y he has to know us...Our hearts need to be turned to the H.G. the Child of Promise...Jesus was still on the cross when he was calling for Elijah... Matthew 27:46...But some said he was calling for God...Which is the H.G. that heavenly Elijah that will lead us into all truth...When he that spirit of truth is come ( the H.G. ) He will lead you into all truth...

..... Zechariah 13:7...Smite the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered...The Cross ...His death..Then i will turn my hand to the little ones his Children...When a seed dies it multiplies thus his Children of Promise...Behold me and the Children the Lord has given me...Are they not for signs and wonders Which are spirits as he said that that which is born of the spirit is spirit which are his Children...Our New Heart and New spirit...Its God himself that wants to turn our hearts to the Children which is the H.G...God swore by his very self when he made that promise of multiplication...Thus the Children the H.G. that is gona be born in our hearts and minds...But all this was hid from the wise and prudent but is gona be revealed unto babes...the H.G...When that BOOK is opened that has the words of life...That he wrote with his own blood...Plz note the Kingdom does not come till the Woman is in Child birth ( the Children that are gona be born in our hearts)...Unless you receive the KINGDOM as a lil Child you will in no wise enter there in...And whosoever receiveth one such child in MY NAME receiveth me...There is a CHILD in your future which is the H.G. That Child of Promise...An Israel of God The H.G..

Human wisdom vs Divine

One of the interesting facets of the ways that God works is that He tends to buck tradition in order to work out His plans. This could be perhaps a message to the enemy (Satan) that no matter how clever his schemes the Lord has the upper hand. It also shows the folly and vanity of man about his own plans to accomplish a set goal (such as choosing the king of Israel with the story of David).

There are certain things that seem to parallel or intersect among what we may call prudent planning in a "worldly" sense and applying scripture with the same admonitions in our everyday lives and decisions and plans that we make. This is something which seems to be ignored; for instance the blessing of a marriage ( Prov. 18:22) being a cross cultural thing it applies to everyone; the same could be said for long term planning of finances. The flipside is that those who disobey such things are basically under a curse. Children are said to be a blessing from God ( Psalm 127:3-4); and those who would attempt to terminate a pregnancy (leaving aside what some would call extreme circumstances for now) would be under wrath. Thankfully any and all sins once confessed and repented of can be forgiven.

One thing our "politically correct" mindset has done is negate the importance of a work ethic. Hence; the poor and disadvantaged are generally not looked at as those who can tenaciously survive with whatever skills God has given them.

This attitude of course also affects immigrants; and in fact is clearly insulting those who have taken the time to use the proper legal means toward citizenship. The whole situation now also makes it convenient to never come to agreement to allow any increase or specific number of legal immigrants to be stipulated. Passing off money and making people dependent is at best a short time solution; and with the level of graft and waste basically is a band aid on the conscience of those giving.

Let us not be double minded.

Where in the bible does itsay it is a sin to tell someone to be happy when they are not smiling?

Psalm 58.

I had done a commentary on this 7 months ago. In systematically studying the Psalms I am reflecting today on my own life. In assessing old habits; old hobbies and other things I realize that all things that I do now if they aren't motivated by Christ and the new life in me then they are still being desired by the old sin nature. As part of the "congregation" in verse 1 (the confessing church) I need to make sure that indeed I am working out of the possession of the Holy Spirit; as nothing can ever be improved in the old nature. Thus comes the warning about the demon leaving someone and coming back with 7 worse after there is a veneer of "cleaning house" as it were. ( Matthew 12:43-45).

Nothing is done well in isolation in our Christian walk. We need the balance of others in order to hold us accountable; exhort and encourage. Nonetheless; it is up to us to take time for personal devotionals and to heed to the voice of the Lord in regard to instruction. If we aren't listening to Him when alone then we are not likely to heed to the instruction and wisdom from above that He ministers to us through others.

There are references here to the wicked in regard to physical and spiritual (eternal) judgments (v. 6-9). Verses 10-11 show how the righteous will rejoice and "wash their feet in the blood" of the wicked (v. 10). (see also Malachi 4:3). This demonstrates that even now we should desire our own death; while still hoping for the soon Rapture/Resurrection of the saints. We need to heed the message in regard to Lot's wife and not have our hearts till turned to the world and away from the Lord. This takes daily discipline and is a struggle as long as we remain in this fleshly existence. This also demonstrates who is truly saved and who is not as there is no real love for Christ for those pretenders. May we examine our hearts today and daily. ( 2 Cor. 13:5).

