Paul never teaches that believers in the Body of Christ can lose salvation, though some verses are misread that way. For example, 1 Corinthians 9:27 warns of being a "castaway," but Paul is referring to disqualification from reward or service, not loss of eternal life. In Galatians 5:4, "fallen from grace" means leaving the principle of grace for law-keeping, not forfeiting salvation. 2 Corinthians 13:5 calls for self-examination of genuine faith, not teaching that salvation can be undone. Likewise, Colossians 1:23 emphasizes perseverance as evidence of true faith.
In contrast, Paul repeatedly assures believers of eternal security. Romans 8:38-39 declares that nothing can separate us from Christ's love. Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches that believers are sealed with the Spirit until redemption. Philippians 1:6 promises that God will complete His saving work. 2 Timothy 1:12 affirms Christ's power to keep what is entrusted to Him. Romans 11:29 states that God's gifts and calling are without repentance.
Thus, the "warning" passages deal with reward, service, and testimony, while Paul's consistent teaching is that salvation itself is secure in Christ.
It was asked of me: Firstly what do you exactly mean with, some are from God and some are not? Do you mean that some are predestinated to believe and others no?
We live in a fallen unperfect world, I believe God wants us to have this understanding that things are not what they seem. It is written:
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19 KJV
God knows all those who belong to Him, from each generation since he created man and his kind. I believe it comes down to who really loves God, because God is love. It is written:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15 KJV
Even when I read God's word I am humbled and search and inquire within myself, like a self assessment or self evaluation to discover if I am keeping God's commandments. It's a personal salvation only between a believer and God. Since it is written:
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
A person or believer knows himself or herself no one else can judge someone else based on God's law about someone else's own personal salvation, because it is written:
"And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;" Acts 15:8 KJV
God knows the heart of every man, and that includes woman.
The kingjamesbibleoneline.org website is a good place to search scriptures about God knowing the heart of man, discernment, judgement and love. Even though God can enable someone to discern character of another the scripture supports love and compassion towards those that are lost at the same time it calls believers to be an example of love and compassion towards all. Scripture doesn't support believers being indifferent towards believers and non-believers.
now that i "know" christ's love Ephesians 2:19 Corinthians 3:4-7 and the whole book of Colossians
Shall we analyse?
Remember the song
Christ is the portrait of God - Colossians 1:15
Before he was born
He did justice and in himself he died
Supremacy and thrones are
They are yours - Colossians 1: 16-17
And that thread that broke
From my soul to God - Colossians 1:21
The holy blood sewed
Christ and his lines of love - Colossians 1: 20
And now a man made I
Can in man see God
Have peace, live, walk and be
Made me a friend in his pouring out - John 15:15
When we were targets of God's wrath now we have Peace with God - Romans 5:1
I have a doubt that you probably theologians (formal or deep self-taught), show me if there is something I missed.
to go to church or not to go to church?
1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Peter 4:9, Psalms 133:1-3, Galatians 5:13. all these chapters do not speak of the church that is of my generation, Hebrews 10:24-25 this verse speaks of the mutual congregation.
continuing Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32, Acts 2:41-47, 1 John 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Peter 1:22, Colossians 3:16, Philippians 2:1-2, John 13:34, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Psalm 55:14. I keep reading and re-reading Romans 12 and I wonder if it's in everyday life or gathered with the church.
The topic of "Once Saved Always Saved" or eternal security
I am fairly sure I covered this subject before; but today it seems to be going viral with more and more social media posts claiming you can lose your salvation. Since there are HUNDREDS of verses which appear to relate to this matter (Dake's Bible has something close to 1000 listed); it seems it is something warranting further study (again with character limit a series of studies).
I want to hammer home a concept that I may have touched on but not necessarily relating to this particular topic; and that is of DYING to the old nature. The fear of judgment is of an eternal punishment for an eternal sin nature; for any sins we do in the body now won't be done in the afterlife; at least with any satisfaction. Perhaps the death of my mom recently and seeing others such as my dad and aunt with their time soon coming has brought this concept home to me. On a surface level what is common to man is a desire to survive; to hold onto our lives. When Christ talks about losing our lives there is a literal aspect but more importantly; I think it is losing the appeal of this world and our identity in what WAS our sin nature. This concept of what we formerly were; of course is illustrated in 1 Cor. 6:11. What appeals to us and what unregenerate man tries to hold onto is the comforts of this world; and sadly often the other lost people around them. Some other time I may get more into the subject of how people that cannot accept that their loved ones never showed any evidence of knowing Christ and instead God "chooses their delusions" when they think they sense their departed ones around them ( Isaiah 66:4).
Perhaps a better way to start this subject is to find the proper meaning of 2 Corinthians 13:5. Much confusion comes when we accept a verbal affirmation of our belief in Christ as a foolproof piece of evidence. Otherwise verses such as this wouldn't exist.
God will take away some of our gifts and replace it with the word of truth.
1 Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shallcease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
We now have the word of truth .
1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall bedoneaway.
Apostle Paul wants us to pray in the Holy Spirit.
Praying always with allprayerand supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We should always gift thanks to the Father in Heaven before we ask .
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing byprayerand supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We should pray to do no evil.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now Iprayto God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
We should pray for knowledge.
Philippians 1:9
And this Ipray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
We should pray always everyday.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Praywithout ceasing.
God want us to pray for everything in life.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that menprayevery where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
2 Timothy 2:15 helped me understand how to let the Holy Spirit guide me in the right direction to rightly divide the Word in the Bible .
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We are not to be buff up with knowledge and brag about it and belittle our brethren to shame, but to love one another in prayer and patience so the Holy Spirit will open the understanding spiritually .
1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that yestudyto be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Only Jesus Christ will approve what we do on earth with our bodies.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appearapproved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now that we are saved by believing the resurrection of Christ Jesus, plus nothing, we are to be his workman for good works for a reward in the Heavenly Places.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I am not ashamed of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:16
For I am notashamedof the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Even Jesus Christ divides.
Luke 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
1 Corinthians 12:11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,dividingto every man severally as he will.
We are to follow Apostle Paul's epistle for doctrine today because he is our Apostle.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach theword; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the doctrine of the grace of God.
Almoundmilk99 , God will help get through all your trials and tribulations. The best thing to do is pray and study in a quiet place.
This is my study of 2 Timothy 2:15 that helped me understand how to let the Holy Spirit guide me in the right direction in true through the Lord Jesus Christ .
