Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 52

How therefore is it heretical? Unless you are calling Paul heretical too?

For it is clear that God gave Adam first the commandment of what was in effect goid to eat and evil to eat .

I don't hold to the prevailing opinion that it gave man ' freedom of choice' .

For where in the words " thou shalt not eat of that tree" is God giving Adam a choice? In truth God did give Adam the liberty to eat if any tree in the garden that was good to eat . Which included the tree of life.

For is it not written ( paraphrased) Man shall not live by every tree that was goid to eat but by that word that came out of His mouth as to what was good and what was evil ' and by Gods knowledge of good and evil they lived . It was only when they rejected the Word of life did they die .

It was Eve who first let by the character assignation of God that led to the rejection of Gods Word and believing the serpents words . Did not Paul warn the church not to be as deceived as Eve was?

She then " SAW that the tree was good to eat " and she reasoned thus " it wouid make her wise "

The sin was disobedience "for by one man's disobedience all die "

Adam obeyed his wife not God . It was a good thing Job did not obey his wife .

A husband shouid always listen to his wife but must always obey God .if push comes to shove .

The Lord did not obey His mother ( of his flesh) indeed at one point He denied his flesh and said " who is my mother "?

And said they who do the will of God are Hus true mother and brethren."

Hello thanks for your reply .

I cannot think that Paul did not know the scraptures far better than I do and was unaware that God gave the responsibility of all of the earth into his hands . That is beyond all dispute and aI thought I had addressed that ?

But as I pointed out Eve was not born but created from the body of Adam .

Thus Gods commands were first given to Adam who then passed them on to Eve .

Wether he added to that commandment of "not to eat of that tree " for in the day you eat ye shall surely die " the words nor " touch it" is a moot point but not beyond the bounds of possibility . God did not say do not 'touch it ' and it's never wise to add to what God said in such a specific command .

But Paul foundation for his teaching about women was not cultural ( how do you prove that?) but on the foundation which he states very clearly but which everyone ignores for it demands then a lot more thought than we wish to give the matter .Having been misused over the centuries as an excuse for putting women in a position even the Lord never did nor all of scrioture. Though it does record mans wrong attitude to women .

Eve was created from his rib or side not his feet to use her as a door mat ,not his head for her to Lord it over the man . Not his back so she must walk behind him 6' or more . But from his side to walk with him a " help meet for him" .

So I stand by what I said as to the foundation of Paul's thinking on the matter for that is beyond all doubt what it was . Understanding the issue as it is in Christ is another matter .

I used the marriage of Canaan as food for thought on the matter because of the Lords word " Woman" which it wouid be impossible to think He used it in a derogatory way as some do .

But as in 'respected' woman . But given what Rome has made of her the scriptures deny them all that that 'church ' has made if her . We see that the Lord never gave ground to her as having any authority over Him . Nor she in the church .

S. Spencer,

I am aware of Luther's harsh remarks towards the Jews. The reformers were called to a purpose, even though, like us they sinned.

Mr. Scofield was one who swindled people, even family out of money with fake schemes, abandoned his wife and daughters and never supported them monetarily. In fact, he swindled his own family and his wife's family out of money they had inherited or earned.

Mr. Darby adhered to the doctrine that the Plymouth Brethren group he belonged to was the only true church and all others were apostate. He taught that there was one way of salvation for Christians and a different way for Jews.

John Calvin advocated putting heretics to death.

I am sure that most every famous Christian leader have tales to tell of their sinful acts.

I think this is just how it is, whether Abraham lying about Sarah, Joseph pridefully parading before his brothers in his coat making sure they knew how favored he was to their father, Peter denying the Lord, all fail and fall into sin.

So, for me, I look at how their doctrines align with Scripture, because that is what is most important, especially in our conversations here.

Hi Gigi.

Thanks for responding.

I haven't been able to read through your and Lbooth1955 postings thoroughly, maybe I will this weekend.

I'm not sure I have the context!

I believe you, myself, and Lbooth1955 agree that salvation is by Christ alone throughout all ages! That should have been clear.

As for Galatians 6:15-16 I'm pretty sure you have that wrong!

The context to the Galatians is Paul's defense against the Judaizers

Galatians 6:12-13.