I have enjoyed your posts on this subject very much thank you for them . It's an interesting subject . For me the two greatest examples of humbling in the Bible are Job and of course , our Saviour , Jesus Christ . Something not mentioned , the Romans were excellent torturers and enjoyed finding people's weaknesses and using them against their victims . They would know that nakedness was a big no no in Jewish culture and so I think that they would have made sure that all Jews were crucified naked . This might explain why many people at first stood afar away from Jesus , including his mom . Jesus is an example of both being humbled and submitting to God's humbling process . As Christians we may not always realise this but maybe , just maybe , God might use the things and people of this world to humble us . I am a person who is very very ordinary . I don't have a great job , I'm not handsome or rich or clever or creative . I don't have many of the things that people , Christians and non Christians have and maybe take for granted every day . As a child I was humbled from a young age by my parents . Non of this bothers me one bit . I take it all as God moulding me into who He wants me to be . He is righteous , He knows what kind of chastening I need and I glory in it . It is an expression of His love and care for me .He will make me His forever . I can do nothing to save myself or make myself acceptable to Him . Submission . It's the key , for me at least .

how can I learn to read the bible daily

What does Selah mean?

Who wrote Hebrew

Hi Lollyman7. There are several Scriptures that speak of this 'coming of Elijah'. Those which you quoted: John 1:19-28 and Matthew 11:14. You can also see this in the earlier prophecy of Elijah, found in Malachi 4:5,6, & then we see Elijah with the Lord & Moses in Matthew 17:1-8, with the answer to this dilemma found in Luke 1:13-17. And to quote this in part: "And he (John) shall go before him (Jesus) in the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah), 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."

So, as we consider these Scriptures in entirety, we should conclude that John the Baptist wasn't the physical Elijah who was earlier translated instead of dying & then in those days appeared with the Lord Jesus. But John was the one selected & prepared of God to receive the same spirit that was found in Elijah to speak to the people with prophetical authority & drive & to be the "voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (Isaiah)." ( Isaiah 40:3). So, John the Baptist could never say that he was a resurrected Elijah, whom the leaders were expecting, but his message & authority came with the same strength & prophetical voice as that of Elijah.

My favorite part of mark is the chapter number 16:16-17

This verse encourages me to seek and save lost by working miracles.

Amen

Hello Dorothy. From what you've written, I would say, No. Demon possession will always show clear manifestations & would generally happen if one relinquinshes one's mind & body to such evil powers. I don't have much knowledge or experience with this, apart from a couple of instances of what seemed to be a demonic possession, and in both cases, there were outward manifestations.

Observances of a type of schizophrenia behavior, mutterings, body-shaking, violent actions, vile or blasphemous language, would be indications of such possession. And those who do not belong to Christ, or allow themselves to drift away from Him (backslide), & turn to activities that are clearly demonic, open themselves up to this evil & its oppressions.

But if one has grown lukewarm in their faith & not given priority to matters of Bible reading, prayer, & Christian fellowship, he/she will need to take stock of their present condition. If they realize that this is the case, I would see here the first steps to sorrow & repentance for their departure & maybe denial of Christ. 2 Corinthians 7:10 reads, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." When there is a true (godly) sorrow in the heart for the life lived apart from Jesus, that leads to true repentance leading to salvation. But the 'remorse' that the ungodly world might feel yet without repentance, will never give them forgiveness & eternal life. Judas Iscariot was one such when he betrayed his Lord, when Satan filled his heart to do what he did. But if one has back-slid & there being no evidence of evil manifestations, except for a life unworthy of the Lord's Love, I don't believe that demon possession would be evident. By turning heart, mind & body over to the Lord, all evil forces will scatter - this soul has been redeemed, saved & secured by the all-powerful Blood of the Lamb of God. Nothing nor anyone can withstand that.

Hello Giannis,

Thank you for your reply. To answer your question, I will just say that if you see no difference in who's doing the humbling, whether it be yourself, or God, it's not my intent to convince you otherwise.

I do believe there is a difference. I think we would both agree that humbleness is a good quality? We both agree that we can humble ourselves, meaning our flesh is humbling itself, and that God can also humble us.

The only place I think we differ on is there being a difference between who's doing the humbling.

Here's why I see a difference, and please know that I am not trying to change your mind if you see no difference. I am just going to apply this to myself.

If I'm humbling myself, that means my flesh is doing the humbling. God will not reward me for anything I do in the flesh. Now, if I submit myself to His humbling process, I believe He will recognize that and reward that. Besides, My flesh will never humble itself before the Lord. I can humanly in the flesh humble myself towards other people but not towards God.

If I'm humble towards God, it is only because He has humbled me, and in my spirit, I submitted to His humbling.

In my original post, I mentioned 1 Peter 5:6 and gave the literal translation. Our English Bible says humble yourself, but it is literally "be humbled."

I mentioned it was in the passive, and I believe you responded and said it was not passive. We'll, I took another look at the Greek Text (Textus Receptus), and the word used is Tapeinothete, and it is aorist tense, passive voice, imperative mood, second person, plural, meaning it is God doing the humbling, with us being the recipient.

It's not telling us to humble ourselves, but to be humble (God doing the humbling).

In your example of the prodigal son, if we choose to go our own way and come back to the Lord humbled, we come back because of the conviction that God puts on our heart, and it's that conviction which causes us to be humbled by God.