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We are not to be buff up with knowledge and brag about it and belittle our brethren to shame, but to love another in prayer and patience so the Holy Spirit will open the understanding spiritually .
1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that yestudyto be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Only Jesus Christ will approve what we do on earth with our bodies.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appearapproved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now that we are saved by believing the resurrection of Christ Jesus, plus nothing, we are to be his workman for good works for a reward in the Heavenly Places.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I am not ashamed of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:16
For I am notashamedof the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I will pray for you, God bless you and your family.
2 Corinthians 13:9 - For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
The word "perfection" is KATARTIDZO, which means to mend. It's a medical term for the mending of broken bones. It's very important why Paul would not say the word for maturity, but the word for mending. We see the same word in Matthew 4:21.
In Ephesians 4:12, Paul used KATARTIDZO, and we have translated it "equipping of the saints." It has nothing to do with equipping the saints. It's the mending of the saints. He says in Ephesians Chapter 4 that God has given those in ministry for the mending of the saints for the work of ministry.
In other words, the first priority in a believer's life is to get their life mended, healed, so that they can get on their feet and have a good healthy relationship with the Lord. Then they enter into ministry or service as God calls!
2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
First of all, farewell literally means to rejoice. CHAIRETE is the Modern Greek term for greetings, either hello or goodbye. So, when he says farewell, he says be rejoicing. But you should also know that in Greek, the word rejoicing has nothing to do with a happy feeling. It's the Greek word for satisfaction or contentment.
Second command, be perfect. Again, KATARTIDZO. Be of good comfort, or encouragement. And again, this is the Passive Voice. It means receive encouragement from God. Be of one mind, frame of mind. It means to have the same approach to life and the things of Christ.
That's all I have for 2 Corinthians. On to Galatians next. We're getting into shorter books so this should go a little quicker. Some of you are probably saying "thank God!"
2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Here, Paul quotes Deuteronomy19:15. And what is interesting is that the word for "word" is the word RHEMA, which is not only the word for a word or speech, but it is also used for a thing, like an issue. What it's really saying is everything is to be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
That principle is not only found in the Old Testament, but it was taught by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-21. Jesus said if somebody has offended you, sinned against you, you go to them privately and settle the matter. If he will not hear you, he doesn't want anything to do with what you are saying, the second phase is to take two witnesses to establish what's going on. A lot of people don't understand this phase.
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; That's not a religious term about the faith. The word faith in the New Testament is a word speaks of literally being under the persuasion of God's Spirit. That's what the word faith means. It means persuasion. So, are you under the influence of God's Spirit? Are you in the faith?
2 Corinthians 13:7 - Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now I pray to God that you do no evil; The word evil is KAKOS, which means to do harm or wrong.
I fully agree GiGi that this most important message of God's Wrath & relegation of unrepentant sinners to an eternal hell is quite often overlooked or avoided by the Church. Without this undeniable Character of God, there would be no point for a such a wonderful saving Gospel, effected by no one else, but God Himself in His Son. And so we get 'believers' becoming careless with sin, preferring to follow the 'holy herd' in their behaviors & endeavors & not continually subjecting themselves to self-examination & careful living ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). Thank you for those reminders, especially on the proper understanding of God's Holiness.
Having listed the main things that rob a person of the assurance of salvation, let's look at some things that are evidence of salvation.
Desire to Obey
The child of God longs to obey God and to please Him:
And by this we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ( 1 John 2:3)
This desire to obey God gives him an assurance that he is a son of God.
He wants to know the will of God, and therefore he wants to know the Word of God. So he goes where he can hear the Word of God:
Oh, how love I thy law! It is my mediation all the day. I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. ( Psalm 119:97, 113, 162)
He finds that he not only has an appetite for the Word of God, but he also begins to understand it, and thereby growth takes place:
But he that is spiritual judgeth [understands] all things, yet he himself is judged [understood] of no man. ( 1 Corinthians 2:15)
There are other tests that indicate to a trembling but trusting heart that he or she is a child of God. God urges us to make the tests so that we may have assurance:
Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. Know ye not yourselves how Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are discredited? ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Reality in Prayer.
A reality in prayer is evidence that we are children of God. There is a very remarkable statement in this connection made in the third chapter of 1 John:
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. (v. 19)
As the child of God approaches the Father, a holy boldness confirms the heart. This is not presumption - it is the assurance that a child has in approaching a father. However, sin or some other impediment may make us hesitant and reluctant to approach the Father. God does not hear us because of our reluctance but because of Christ, and He hears us regardless of our condition:
2 Corinthians 5:15 "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
We also are told to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
And you are right we feed on the SINCERE "undeceitful" milk of the word that ye may grow thereby: 1 Petee 2:2. (Truth)
NO ONE knows it all but as we learn we share.
WE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF OUR CALLING;
There is one Spirit that we are baptized by. (We are Identified with Christ and should be Identified with one another.
Ephesians 4:4-5 reads "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
However there are those who oppose the faith and has done so since the beginning.
Jude speaks of this in his writings.
Paul says in Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; AND AVOID THEM.
Jaz, I don't know it all, very little in fact when considering the great teacher's I benefit off of and great teacher's I have run across on this site.
I pray God provides the good and right resources you may need to aid you in overcoming these different matters and that God gives you peace during this time.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
Salvation: Predestination and thinking beyond time.
My last post began to delve into the concept of how the Lord and a saved individual communicate; or perhaps better expressed "commune" with one another. We all have to beware of what is expressed in Matthew 7:23 when after a whole laundry list of things that were done "for the Lord" or "in His Name" Jesus states "I never KNEW you" before they are cast into damnation.
Obviously in a marriage situation there is a close analogy; two people don't get to know each other intimately without there being a unity; in that case of "one flesh".
I have probably delved into the concept another time of the fact that our salvation was determined before the foundation of the earth (see Rev. 13:8). In the practical understanding we have of our mortal existence on earth we see a time and place when our salvation occurred; perhaps more precisely stated as its activation. I have no doubt that those who through God's foreknowledge WOULD come to faith are guaranteed to live until that moment of confession and contrition ( Romans 10:9).
This can be proven more or less by the usual scenario; people who witness to us and circumstances that occur that trigger our interest in "spiritual" matters. Or; we could say simply that as God determined where and when we would be born; which parents; etc. certainly He also determines those details when someone is "Born Again".
Because assurance of salvation is something we all need to consider in light of 2 Corinthians 13:5 and other passages such as Phillippians 2:12 where we are to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" we need to be cautious of our own profession of faith and that of others. We can't use the "grace card" to sidestep obedience to the Lord to His commandments. 1 John 5:3 states that His commands aren't "burdensome" much as would be the case if we tried to follow all the details of the Old Testament law. Christ shows that true worship is from the heart.