It is not about Jesus being the promised Seed that we find in other passages of scripture.

He's following up on what he told them in the previous chapter.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing..ect ect..

Galatians 5:1-7

Then he continues on in chapter 6:15-16.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a NEW CREATURE.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy,

These are those IN CHRIST!

And then he says

and upon the Israel of God.

"AND UPON" the Israel of God.

This is a separate group.

Israel is never called a new creature!

Gigi even if this did refer to the Church it still doesn't annul the future Abrahamic/Davidic Kingdom promises given which is the context of this topic.

Christ being the promised Seed benefits all ages but it's not the context or topic at hand.

Also, Christ being the promised Seed is not the same thing in meaning as the covenant promises given to Abraham and David and later confirmed to Mary by Gabriel.

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Luke 1:32-33"

More perhaps later after I read through the thread.

Blessings.

Lbooth1955,

You got it.

God bless,

RLW

Good luck and I will remember you in my prayers. John 4. love you

Hi "Gerald" It is a shame that you have not seen it and neither has Paul whom you refer to. But it was Adam who was commissioned to look after the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:16-18 Try and see that Eve was born under this command is highly heretical!

I will say no more, you can judge for yourself. love u. Joh 4

Why do the Church of Christ believe they will be the only saved people?

Gerald

Pt. 2

AS you read the remainder of Rom. 11, you will find that Paul attests to who the true Israel is, that is the one people of God. It is the olive tree (the elect people of God-true Israel) in who are branches both natural (the remnant of ethnic Israel who were of faith), ingrafted Gentiles, and also re-grafted ethnic Israelites who turn from their unbelief to Jesus for salvation) vs. 11-23.

When Paul speaks of all Israel being saved in vs.26-27 he is summing up what he had taught in the previous section, that those who believe the gospel and come to faith in Jesus are members of the olive tree (elect people of God) and Paul states that the covenant God makes with His people is one of salvation from sin, quoting is. 27:9; 59:21.

The promise given to Adam and Eve in the garden of the promised seed and His work has always been about salvation from sin. Noah knew that, Abraham knew that, David knew that, John the Baptist knew that, the apostles knew that including Paul.

Vs. 31-32 speaks of God concluding them all (all of the elect of God's people-Israelite or Gentile) unto unbelief (as the default state of all mankind) so that He might have mercy of all who comprise the Israel of God.

Gerald, I do not know really why you addressed your post to me or really what you were trying to tell me in it. All I could get from it is to beware of using one doctrine to interpret all of Scripture. Please know that I do not do this.

I agree Gerald,

The Scriptures teach many doctrines and we should learn these and consider them when interpreting any portion of Scripture.

Also, the Scriptures do not teach contrary truths. So we should search Scriptures even more if it seems that Scriptural teachings contradict one another.

As to what I posted on Galatians, I also would like to refer to Paul speaking in Romans.

In Rom. 4:11-25 speaks again of Abraham and his fatherhood. Paul clearly says that he is the father of all who have faith as he has whether circumcised or uncircumcised. His faith was in God who would raise the Son from the dead, that is Jesus, (vs. 23) as Abraham was given the gospel during his lifetime and this is why he believed that Isaac could be resurrected after he sacrificed him in obedience to God. He had been shown Jesus and His life, death, and resurrection. ( Jn. 8:56-59).

in Rom. 9 Paul states that not all who are of Israel are truly Israel. Paul sees Israel as a chosen people of God apart from ethnic Israel. (see vs. 8) and He again speaks of those which are of the flesh and those which are of the promise (Isaac) as he did in Galatians. In vs. 23-26, Paul identifies both Jews and gentiles as God chosen children. And in vs. 27, Paul speaks of ethnic Israel that only a remnant will be saved, quoting both Hosea 2::23, 1:10 and Is.10:20-23.

In Romans 10:12 Paul again says that there is no difference between the Jew or Greeks (Gentiles), for Jesus is the same Lord who is rich towards (gives salvation) to all that call upon Him. The promise and blessing of Abraham is a spiritual blessing, being counted as righteous before God, and so it is with all Israel, the promise and covenant is one of salvation and a spiritual dwelling with God.