Lev. 16 cont. ...

and the ones who removed the carcasses are to wash themselves and his clothes and put on clean clothes before returning to the tabernacle that evening.

This ceremony was done on the 10th day of Tishri every year in perpetuity in order to atone for the sins of the people for the preceding year.

Yom Kippur is the Holy Day that typifies Christ so vividly. Not only is Jesus the High Priest that entered the Holy Place to make atonement upon the mercy seat of heaven, but it was His blood that was sprinkled on the heavenly mercy seat, and this was done once and for all, doing away with the rites mentioned in this chapter. And also, Jesus remains in the Holy of Holies in heaven to every intercede for us.

On the cross, Jesus was the bull offered for Himself, who became sin for us, and the goat who was offered for the sins of the whole world, and the scapegoat, who took our sins from us and put them away in a far place never to return to us. In Jesus all that was required of God to expiate, propitiate, atone, forgive, remove, and cleanse us from our sins, sinfulness, transgressions and impureness before God. He took the wrath of God for us. He died for us, In the tomb He the sins of the world were released from Him and left in the grave. In the resurrection He justified us making us alive to God and presenting us to God in His righteousness. In all of this, along with His sinless perfect human life and perfect eternal all sufficient divine life He broke the curse of sin on all of mankind and opened the way to paradise and eternal life eternally.

Those who believe this is true indeed receive all of the merits, promises, and treasures of the work of Christ in His incarnation. Those who refuse to believe this is all true cannot have these things appropriated to themselves and will die in their sins and spend eternity in hell. So sad for them. Yet so overjoyed for the elect of God in Christ! The salvation of God is immeasurable and completely sufficient!

Leviticus 16 continued.

Considering that the deaths of his sons Nadab and Abihu are mentioned in verse 1, drives home this point of not adding to or substituting anything not proscribed by YHWH in this service. Nothing was mentioned about tying a rope to the ankle of the priest and Him having bells on the bottom hem of his garment for the purpose of determining if he survived this rite in the Holy of Holies. So, I do not know when this was included nor if it was taught by YHWH or not.

After performing the atoning rites for himself, the High Priest then exits the Holy of Holies and 2 goats are brought to him. having previously cast lots as to which one would be killed for an offering for sin and which one would be the scapegoat to run off into the wilderness with the sins of the people imputed on it. The High Priest will be present the two goats before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle, not inside it, first the one to be sacrificed. He will slay it and place it on the altar on top of the bull. He will then take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat anoint the horns on the altar of sacrifice and, thus cleansing it from the impureness and sin of the people who brought their sinfulness to be atoned for. Next, Aaron took the live goat and placed both hands upon its head and recited all of the sins of all the people over it. That must have been a lengthy list and most likely took a long time. Then the designated person would carry the goat out into the wilderness and released to run away with the sins of the whole nation upon it.

Next, Aaron will return the tabernacle of meeting, remove the linen clothing, bathe, and put back on the High Priestly garments, and come out to the tabernacle and offer the burnt offering for himself and another for the people. The carcasses of the bull and the goat shall be taken outside the camp, not burned on the altar, but burned outside the camp. Both the one who released the scapegoat ....cont.

Leviticus Chapter 16

This chapter returns to the topic of the duties of the High Priest. In this chapter, YHWH gives instructions that institute the holy day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement that is but once a year on the 10th day of Tishri, (Sept-Oct.) the 7th month from the beginning of the religious year (Nissan).

This is a Most Holy Day, indicating it to be day that God determines is of most importance for the Israelites. This day is for the covering of the sins of the people. It is preceded by 10 days of repentant pray a and fasting. On this day the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies Pries bring the blood of the sin sacrifices, a bowl of coals from the altar of sacrifice, and a handful of incense finely ground for use in approaching YHWH there on behalf of the whole nation of Israel. Only the High Priest can do this rite. It is done only once a year and all the other days of the year, no one can enter the Holy of Holies.

The offerings are a bull offered for the sins of the high priest. This is done first, for he is the one who presents Himself before God and needs to have his sins atoned for before the sins of the people can be atoned for. The High Priest must fully wash himself before entering the Holy of Holies. He is not to wear his entire priestly attire when bringing the blood of the bull for himself of the LORD, coming not as the High Priest, but as a penitent needing and seeking mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, he dresses in a simple linen robe. His sins must be atoned for first sin no sin can be brought into the presence of YHWH. After slaying the bull, he is to take a bowl of live coals from the brazen altar along with blood from the bull. the coals would be smoldering and giving off smoke. He also brought a handful of incense. He enters the Holy of Holies and sprinkles the blood upon the altar 7 times. It does not say that he is to say anything. This is a very solemn rite of service ordained by God. So, he would not dare add anything else

...All the time..and all the time God is good.!

Was John the Baptist Elijah? In John 1:19-28, John the Baptist is asked if he is Elijah, and he denies that he

is Elijah (or the Prophet or the Christ). Yet in Matthew 11:14, Jesus says that John the Baptist

is the "Elijah who is to come," Who was right?