Romans 2:9 states: There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile..
(NIV); but says tribulation and anguish in the KJV. There is another verse stating that judgment begins at the house of God. ( 1 Peter 4:17).
Just as not all Israel is Israel ( Romans 9:6); not all the "professing" church is the possessing church; that is possessing the Holy Spirit and true salvation. Jesus made that perfectly clear to those who thought because they were the physical descendants of Abraham that gave them some sort of benefit were sadly mistaken ( John 8:39-44). Those who had seen Christ; knew the prophecies about the Messiah and yet rejected Him would in fact be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah in their punishment. ( Matt. 11:21-24). We see similar warnings for those who have knowledge of the truth and become reprobate; in that it would be better not to have known it in the first place ( 2 Peter 2:21).
Testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith is sadly lacking today among professing believers; or we would see a reality check in the fruits of many lives. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We can glibly see this example as a carnal bunch of people and think that being steeped in our own religious training or theology that we are automatically exempt from this test. I have said before that there are dangers in any extreme that is lacking the balancing attribute; such as with loving people and warning them of judgment to come ( John 16:8). We see in the Ephesian church everything being done properly but their first love somehow becoming distant in their hearts. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:6; love rejoices in the truth. The basic fact that man's heart is desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17:9) and that our sin makes us enemies of God ( James 4:4) means that there is a wall between opposing parties and yes God is angry with the wicked (i.e. us) every day. ( Psalm 7:11). Having our heads in the sand doesn't help anyone.
It is said by Catholics that marriage is a sacrament that is only necessitated by the vow a man makes with a woman; and I agree with that view despite disagreeing with many other things in their belief system. The idea of a minister to oversee the event from what I can tell helps to involve two or three witnesses (usually along with parents) such as 2 Corinthians 13:1 states. There are other verses as well; none directly discuss a marriage or any other vow; but it does apply in the fact that should one or more parties violate the covenant church discipline can be used against them. I am not sure how things are in the big picture but it seems whenever marriages do occur it is often in another church that the family prefers and many times there is little sense of a whole congregation being involved at least like they used to in the past. Maybe I am off somewhat but that's how I see it.
Good counsel is helpful in that respect however; if anything to keep a healthy balance of older women guiding the youth and allowing for good interactions and support. This is something more favorable it seems today in the Reformed churches from my experiences. Such interactions of a church being a family of course should extend to foreign missionaries that are affiliated with a denomination. It is a shame when we think of missionaries being "out there" and we detach ourselves emotionally when we give financial support. Their marriages and family are components of their witness as much as their evangelism and one can't be separated from the other; although of course some are single individuals on the mission field.
Again; it is sad to say that from my viewpoint there is a tolerance for remarriage in these same sort of congregations (although many won't perform them). I would say that existing marriages have greater chance of longevity and less for divorce in the Reformed circles than others who have 50 percent divorce rates as all of society if they marry at all.
When we are truly born again it is an unnatural birth taken place.
We are born of God's Spirit. We are Identified with Christ along with other believers.
This is commonly known as the baptism of the Holyspirit.
That same Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
When we are born of God's Spirit we may grieve him but our great shepherd never let his sheep stray without seeking and finding him.
Jesus said in John 10:27-29 'My sheep hear my voice, AND I KNOW THEM, and they follow me:
And I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
( That eternal life starts now.) Jesus says he "KNOW" his sheep.
He could never turn around and say I NEVER KNEW YOU, or you've slipped out of our hands.
We are asked to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5. because there's a chance we have been manifest that we were not. 1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
I will pray for your son.
Bad things happens to us all, including our Lord and his Apostles.
To know Christ and to make Him known is the theme of the Navigators ministry and correlates with 1 John and other passages.
This is a good summary of understanding the personal meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for atonement as well as our duties fulfilling our part in the Great Commission.
I imagine most here know the necessary doctrines of believing Christ is a member of the Godhead and thus Divinity Himself who was the only one who could atone for sins (as the sinless spotless Lamb of God) by becoming a man as we are without sin and remaining so throughout His earthly ministry; then dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead 3 days later. Finally; He is to return once again physically to rule and reign on the earth.
2 Timothy 2:8 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2 show we should avoid the error of stating that the resurrection has already occurred or the day of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 24:26 states that the Lord hasn't come yet for those who say He is hiding somewhere and also states the likeness of His arrival as lightning in the very next verse. This should be enough to disclaim what Preterists state that the Lord has already come. Therefore I would contend that full Preterists that state this are far enough off in doctrine that we should avoid fellowship with them.
Assuming we have the essentials of salvation straightened out; there are many other warnings and admonitions in scripture such as testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith would involve ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We need to accept that doctrines aren't just what is required to be saved; but also what is necessary to prove that we are bringing fruits worthy of repentance ( Matthew 3:8 and many other similar verses). We are not subject to the law in some sense IF we are truly dead to sin ( Romans 6:11) in one sense; because we have a new nature; but in the same token we DESIRE to obey Christ and love and serve Him as Lord; Master and Savior.
Part 5. J Vernon Mcgee. (Paul and James View Justification.)
Therefore, we see that when Paul uses the term justification he is talking about a man's relationship with God; when James uses the same term, he is talking about a man's relationship with the world. One is perpendicular, and the other is horizontal.
Paul and James View Faith.
The same procedure runs true in their use of the term faith. Again, they mean something different. When Paul talks of faith he is talking about that which is toward God. Paul says that saving faith - a faith that is genuine and real - will transform a person's life. Paul said of himself,
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ( Philippians 3:7)
A real revolution took place in his life when he came to Christ. Looking again at Galatians 3:6, we read that "as Abraham believed Godit was accounted to him for righteousness." And then in Romans:
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ( Romans 4:5)
Paul is speaking here of that which we bring to God. The only thing that a sinner can bring to God is faith in Jesus Christ. When James writes about this, he is not talking about faith toward God but about the works of faith. So Paul is talking about the root of faith, and James is talking about the fruit of faith, but they are both defending the citadel of faith.
Here in James 2:14.
James is not talking about the works of the Law. The faith that James is talking about here is professing faith, that which is phony and counterfeit. Paul refers to the same idea when he says in 1 Corinthians 15:2, "unless ye have believed in vain." Paul also wrote, "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). James simply says that the faith which saves you will produce works-"works of faith.