Rom. 11 speaks about God keeping a remnant from ethnic Israel, all whom He foreknew, having been chosen before creation, according to the election of grace (vs.2-5) See pt. 2

The Reformers did great work in correcting Soteriology.

However they go far enough.

They come up short on the Eschatology of those days. They continued in the views of Augustine.

Here's an article on Martin Luther representing a well known fact!

Martin Luther developed a deep and virulent hatred toward Jews, particularly later in his life, and expressed his antisemitic views in writing.

Though his earlier work was more sympathetic, he became enraged by Jews' continued refusal to convert to Christianity and his later publications demanded harsh persecution.

Luther's shift in attitude toward Jews

Early life (pre-1540s): In his 1523 work That Jesus Christ was Born a Jew,

Luther argued that Jews were treated poorly by Christians, which was why they had not converted. He believed that if he treated them gently, they would see the light of his reformed Christianity.

Later life (post-1540): After his efforts to convert Jews largely failed,

Luther's attitude shifted to bitter hostility. This culminated in his 1543 treatise On the Jews and Their Lies, a 65,000-word polemic calling for the violent persecution of Jewish people.

End article.

Replacement theologist can be linked to paving the road for antisemitism!

This is Satan at work!

He's been trying to wipe out the Jews since the beginning.

Psalms 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Ezekiel 36:21-28.

Blessings

Lbooth,

I will certainly be praying for you and that all goes well with the surgery and your recovery.

Amen Lbooth1955 Will do.

God bless.

God is in control LBooth.Trust in the Lord always,Joy and peace,

The Jews in spite of themselves have been an unbroken line and witness to the Law and the Prophets of God .

As far back as Abraham and by him to Noah and by him to Adam .

Every 'solution' that has ever been tried to break that line and ruin that witness has failed because God promised He wouid always keep a remnant.

When Adolph Hitler spoke of a 'final solution' to the Jewish question he clearly identified every other solution that had gone before and did not work . In putting into effect thst awful solution he identified himself as being of the same nature as all those who had tried other solutions before him.

Anyone and I mean anyone who seeks similar solutions or worse that final solution reveal themselves to be of the same nature as Adolph Hitler .

Be very careful then who you align yourselves with lest you find yourself on the wrong side .

You may not agree with everything Isreal does nor am I saying that Isreal is righteous in the sight of God but it is God who has kept them and is fir His own honour and glory . And will be fully vindicated for doing so while those who have thought to trample them under their feet will be proven to be the most base .

Apart from using dispensations wrongly the confusion about Isreal and its eventual end is because people are mixing two things up . The church which is His body made up of both Jew and gentile " One new Man" says Paul . Thinking on it you also have the Bride of Christ that will primarily but not exclusively be made up of gentiles who will reign with Him in heaven .

But the church filled with both Jew and gentile will reign on earth .

But it is not the gentile church they Jews will join but are they not the " natural " who will one day be reheated in? The gentiles being the wild now grafted in?

But in any even both Jew and Gentile come by the same way . For when Adam sinned God gave them a covering but also a promise . Faithful Abel offering eas respected because he followed the pattern God had laid down in the garden and by his offering confessed his sin the righteousness of God and out his faith ( by that lamb) in the promise . So it was to all who came after .till Jesus came fulfilling that promise who wouid bruise the head of the serpent etc .

There was only one way into the presence of God in the Ld Testament there is only one way in the New.

The State of Isreal is another matter and they are not there so established because of their righteousness but because of Gods righteousness . And they will face a lot more including" Jacobs trouble" and the anti Christ before the Lord will save them in a day from all their enemies .

Hey Lbooth 1955,

A correction: Where I wrote Jesus confirmed He was the Messiah, it should be Luke 4:16-21, not Luke 3. Sorry about that.

God bless,

RLW

While many speak of 'culture' and prevailing circumstances when Paul taught about women in the church not speaking etc .

He spoke not a thing as the foundation for his reasoning . But rather took it to the root of the matter as in Genesis and that the woman was deceived .

A much harder proposition I grant you but we cannot avoid it .

For our thinking in this matter is so ingrained by nature and the world into which we were born both men and women red to be renewed in our minds by the Word of God and the Spirit of God.

Might I suggest another look at the marriage at Canaan ?

When Mary the mother of Jesus ( His flesh) said to Him " they have no wine (?)

He replied " Woman what hast thou to do with me seeing that mine hour is not yet come" John .

He did not say mother . Knowing full well how some religionists would place where He did not .

For from his baptism he gave her no place as having any authority over Him.

( and still does not) "mine hour is not yet come " Later in John He said " Now is mine hour come" twice I think . What hour was that? When men would take Him at their will and subject Him to the authority of Man .

Woman what hast thou to do with me? Adam obeyed Eve and did her will rather than Gods and loved Eve more than God .

The relationship between men and women has been cockeyed ever since.

The Lord by those words said she had no authority over him and He was not there to do her will but His Father's will .

What hast thou to do with me? Man was created out of the dust of the earth . Woman was created from the body of the man . Something we have forgotten the woman for the man not the man fir the woman .But God doing all things well has every man since born of a woman . But have since made that the be all and end all ?

Even as God made the Woman or the bride of Adam out of his body .So also the Bride of Christ will come from the midst of His own body .being the " last Adam ".

Another pointer o a better understanding perhaps .

Be careful of trying to make one doctrine the means to understand all scripture. They can't nor are they designed to do so .

The dispensations of God are a case in point and while the scruptures clearly teach and speak of them they are not a short cut that unlocks all the scriptures . Sooner or later if 'you' go down that road you will have to twist the scriptures to make them fit and like others defend dispensationalism to the death against all comers .

The " sound doctrines" of Scripture are like the bones of the body . Each has their place and function and working together edify the body and give it strength and stability .

Lbooth 1955,

How do we begin? The 7-year tribulation is taken from the 490-year prophecy in Daniel 9:25-27. The he in Daniel 9:27 is said to be the antichrist, who will make a 3.5-year peace treaty with Israel. Midway through this week, he will cause the abomination that makes desolate, leading to 3.5 years of great tribulation.

In verse 25, it states there will be 69 weeks from the commandment to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Messiah, 483 years. This was fulfilled when Jesus was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit, as seen in Matthew 3:13-17. Jesus confirms His identity as the Messiah in Luke 3:16-21, and John denies being the Christ but speaks of Jesus in John 1:33-34.

Daniel 9:26 states that after sixty-two weeks, the Messiah will be cut off. The 7 weeks, or 49 years, had already passed, a period during which the temple and part of the wall were rebuilt. Jesus' ministry was 3.5 years, so His crucifixion was 69 weeks plus 3.5 years, totaling 486.5 years of the 490-year prophecy, leaving only 3.5 years of the 490-year prophecy.

The people of the prince who shall come are those who will destroy the city and the sanctuary. This refers to Titus, the prince, and the Roman army, the people, who destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in AD 70 for their abominations and rejection.

In verse 27, it is in the middle of the 70th week, Jesus' crucifixion causes the sacrifice and oblation to cease, Hebrews 9:12. During the remaining 3.5 years, Jesus was confirming the covenant to Israel through His apostles, as seen in Matthew 15:24, to the Jew first, Romans 1:16, which ended when the leaders of Jerusalem stopped their ears, Acts 7:54-60.

It says, "for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate." The he in verse 27 refers to Jesus, not an antichrist. The leaders of Jerusalem are the ones who spread the abominations, and Jesus made it desolate, as described in Matthew 23:37-38. Read the entire chapter of Matthew 23.

See part 2.

Lbooth 1955,

Part 2

How much time does Scripture give the beast? In Revelation 13, the beast, whom people call the antichrist, from the time he rises, he is only given 3.5 years, not 7 years, Revelation 13:5. This is after the war in heaven where Michael and his angels overcome and cast Satan and his angels down to earth, this is when the restraints are lifted, not the removal of the Church.

The beast is only given 42 months, which is 3.5 years, to make war against the saints and to overcome them, Revelation 13:7. If the church is removed, whom will he make war against? The resurrection of the dead is divided into two:

The resurrection of the righteous, which is the first resurrection and will happen at Christ's return, Revelation 19:11-16, Revelation 20:4-6.

Resurrection for the rest of the dead, which is the second resurrection, and will happen after the 1000 years of Christ's reign, Revelation 20:7-15.