John 10:34- seems to be a popular verse here. People want to believe they are a god, is that what's happening here? That would be a gross misinterpretation. You know this is a quote with a question mark at the end, right? Let's be honest about it. Here's the commentary for that:
Christ's argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?
As per the other argument trying to discredit the word "one" sounds like your argument is that one doesn't really mean one, because Jesus used it to describe believers being one. I don't see how being one in unity as Christ's body somehow means that all the Bible verses about Jesus being God and divine suddenly don't apply? The verse about the Father and Son being one is only one of MANY verses competing the picture. The Bible already says Jesus the Word is God so how can you disregard that?
God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 KJV
You: Word was "NOT" God?
"Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." John 8:19 KJV
Have you thought about how your belief reconciles with verses like this above?
Isaiah 7:14 -
Yes, Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us". People called Jesus "God". He's King of King and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, first and last. Do you believe Jesus is Lord? I believe that is a requirement for even being a Christian. A Christ follower should know who Christ is.
1 John 5:7-8
John 10:30
John 8:19
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us" which includes Jesus, as per John 1:1)
"Hello brother Spencer, Good evening! Thinking of doctrine, the Church practice of
giving and taking reproof by love maybe is part of what you are thinking? Church discipline and restoration?
God bless the walk.
Brother Carleton, That I absolutely agree with! However, that is not in the context of this message.
This message is more in line with Jude 1:3-4 with the focus on what is mentioned in verse 4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares,"
This has the thought of some has come into the fold sort of like through a back door.
Jude 1:10-15. He describes them. They are not Brothern. They are not Sheep.
As for "A Holy kiss.
Does the bible say greet "them" with a Holy kiss? No, I don't think so.
Romans 10:8-10 says the words is ni thy mouth.
These words is what we can confess to others if asked by what means are you saved.
However, what about the guy whom from his heart "by his mouth" speaks against truth?
We don't judge his present spiritual condition; he's done it ALREADY by refusing to believe and enter in the straight and narrow gate. See Matthew 7:13-15. and John 3:18.
What do these verses concerning a Holy kiss have in common? This Holy kiss is for the Brothern.
1 Corinthians 16:20.
2 Corinthians 13:11-12.
1 Thessalonians 5:26.
Romans 16:16.
The Holy kiss wasn't only meant to express love for the Brothern.
The Holy kiss is meant to express acceptance especially at a time when Gentiles was coming into the fold.
It certainly wasn't for non-believers.
Look at 2 John1:10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
Also see Romans 16:17-18.
Does open rebuke harm a brother?
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5-6.
You came to my mind while I was on my way home from errands an hour or so ago. And then the thought "Encourage" came into my mind.
I do pray daily for those on this site, but this prompting is not a common experience for me. So, I will encourage you and others on here with these words from Scripture.
The Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee; The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee; The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
AND
Paul's Blessing in Ephesians 6:23-24
"Peace be to the brethren, and the love of faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
AND to close,
Paul's Blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen"
2 Peter 1:20 No PROPHECY of the scripture is (in and of itself it's) OWN private interpretation.
2 Corinthians 13:1 ...in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established .....
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall surely not DIE:
Genesis 3:5 FOR GOD DOTH KNOW that in the day you thereof, then your EYES SHALL BE OPENED, and ye shall be as gods, KNOWING GOOD and EVIL.
This is ALL PROPHECY.
Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God SAID, Behold, the man HAS BECOME AS ONE OF US, to KNOW good and evil.....
The FRUIT was KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, the KNOWLEDGE of gods.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not WRITTEN in your LAW, ye are gods
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the WORD the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.
Psalms 82:6
Deuteronomy 10:17 your God is a God of gods, and Lord of Lords ....
Psalms 136:6 Give thanks unto the God of gods, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Now, Eve was a prophecy of the coming bride of Christ by HIS RESURRECTION, and what happened she was resurrected with her husband to never DIE.
The gift of God is eternal life.
God can even use Satan to speak prophecy, what did Satan say, Ye shall never DIE.
Luke 20:36 Neither can THEY DIE ANYMORE, Adam (Christ) took of the fruit and did eat with his wife and Christ and his wife (creation) DIED, and the spirit of the Father RAISED them as ONE FLESH), for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND BE IN YOU, which also was in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be equal with God.
It doesn't drag me down, but does concern me when unbelievers stumble into these churches which have become so carnal that the unbeliever doesn't see much difference between the Christian and regular unbelievers. The bible the very WORDS OF GOD says this and that and they witness it being IGNORED or explained away since it was inconvenient to follow.
I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness... A conscience if you will. Letting people know to prepare for judgment. For it will start in the house of God. A lot of people in the Church "think they are saved." So great is Satan's power of deception that the tares truly suppose themselves to be Children of the kingdom!
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves"
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
[[[When we abide in the Christian doctrine, we give PROOF of the REALITY of our faith.]]] So it makes me really question the salvation of these Western Christian women who don't submit to their husbands, and the majority honestly probably don't."
I can't tell you the enormous amounts of pushback I get from both "Christian" men and women on Ephesians 5 and even more pushback on 1 Corinthians 11 "head coverings during corporate worship whenever I bring it up.
Usually, the go-to scripture for these feminist Christians is Galatians 3:28.
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; TEST yourselves."
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
You seem to have an unrepentant nature. That doesn't address what you wrote. Instead of admitting it and asking for forgiveness you press on. In NO WAY shape or form is the Christian HUSBAND the WIFE of CHRIST in any regard.
>The word of God cuts both ways, a two edged sword.
>How many husbands love their wives as CHRIST loves the church ..... probably NONE.
>The word says you are the WIFE of Christ, so these scripture of a wife submitting to her HUSBAND apply as much to you as to any earthly wife.
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves"
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Then it was nonsensical to bring it even up to help support your original position regarding wives submitting to their husbands. If he wasn't saved then it doesn't even apply to the subject at hand. It was presented as he was saved and beating his wife in a sense impugning the notion of Christian wives submitting to husbands. Then you brought up another exception a husband commanding his wife to sin. Again a true man of God is not going to do any of these things.
I'm also always amazed by the amount of pushback this topic gets from both men and women in Christendom...
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Matthew 11:28
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Blessings
Beautifully written, thanks.
I think we're pretty close with this one...
Here's my take!
Paul never teaches that believers in the Body of Christ can lose salvation, though some verses are misread that way. For example, 1 Corinthians 9:27 warns of being a "castaway," but Paul is referring to disqualification from reward or service, not loss of eternal life. In Galatians 5:4, "fallen from grace" means leaving the principle of grace for law-keeping, not forfeiting salvation. 2 Corinthians 13:5 calls for self-examination of genuine faith, not teaching that salvation can be undone. Likewise, Colossians 1:23 emphasizes perseverance as evidence of true faith.
In contrast, Paul repeatedly assures believers of eternal security. Romans 8:38-39 declares that nothing can separate us from Christ's love. Ephesians 1:13-14 teaches that believers are sealed with the Spirit until redemption. Philippians 1:6 promises that God will complete His saving work. 2 Timothy 1:12 affirms Christ's power to keep what is entrusted to Him. Romans 11:29 states that God's gifts and calling are without repentance.
Thus, the "warning" passages deal with reward, service, and testimony, while Paul's consistent teaching is that salvation itself is secure in Christ.
God Bless.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
2 Corinthians 13:11
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."
Blessings
We live in a fallen unperfect world, I believe God wants us to have this understanding that things are not what they seem. It is written:
"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Timothy 2:19 KJV
God knows all those who belong to Him, from each generation since he created man and his kind. I believe it comes down to who really loves God, because God is love. It is written:
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15 KJV
Even when I read God's word I am humbled and search and inquire within myself, like a self assessment or self evaluation to discover if I am keeping God's commandments. It's a personal salvation only between a believer and God. Since it is written:
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
A person or believer knows himself or herself no one else can judge someone else based on God's law about someone else's own personal salvation, because it is written:
"And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;" Acts 15:8 KJV
God knows the heart of every man, and that includes woman.
The kingjamesbibleoneline.org website is a good place to search scriptures about God knowing the heart of man, discernment, judgement and love. Even though God can enable someone to discern character of another the scripture supports love and compassion towards those that are lost at the same time it calls believers to be an example of love and compassion towards all. Scripture doesn't support believers being indifferent towards believers and non-believers.
Shall we analyse?
Remember the song
Christ is the portrait of God - Colossians 1:15
Before he was born
He did justice and in himself he died
Supremacy and thrones are
They are yours - Colossians 1: 16-17
And that thread that broke
From my soul to God - Colossians 1:21
The holy blood sewed
Christ and his lines of love - Colossians 1: 20
And now a man made I
Can in man see God
Have peace, live, walk and be
Made me a friend in his pouring out - John 15:15
When we were targets of God's wrath now we have Peace with God - Romans 5:1
I have a doubt that you probably theologians (formal or deep self-taught), show me if there is something I missed.
to go to church or not to go to church?
1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Peter 4:9, Psalms 133:1-3, Galatians 5:13. all these chapters do not speak of the church that is of my generation, Hebrews 10:24-25 this verse speaks of the mutual congregation.
continuing Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32, Acts 2:41-47, 1 John 1:6-7, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Peter 1:22, Colossians 3:16, Philippians 2:1-2, John 13:34, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Psalm 55:14. I keep reading and re-reading Romans 12 and I wonder if it's in everyday life or gathered with the church.
Thank you very much!
I am fairly sure I covered this subject before; but today it seems to be going viral with more and more social media posts claiming you can lose your salvation. Since there are HUNDREDS of verses which appear to relate to this matter (Dake's Bible has something close to 1000 listed); it seems it is something warranting further study (again with character limit a series of studies).
I want to hammer home a concept that I may have touched on but not necessarily relating to this particular topic; and that is of DYING to the old nature. The fear of judgment is of an eternal punishment for an eternal sin nature; for any sins we do in the body now won't be done in the afterlife; at least with any satisfaction. Perhaps the death of my mom recently and seeing others such as my dad and aunt with their time soon coming has brought this concept home to me. On a surface level what is common to man is a desire to survive; to hold onto our lives. When Christ talks about losing our lives there is a literal aspect but more importantly; I think it is losing the appeal of this world and our identity in what WAS our sin nature. This concept of what we formerly were; of course is illustrated in 1 Cor. 6:11. What appeals to us and what unregenerate man tries to hold onto is the comforts of this world; and sadly often the other lost people around them. Some other time I may get more into the subject of how people that cannot accept that their loved ones never showed any evidence of knowing Christ and instead God "chooses their delusions" when they think they sense their departed ones around them ( Isaiah 66:4).
Perhaps a better way to start this subject is to find the proper meaning of 2 Corinthians 13:5. Much confusion comes when we accept a verbal affirmation of our belief in Christ as a foolproof piece of evidence. Otherwise verses such as this wouldn't exist.
More on this in the next posting.
Does God heal today ? ?
God will take away some of our gifts and replace it with the word of truth.
1 Corinthians 13:8
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shallcease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
We now have the word of truth .
1 Corinthians 13:10
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall bedoneaway.
Apostle Paul wants us to pray in the Holy Spirit.
Praying always with allprayerand supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
We should always gift thanks to the Father in Heaven before we ask .
Philippians 4:6
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing byprayerand supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We should pray to do no evil.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now Iprayto God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
We should pray for knowledge.
Philippians 1:9
And this Ipray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
We should pray always everyday.
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Praywithout ceasing.
God want us to pray for everything in life.
1 Timothy 2:8
I will therefore that menprayevery where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
2 Timothy 2:15 helped me understand how to let the Holy Spirit guide me in the right direction to rightly divide the Word in the Bible .
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We are not to be buff up with knowledge and brag about it and belittle our brethren to shame, but to love one another in prayer and patience so the Holy Spirit will open the understanding spiritually .
1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that yestudyto be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Only Jesus Christ will approve what we do on earth with our bodies.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appearapproved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now that we are saved by believing the resurrection of Christ Jesus, plus nothing, we are to be his workman for good works for a reward in the Heavenly Places.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I am not ashamed of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:16
For I am notashamedof the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Even Jesus Christ divides.
Luke 12:51
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
1 Corinthians 12:11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,dividingto every man severally as he will.
We are to follow Apostle Paul's epistle for doctrine today because he is our Apostle.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach theword; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Ray, in Christ Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 the doctrine of the grace of God.
This is my study of 2 Timothy 2:15 that helped me understand how to let the Holy Spirit guide me in the right direction in true through the Lord Jesus Christ .
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
We are not to be buff up with knowledge and brag about it and belittle our brethren to shame, but to love another in prayer and patience so the Holy Spirit will open the understanding spiritually .
1 Thessalonians 4:11
And that yestudyto be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
Only Jesus Christ will approve what we do on earth with our bodies.