The ones in the first resurrection will reign with Christ, where, Daniel 7:27, 2 Timothy 2:12 Revelation 20:6, Revelation 5:9-10. When Jesus returns, He does not go back to heaven.

We see in Revelation 20:4 thrones, and judgment was given to those in the first resurrection. This is on earth, and we see those who were beheaded and did not take the mark or worship the beast, and these lived and reigned with Christ on earth for the 1000 years.

last trumpet is the seventh trumpet, the same trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Jesus is coming to establish His kingdom on this earth.

It should be understood that the Bible clearly states that there are two comings of Jesus.

He came to die for the sins of mankind: this has been fulfilled.

Second Coming: coming to establish the kingdom of God/heaven. This is yet to happen. The resurrection of the righteous dead only happens at the second coming of Christ.

See part 3.

Lbooth 1955,

Part 3

The seventh trumpet, the last trumpet, announces the second coming of Christ to establish His Kingdom on this Earth. We see this in Revelation 11:15-18, which says, "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever."

It also says the righteous, both dead and alive, are judged and rewarded, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. We see this after the battle of Armageddon, Revelation 20:4.

In 1 Thessalonians 4:17, the word meet is the Greek word apantseis, which is found three times in the New Testament. It means a decisive going out to greet an arriving person of importance, honoring and welcoming them back. We will be meeting Jesus in the air, welcoming Him back to set up the kingdom, not going to heaven.

I could go on, but I hope this is enough to show my understanding. I do thank you for your time and discussion. We must keep our eyes and ears open so that we may see and hear the truth. If we have preconceived ideas, it gives us eyes to see, and see not, and ears to hear, and hear not. We, as the body of Christ, should inspire each other to pray and study God's word for the truth.

God bless,

RLW

The world is .uttered with the ruins and carcases of how many 'world orders'?

The war in the Ukraine is but a continuation of the Crimean war in the 19th cent and at root stems from the same problem. But it is also the unravelling of the world order established at Potsdam at the end of WW2.

The two countries who's foundations were founded upon biblical principles ,the UK in particular have exchanged the truth for a lie , liberty for bondage and our true Christian heritage fir a " mess of pottage" .

The liberty for bondage is exchanging those Christian liberties for human rights .

Having rejected the truth both nations have embraced those two opposing ' immaculate conceptions' that dazzle the imagination but blinds mens minds to the truth . Capitalism and Socialism .

For when you reject the truth you will be.ueve the lie and once you be.ueve the lie you become blind to the truth .( see Eve).

But what if the church? For is it not the salt? Which both stops the meat from rotting and makes people tnirsty?

If the meat is rotting where is the salt?

"Behold Instand at the door and knock " How is it that the Lord after the resurection had no problems with closed doors locked or otherwise? But here He is outside the church knocking on its door you cannot say unable to enter but clearly unwilling without an invitation .

That knocking is therefore a call to the whole church to repent ,the promise however is only to those who have eaters to hear AND open the door "

It is written " When the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against him"

Not all have ears to hear . Gideon started with 30,000? But finished up with 300.

God always blesses the many by the few .

I think we are like those who first landed on Americas shore . The beach is wonderful , the weather sublime ,the sea full of fish and the tree line filled with every fruit going and we have said to ourselves this is a good place let us build a nane for ourselves and camp

I agree the 7th day was Gods DAY of rest and he established it for man to do likewise, he also made it law in the Ten Commandments. God is eternal so it's obvious to me he established it for man . The early Christians eventually where thrown out of temples and synagogues ( persecution) and so met in homes or other places . The breaking of bread was in remembrance of Jesus giving of himself and shedding of his blood for the world and especially those that believe. But it was said that as often as you do this ( breaking of bread you show his death until he comes . No specific day or even how often it's done , I suspect they did it every day going house to house . Acts 2 v46 confirms that it was daily . Just as we pray every day and read his word everyday and do what we know to be true every day . So Sunday was not the designated day . Also Sunday was not breaking the Sabbath as many activities they did after the Sabbath like sharing the wealth with those that lacked. Imagine of loading up a cart and bringing it into town and distributing it to others on the Sabbath? That would be a violation of the sabbath. Keeping the sabbath will not save you , but it also will not bring a sin against you either and it honours God since it's his DAY Isaiah 58 v13 . Jesus died and was buried before the Sabbath, and rose from the dead after the Sabbath. Therefore the Sabbath was kept by God and man . It's said Jesus preached to souls on the Sabbath of his death , that's in keeping with the Sabbath since preaching and teaching they always did in the synagogue on the Sabbath. A few thoughts I have acquired on reflection of the scriptures . My original question was the Lords day which day is it ? So far it is revealed by scripture to be The seventh day starting from the first week . And nothing I can see for it to be Sunday the first of the week . That appears to be a complete contradiction. Why do they call Saturday and Sunday the weekend? It's not . Ok I said a lot . May God bless !

Num.14.34 "Breach of promise" (4 of 4)

"After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise."

God's promises are yea and Amen in his Son. By rejecting him what the Israelites brought upon themselves is a curse, and her God says it was my breach of promise. 'And ye shall know it' In Psalm we know what He with the merciful. "With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. (Ps.18.25) For the reprobate nationthe breach of promise hinged on this day as in this verse:"I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it."(Deut.30.18). The day decreed for the Son judged the nation since Jesus Christ is anointed as the Word of God. The key verse sets the entire nation in terms of years and days.Each day for a year. The nation of Elam shall no longer be a nation. (Ezra.10.2) Jeremiah predicts,"And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come." (Jer.49.36)

In holy city we find the significance of the breastplate of Aaron. "And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel." The names of the names are borne as Aaron was required to bear "And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually."(Exod.28.29) We have thus judgment in terms of a breastplate and the tabernacle of God among men as bookends. "By Jesus Christ all things consist. In him it is fulfilled.

The Sabbath continued :-

Is it not also written that we are made kings and priests unto God"?

Of what irder? Of Malchezidech.

In the temple not made with hands . If then they are guiltless in the flesh in the temple made with hands how much more then the true saints of God ?

Now is not the foundation of the Sabbath as it is understood by many based upon Genesis and of how Hod rested on 7th day?

Who can deny it ? Then what do you make of that scripture that says " we are to rest from our labours even as God did from His"? Hebrews 4:10.

Again I say this not for contention but that one or the other be fully persuaded in their own minds and be at peace and with each other .

Collisions " Ket no man judge you in meat and drink or in respect of an holy day or a new moon or a sabbath day ( which are but shadows of things to come )"

Endless 'debates' therefore about the Sabbath are not only unfruitful but barred in scripture .

The above is hardly an definitive exposition of the subject but it is or shouild be enough for any spiritually minded Saint to avoid such needless contentions and perhaos a foundation for further study for clearly there is more to the subject than what is commonly held on the matter .

But I repeat again what Paul writes if you or any esteem one day above all other days go in peace and be at peace with yiur brethren or if you esteem all days alike does this not also apply? And not to judge your brethren in the matter ?

For clearly it is not either or but rather if we are IN Christ he is our peace and we should rest from our own works and rest in Him .for we walk by faith do we not ? And " after the Spirit and not after the flesh"

Gerald

The Sabbath, pause for thought .

Any even casual perusal through the gospels will reveal that the Lord had the most oroblem and in some occasions opposition by those whose perceptions and understanding of the Sabbath was as such at variance with His.

To the extent that up to the last week on earth and despute over three years of teaching and ministry and his teachings on the Sabbath they still opposed Him on that very issue . The man with a withered arm was there and it is written he looked upon them " with anger" . and then proceeded to heal the man on the sabbath .

That alone shouid give us all pause for thought and ring a warning bell in our hearts lest we find ourselves opposing the Lord .

For if anyone gets on their high horse about the issue and brings needless contention to the body then take note of how much grief those of old caused when the Lord walked this earth .

So I'm going to oresent some scriptures and an argument of sorts for food for our thinking .

Let us first go to Romans 14:5. " One man esteems one day above another . Another esteems every day alike . Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind "

This past therefore is not intended nor should it provide fuel fir needless contention . If you esteem one day above all others and are fully persuaded of the matter in yiur own mind then be at peace and with your brethren who may esteem every day alike " There is a verse in another letter stating this but at present I can't find it . Be that as it may clearly there shouid be no contention between brethren if that is what they are on what day you esteem another etc . If there is contention is is not of God or the Spirit but rather of the flesh.