2 Corinthians 13:7
Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appearapproved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now that we are saved by believing the resurrection of Christ Jesus, plus nothing, we are to be his workman for good works for a reward in the Heavenly Places.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are hisworkmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
I am not ashamed of the resurrection of Christ Jesus.
Romans 1:16
For I am notashamedof the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
I will pray for you, God bless you and your family.
Ray
2 Corinthians 13:9 - For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
The word "perfection" is KATARTIDZO, which means to mend. It's a medical term for the mending of broken bones. It's very important why Paul would not say the word for maturity, but the word for mending. We see the same word in Matthew 4:21.
In Ephesians 4:12, Paul used KATARTIDZO, and we have translated it "equipping of the saints." It has nothing to do with equipping the saints. It's the mending of the saints. He says in Ephesians Chapter 4 that God has given those in ministry for the mending of the saints for the work of ministry.
In other words, the first priority in a believer's life is to get their life mended, healed, so that they can get on their feet and have a good healthy relationship with the Lord. Then they enter into ministry or service as God calls!
2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
First of all, farewell literally means to rejoice. CHAIRETE is the Modern Greek term for greetings, either hello or goodbye. So, when he says farewell, he says be rejoicing. But you should also know that in Greek, the word rejoicing has nothing to do with a happy feeling. It's the Greek word for satisfaction or contentment.
Second command, be perfect. Again, KATARTIDZO. Be of good comfort, or encouragement. And again, this is the Passive Voice. It means receive encouragement from God. Be of one mind, frame of mind. It means to have the same approach to life and the things of Christ.
That's all I have for 2 Corinthians. On to Galatians next. We're getting into shorter books so this should go a little quicker. Some of you are probably saying "thank God!"
Blessings to you all in Christ Jesus!
2 Corinthians 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Here, Paul quotes Deuteronomy19:15. And what is interesting is that the word for "word" is the word RHEMA, which is not only the word for a word or speech, but it is also used for a thing, like an issue. What it's really saying is everything is to be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.
That principle is not only found in the Old Testament, but it was taught by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-21. Jesus said if somebody has offended you, sinned against you, you go to them privately and settle the matter. If he will not hear you, he doesn't want anything to do with what you are saying, the second phase is to take two witnesses to establish what's going on. A lot of people don't understand this phase.
2 Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; That's not a religious term about the faith. The word faith in the New Testament is a word speaks of literally being under the persuasion of God's Spirit. That's what the word faith means. It means persuasion. So, are you under the influence of God's Spirit? Are you in the faith?
2 Corinthians 13:7 - Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
Now I pray to God that you do no evil; The word evil is KAKOS, which means to do harm or wrong.
If you have truly trusted in the work of Christ alone you have been sealed with the Holyspirit!
You are in Christ. That's your position.
Again if you have truly received Christ, that is irreversible.
However In 2 Corinthians 13:5
The apostle Paul gave the directive to the Corinthians to "test themselves" while dealing with serious problems of sin in the church.
If the individuals were genuinely in the faith, then Jesus Christ lives inside them.
His Holy Spirit would be at work within them, promoting or "causing" sanctification and moral living.
We are also to test ourselves.
If our lives shows no evidence of the Spirit's activity, then Jesus Christ is not indwelling us.
And if Christ is not in us, we failed the test, we're a reprobate!
We are not perfect but we should be growing spiritually.
We're connected to the vine that produces fruit in our lives!
This is not a work performed by you. It is caused by the Spirit of God.
Blessings.
How Can I Know?
Having listed the main things that rob a person of the assurance of salvation, let's look at some things that are evidence of salvation.
Desire to Obey
The child of God longs to obey God and to please Him:
And by this we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. ( 1 John 2:3)
This desire to obey God gives him an assurance that he is a son of God.
He wants to know the will of God, and therefore he wants to know the Word of God. So he goes where he can hear the Word of God:
Oh, how love I thy law! It is my mediation all the day. I hate vain thoughts, but thy law do I love. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. ( Psalm 119:97, 113, 162)
He finds that he not only has an appetite for the Word of God, but he also begins to understand it, and thereby growth takes place:
But he that is spiritual judgeth [understands] all things, yet he himself is judged [understood] of no man. ( 1 Corinthians 2:15)
There are other tests that indicate to a trembling but trusting heart that he or she is a child of God. God urges us to make the tests so that we may have assurance:
Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove yourselves. Know ye not yourselves how Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are discredited? ( 2 Corinthians 13:5)
Reality in Prayer.
A reality in prayer is evidence that we are children of God. There is a very remarkable statement in this connection made in the third chapter of 1 John:
And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. (v. 19)
As the child of God approaches the Father, a holy boldness confirms the heart. This is not presumption - it is the assurance that a child has in approaching a father. However, sin or some other impediment may make us hesitant and reluctant to approach the Father. God does not hear us because of our reluctance but because of Christ, and He hears us regardless of our condition:
See part 8.
1 John 3:20
To sum it up, Christianity is a Birth from above.
We are led by Christ Spirit from within.
We are the body of Christ.
We present him, Not ourselves.
2 Corinthians 5:15 "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
We also are told to examine ourselves. 2 Corinthians 13:5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
And you are right we feed on the SINCERE "undeceitful" milk of the word that ye may grow thereby: 1 Petee 2:2. (Truth)
NO ONE knows it all but as we learn we share.
WE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF OUR CALLING;
There is one Spirit that we are baptized by. (We are Identified with Christ and should be Identified with one another.
Ephesians 4:4-5 reads "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
However there are those who oppose the faith and has done so since the beginning.
Jude speaks of this in his writings.
Paul says in Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; AND AVOID THEM.
Jaz, I don't know it all, very little in fact when considering the great teacher's I benefit off of and great teacher's I have run across on this site.
But I defend the truth with what little I have.
God bless you my friend.
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you." 2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV
My last post began to delve into the concept of how the Lord and a saved individual communicate; or perhaps better expressed "commune" with one another. We all have to beware of what is expressed in Matthew 7:23 when after a whole laundry list of things that were done "for the Lord" or "in His Name" Jesus states "I never KNEW you" before they are cast into damnation.
Obviously in a marriage situation there is a close analogy; two people don't get to know each other intimately without there being a unity; in that case of "one flesh".
I have probably delved into the concept another time of the fact that our salvation was determined before the foundation of the earth (see Rev. 13:8). In the practical understanding we have of our mortal existence on earth we see a time and place when our salvation occurred; perhaps more precisely stated as its activation. I have no doubt that those who through God's foreknowledge WOULD come to faith are guaranteed to live until that moment of confession and contrition ( Romans 10:9).
This can be proven more or less by the usual scenario; people who witness to us and circumstances that occur that trigger our interest in "spiritual" matters. Or; we could say simply that as God determined where and when we would be born; which parents; etc. certainly He also determines those details when someone is "Born Again".
Because assurance of salvation is something we all need to consider in light of 2 Corinthians 13:5 and other passages such as Phillippians 2:12 where we are to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" we need to be cautious of our own profession of faith and that of others. We can't use the "grace card" to sidestep obedience to the Lord to His commandments. 1 John 5:3 states that His commands aren't "burdensome" much as would be the case if we tried to follow all the details of the Old Testament law. Christ shows that true worship is from the heart.
(NIV); but says tribulation and anguish in the KJV. There is another verse stating that judgment begins at the house of God. ( 1 Peter 4:17).
Just as not all Israel is Israel ( Romans 9:6); not all the "professing" church is the possessing church; that is possessing the Holy Spirit and true salvation. Jesus made that perfectly clear to those who thought because they were the physical descendants of Abraham that gave them some sort of benefit were sadly mistaken ( John 8:39-44). Those who had seen Christ; knew the prophecies about the Messiah and yet rejected Him would in fact be worse off than Sodom and Gomorrah in their punishment. ( Matt. 11:21-24). We see similar warnings for those who have knowledge of the truth and become reprobate; in that it would be better not to have known it in the first place ( 2 Peter 2:21).
Testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith is sadly lacking today among professing believers; or we would see a reality check in the fruits of many lives. ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We can glibly see this example as a carnal bunch of people and think that being steeped in our own religious training or theology that we are automatically exempt from this test. I have said before that there are dangers in any extreme that is lacking the balancing attribute; such as with loving people and warning them of judgment to come ( John 16:8). We see in the Ephesian church everything being done properly but their first love somehow becoming distant in their hearts. Look at 1 Corinthians 13:6; love rejoices in the truth. The basic fact that man's heart is desperately wicked ( Jeremiah 17:9) and that our sin makes us enemies of God ( James 4:4) means that there is a wall between opposing parties and yes God is angry with the wicked (i.e. us) every day. ( Psalm 7:11). Having our heads in the sand doesn't help anyone.
It is said by Catholics that marriage is a sacrament that is only necessitated by the vow a man makes with a woman; and I agree with that view despite disagreeing with many other things in their belief system. The idea of a minister to oversee the event from what I can tell helps to involve two or three witnesses (usually along with parents) such as 2 Corinthians 13:1 states. There are other verses as well; none directly discuss a marriage or any other vow; but it does apply in the fact that should one or more parties violate the covenant church discipline can be used against them. I am not sure how things are in the big picture but it seems whenever marriages do occur it is often in another church that the family prefers and many times there is little sense of a whole congregation being involved at least like they used to in the past. Maybe I am off somewhat but that's how I see it.
Good counsel is helpful in that respect however; if anything to keep a healthy balance of older women guiding the youth and allowing for good interactions and support. This is something more favorable it seems today in the Reformed churches from my experiences. Such interactions of a church being a family of course should extend to foreign missionaries that are affiliated with a denomination. It is a shame when we think of missionaries being "out there" and we detach ourselves emotionally when we give financial support. Their marriages and family are components of their witness as much as their evangelism and one can't be separated from the other; although of course some are single individuals on the mission field.
Again; it is sad to say that from my viewpoint there is a tolerance for remarriage in these same sort of congregations (although many won't perform them). I would say that existing marriages have greater chance of longevity and less for divorce in the Reformed circles than others who have 50 percent divorce rates as all of society if they marry at all.
When we are truly born again it is an unnatural birth taken place.
We are born of God's Spirit. We are Identified with Christ along with other believers.
This is commonly known as the baptism of the Holyspirit.
That same Spirit seals us until the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30.
When we are born of God's Spirit we may grieve him but our great shepherd never let his sheep stray without seeking and finding him.
Jesus said in John 10:27-29 'My sheep hear my voice, AND I KNOW THEM, and they follow me:
And I GIVE UNTO THEM ETERNAL LIFE; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
( That eternal life starts now.) Jesus says he "KNOW" his sheep.
He could never turn around and say I NEVER KNEW YOU, or you've slipped out of our hands.
We are asked to examine ourselves to see if we are truly in the faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5. because there's a chance we have been manifest that we were not. 1 John 2:19 "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
I will pray for your son.
Bad things happens to us all, including our Lord and his Apostles.
Tell him to remember Job.
God bless you.
To know Christ and to make Him known is the theme of the Navigators ministry and correlates with 1 John and other passages.
This is a good summary of understanding the personal meaning of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for atonement as well as our duties fulfilling our part in the Great Commission.
I imagine most here know the necessary doctrines of believing Christ is a member of the Godhead and thus Divinity Himself who was the only one who could atone for sins (as the sinless spotless Lamb of God) by becoming a man as we are without sin and remaining so throughout His earthly ministry; then dying on the cross and resurrecting from the dead 3 days later. Finally; He is to return once again physically to rule and reign on the earth.
2 Timothy 2:8 and 2 Thessalonians 2:2 show we should avoid the error of stating that the resurrection has already occurred or the day of the Lord is at hand. Matthew 24:26 states that the Lord hasn't come yet for those who say He is hiding somewhere and also states the likeness of His arrival as lightning in the very next verse. This should be enough to disclaim what Preterists state that the Lord has already come. Therefore I would contend that full Preterists that state this are far enough off in doctrine that we should avoid fellowship with them.
Assuming we have the essentials of salvation straightened out; there are many other warnings and admonitions in scripture such as testing ourselves to see if we are in the faith would involve ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). We need to accept that doctrines aren't just what is required to be saved; but also what is necessary to prove that we are bringing fruits worthy of repentance ( Matthew 3:8 and many other similar verses). We are not subject to the law in some sense IF we are truly dead to sin ( Romans 6:11) in one sense; because we have a new nature; but in the same token we DESIRE to obey Christ and love and serve Him as Lord; Master and Savior.
Part 5. J Vernon Mcgee. (Paul and James View Justification.)
Therefore, we see that when Paul uses the term justification he is talking about a man's relationship with God; when James uses the same term, he is talking about a man's relationship with the world. One is perpendicular, and the other is horizontal.
Paul and James View Faith.