But here is another scripture one refered by the Lord Himself when faced with objections to his or the disciples actions .

Mathew 12:5 . " Or have you not heard that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple perform the sacrifices and are guiltless "?

To be cont :

Further thoughts on the current time and recent events

It seems clear to me that we are to warn in general to "flee the wrath that is to come" ( Romans 1:16-17 but also found in the Gospels). The current state of deviancy has of course degenerated since the family structure itself was attacked at the source back in the post World War 2 generation. The site History of English has this to say on a popular quote

The phrase ignorance is bliss originates from a poem by Thomas Gray, called Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College published in 1742.

We are all; therefore either complicit ourselves or surrounded by others who have watched families torn apart by divorce gradually head towards a lifestyle of lasciviousness; drug use; and then the embracing of what God warned about in Romans 1 which brought about the demise of other great civilizations in the past. This started off with disobedience to parents to a large degree which of course stemmed from the permissive; and passive advice which was followed by the psychologists and social influencers of the time especially in the 60s and 70s. At this point those who are truly revolutionary and innovative are those who tenaciously hold to Biblical values. Again; as I often do I warn about making our heritage and history the sole base for these ideals; it is one thing to embrace what our laws and Constitution proclaim as freedoms which we paid for by the blood of past soldiers paying the ultimate price; another to put all of our heart and soul into an institution of man no matter how close its history parallels scripture; because critics can always find exceptions; hypocricy and the like to our logic.

It appears that we are at the point where our institutions and government are never going to be able to fully control the anarchy that is the fruit of generations of rebellion. It comes through those who are willing to take a stand for the truth; sadly no doubt there will be more tragedies; let us keep in prayer

Today as we read our Bible verse in Ephesians we are reminded with the surrounding text that we as a body corporately are given our future seat as it were in heavenly places; and I am reminded that the rapture involves us as a body as well.

We shall see in a week if He decides to rapture His church on Rosh Hashanah this year or not. Nonetheless what's going on at the UN these days; the trumpets blasting on live TV for the event next week; etc make these interesting and of course constantly perilous times.

IF He tarries the talk is how the repercussions of the death of Mr. Kirk will change the dynamics of our nation. One lady in our church dreamed about the event which another parishioner is going to see this weekend in D.C. and in her dream there wasn't enough room for everyone and some sort of altar call at the event. We'll see what happens.

Things have been compared to some awareness such as happened after Sept 11 2001. We know that despite a spike in prayer and church attendance and events it didn't last very long; and we also have the history of the so called revivals in many universities in Appalachia the last few years; I am not sure if there has been any long term increase in local congregations and how many of those people are still active in pursuit of the Lord.

There has been raised what I consider a legitimate concern on any emphasis toward political agendas with individuals in organaizations such as what Mr. Kirk has and one person online said that when he was invited to an event that support was the only thing expressed at the time. We need to continue to be cautious of this in the future; albeit the clear signal from this and several other high profile events shows how those in the alternative lifestyle the shooter practiced are certainly implicated with crimes of violence and demonic influences particularly with music have been evident as well. The balance toward law and order and trying to exact vengeance ourselves needs to be examined.

Dan.7.17-18 "Four" (3 of 4)

"These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth./But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever" The Spirit instruct us that the saints shall take and possess the kingdom. This is what Jesus Christ shall do and he is the Word of God on the white horse coming out of heaven."And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." He is shown being accompanied by armies."And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God./And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Firstly notice the vesture dipped in blood. It the another bookend to what we read in context of the fall of man. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them." (Gen.3.21) "and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."(1 Jn.1.7; Jn 1.29) The slain Lamb in the will of God when sent to the world is the Lamb of God. When the Son of overcame he became the Law and it is what Law of the Spirit confers on him. He was anointed with the oil of gladness before his Advent. So what is the Word? It explains Jesus in his flesh was the Saviour of the Word and his Atonement is complete. Jesus Christ the Law also reconciles the time element. We are predestined, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love/Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,"(Eph.1.4-5) Ade we among the army of saints in spiritual bodies or ministering angels for heirs of salvation is not for us to say for certain. He that led us into the God's rest is faithful. The just shall live by faith.

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