The same procedure runs true in their use of the term faith. Again, they mean something different. When Paul talks of faith he is talking about that which is toward God. Paul says that saving faith - a faith that is genuine and real - will transform a person's life. Paul said of himself,
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ( Philippians 3:7)
A real revolution took place in his life when he came to Christ. Looking again at Galatians 3:6, we read that "as Abraham believed Godit was accounted to him for righteousness." And then in Romans:
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. ( Romans 4:5)
Paul is speaking here of that which we bring to God. The only thing that a sinner can bring to God is faith in Jesus Christ. When James writes about this, he is not talking about faith toward God but about the works of faith. So Paul is talking about the root of faith, and James is talking about the fruit of faith, but they are both defending the citadel of faith.
Here in James 2:14.
James is not talking about the works of the Law. The faith that James is talking about here is professing faith, that which is phony and counterfeit. Paul refers to the same idea when he says in 1 Corinthians 15:2, "unless ye have believed in vain." Paul also wrote, "Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith" ( 2 Corinthians 13:5). James simply says that the faith which saves you will produce works-"works of faith.
See Part 6. Paul and James View Faith.
Christ's argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?
As per the other argument trying to discredit the word "one" sounds like your argument is that one doesn't really mean one, because Jesus used it to describe believers being one. I don't see how being one in unity as Christ's body somehow means that all the Bible verses about Jesus being God and divine suddenly don't apply? The verse about the Father and Son being one is only one of MANY verses competing the picture. The Bible already says Jesus the Word is God so how can you disregard that?
God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 KJV
You: Word was "NOT" God?
"Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." John 8:19 KJV
Have you thought about how your belief reconciles with verses like this above?
Isaiah 7:14 -
Yes, Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us". People called Jesus "God". He's King of King and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, first and last. Do you believe Jesus is Lord? I believe that is a requirement for even being a Christian. A Christ follower should know who Christ is.
1 John 5:7-8
John 10:30
John 8:19
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us" which includes Jesus, as per John 1:1)
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 2:22-24
Matthew 1:23-25
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 43:11
Part 2.
Here's is your response to the original post.
"Hello brother Spencer, Good evening! Thinking of doctrine, the Church practice of
giving and taking reproof by love maybe is part of what you are thinking? Church discipline and restoration?
God bless the walk.
Brother Carleton, That I absolutely agree with! However, that is not in the context of this message.
This message is more in line with Jude 1:3-4 with the focus on what is mentioned in verse 4 "For there are certain men crept in unawares,"
This has the thought of some has come into the fold sort of like through a back door.
Jude 1:10-15. He describes them. They are not Brothern. They are not Sheep.
As for "A Holy kiss.
Does the bible say greet "them" with a Holy kiss? No, I don't think so.
Romans 10:8-10 says the words is ni thy mouth.
These words is what we can confess to others if asked by what means are you saved.
However, what about the guy whom from his heart "by his mouth" speaks against truth?
We don't judge his present spiritual condition; he's done it ALREADY by refusing to believe and enter in the straight and narrow gate. See Matthew 7:13-15. and John 3:18.
What do these verses concerning a Holy kiss have in common? This Holy kiss is for the Brothern.
1 Corinthians 16:20.
2 Corinthians 13:11-12.
1 Thessalonians 5:26.
Romans 16:16.
The Holy kiss wasn't only meant to express love for the Brothern.
The Holy kiss is meant to express acceptance especially at a time when Gentiles was coming into the fold.
It certainly wasn't for non-believers.
Look at 2 John1:10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed.
Also see Romans 16:17-18.
Does open rebuke harm a brother?
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5-6.
See Part 3
You came to my mind while I was on my way home from errands an hour or so ago. And then the thought "Encourage" came into my mind.
I do pray daily for those on this site, but this prompting is not a common experience for me. So, I will encourage you and others on here with these words from Scripture.
The Aaronic Blessing in Numbers 6:24-26
"The Lord bless thee and keep thee; The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious to thee; The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
AND
Paul's Blessing in Ephesians 6:23-24
"Peace be to the brethren, and the love of faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
AND to close,
Paul's Blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen"
2 Peter 1:20 No PROPHECY of the scripture is (in and of itself it's) OWN private interpretation.
2 Corinthians 13:1 ...in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established .....
Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, ye shall surely not DIE:
Genesis 3:5 FOR GOD DOTH KNOW that in the day you thereof, then your EYES SHALL BE OPENED, and ye shall be as gods, KNOWING GOOD and EVIL.
This is ALL PROPHECY.
Genesis 3:22 And the Lord God SAID, Behold, the man HAS BECOME AS ONE OF US, to KNOW good and evil.....
The FRUIT was KNOWLEDGE of good and evil, the KNOWLEDGE of gods.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not WRITTEN in your LAW, ye are gods
John 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the WORD the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken.
Psalms 82:6
Deuteronomy 10:17 your God is a God of gods, and Lord of Lords ....
Psalms 136:6 Give thanks unto the God of gods, for his mercy endureth for ever.
Now, Eve was a prophecy of the coming bride of Christ by HIS RESURRECTION, and what happened she was resurrected with her husband to never DIE.
The gift of God is eternal life.
God can even use Satan to speak prophecy, what did Satan say, Ye shall never DIE.
Luke 20:36 Neither can THEY DIE ANYMORE, Adam (Christ) took of the fruit and did eat with his wife and Christ and his wife (creation) DIED, and the spirit of the Father RAISED them as ONE FLESH), for they are equal unto the angels, and are the children of God, being the CHILDREN of the RESURRECTION.
Philippians 2:5 Let this MIND BE IN YOU, which also was in Christ Jesus:
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, though it not robbery to be equal with God.
God Bless YOU!
I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness... A conscience if you will. Letting people know to prepare for judgment. For it will start in the house of God. A lot of people in the Church "think they are saved." So great is Satan's power of deception that the tares truly suppose themselves to be Children of the kingdom!
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves"
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
I can't tell you the enormous amounts of pushback I get from both "Christian" men and women on Ephesians 5 and even more pushback on 1 Corinthians 11 "head coverings during corporate worship whenever I bring it up.
Usually, the go-to scripture for these feminist Christians is Galatians 3:28.
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; TEST yourselves."
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
>The word of God cuts both ways, a two edged sword.
>How many husbands love their wives as CHRIST loves the church ..... probably NONE.
>The word says you are the WIFE of Christ, so these scripture of a wife submitting to her HUSBAND apply as much to you as to any earthly wife.
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves"
2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
I'm also always amazed by the amount of pushback this topic gets from both men and women in Christendom...
Paul urges all those claiming to be spiritually saved to "examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves" 2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV) 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?