I am reading these one at a time and responding to each if that is okay.
1) Life in Christ begins when an individual accepts Jesus as their Savior. It is here that they are born again, spiritually speaking, that is.
2) From that point, the individual must either
a) continue on the quest for spiritual life in Christ or
b) fall away.
3) If they fall away from Christ with the belief that they are still along the pathway to salvation, then they are mistaken in their belief and are on the pathway to not only hell, but are in danger of being cast out with Lucifer.
4) Hell is that condition of being denied salvation from sin, whereas being cast out is that condition of living with their father Lucifer, who hates them.
5) Both "hell" and being "cast out" are for the spiritually dead in Christ. Those who will be judged.
6) Those individuals who remain loyal to Jesus and follow him have eternal life and are saved from the just judgment of God for their sins. That is, they have salvation in Christ their God, from judgment.
7) Those who remain loyal to Jesus are free from judgment, while those who do not remain loyal to Jesus will be judged to go to hell or be cast out. Such will be the case for the beast and his false prophet, who are cast out with Lucifer ( Rev. 19:20, 20:10).
8) This is the parable of the sower where Jesus is the sower and some fall while others live ( Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Matthew 24
Mark 13
1 Peter 4:17-18 " For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Read the Book of Jeremiah. It is TODAY'S NEWSPAPER.
Mark 4:33-34
"33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Mark 4:17 "And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."
Deuteronomy 4:30 "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;"
Revelation 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Matthew 24:9"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."
Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light," "And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken." "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." "And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
If you look at Matthew 24:22 it says "And except those days should be shortened, there should be no flesh saved: but for the elect's sake those days days shall be shortened. This verse shows that the days of tribulation were shortened for gods elect. You will find in revelation chapter 9:5 that the time was reduced to a five month period. As far as generations that are mentioned in the bible in Genesis 6:3 God gives man 120 years that is a generation. Also in psalm 90:10 it discusses a lifespan of (70 years ) with "by reason of strength " potentially reaching fourscore years" (80 years). There is also the 40 year generation mentioned in the bible as a symbolic period of testing, trial, or probation, or as a generation. My personal opinion is that psalm 90:10 gives the correct generation for the parable of the fig tree which was set out in 1948. Psalm 90 was attributed to have been written by Moses making it one of the oldest psalms. In psalm 90 it talks about a life span reaching 80 years but if you think about it Moses lived to be 120 years old. We do not know the exact day or hour of Christ' return but by the signs true believers should be able to determine the season. What season are we in? The harvest season May thru September 5 months. Some of the signs that are mentioned in the bible are 1. (Increased knowledge and travel Daniel 12:4) 2. False prophets and teachings Matthew 24:5) 3. (Global unrest Matthew 24 6-8) 4.(Apostasy Revelation 3:16) 5.(Fig tree Parable Matthew 24:32) these are some of the signs that lets us know what season we are in. Matthew 24:32 states ( Now learn a parable of the fig tree.) Christ made it very clear that we are to learn this parable. When his branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves ye know that summer is nigh. this verse teaches us just as the budding of a fig tree signals the approach of summer the signs mentioned in Matthew 24 indicates Christ second coming is near even at the door. Mark 4:13 unlocks the fig tree parable.
Dear co-heirs, many thanks GiGi for a quick reply. And Bennymkje I can also see a reply from you, even if it was to someone else you wrote.
Because it is completely impossible to go an increasing way if we do not obey Jesus Christ. Then we understand that He has the last word and we must hurry and get clarity on where we fell from. Hallelujah The Lord is so good to me. As always, He shows me a way out, whether among people and I appreciate that. But His word is what solves a case. Now you will hear: This morning I opened my Bible as always, since I am early retired I have time for that. And seek Him. I just pray that "there are straight pipes" go straight up to God. He gives an answer to accusation, I believe that. 1 Corintians 13, as you mentioned GiGi. Everything written there shows us the mind of Christ. The "room" we are talking about is here. Mark 4:24-25 So it is proven that we must be careful with what we hear and also what we say, and of course about what we think. That we must be simple as doves and sneaky as snakes. Simple yes, but cunning as a snake I can't do very well. Since we are also dead in Christ, we are alive in the spirit. We notice that when we testify about Him. It is completely boiling with love and the people around discover and feel Jesus' care through us. So we want to live with Him in this way.
Then the Lord Jesus must help me and get through in my fight with my people I have around me. That we have the patience of an Angel and that He teaches us when we should move on. Away from what I get hung up on. As I have clearly done in this question. Thank you for the intercessions of all of you, may we all walk in the light of Christ so that the light we have in our hearts always shines for the outcast, the weary, those who do not have Jesus, the bitter, the downtrodden, the disappointed and the wounded, the sick and the poor, the grieving, the homeless and for peace for Jerusalem and that Israel is saved. Amen in Jesus Christ holy name.Stay stro
Many people interpret Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus, as a literal account rather than a parable. However, in Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10, Jesus explicitly states that He spoke to others in parables. We must consider the entirety of Scripture when evaluating this story, as I have referenced only a few relevant passages.
If this story were literal, it would imply that individuals receive their rewards immediately after death. This notion contradicts the rewards are given after the resurrection, as indicated in Revelation 22:12, Luke 14:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, along with what we see in Revelation 20:4.
What was the purpose of this story? Is it our choices, what we have faith in, God, or do we crave wealth, or do we have faith, and charity, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This story shows the rich man rich in worldly things, but poor in morality, and Lazarus the opposite. This story also points to Jesus' death and resurrection, Luke 16:31. We see that is what happened, they still rejected Jesus after He was hung on a cross and died, put in a tomb, rose from the grave, and spoke to them for 40 days, and it did not convince them.
25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The key verse in this passage is verse 34, "Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against."
Let's first understand which Israel is God talking about. Is God talking about the political nation of Israel alongside the Mediterranean Sea? The answer is, absolutely not! Christ spoke in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them ( Mark 4:34). A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. All kinds of people read the Bible superficially or literally and think that God is talking about the political nation of Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Luke 8:10 "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."
Mark 4:9-12 "And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
Mark 4:33,34 "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Matthew 13:33,34 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Daniel 12:4 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Daniel 12:8,9 "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
In the Bible, a PARABLE is an earthly story with a Spiritual meaning. Christ, God Himself, is the author of the entire Bible and He declares that "without a parable spoke He not".
Is not then every historical account in the Bible not only a literal account but also a HISTORICAL PARABLE teaching some aspect of the Gospel? ceremonial Law, lamb of God, book of Ruth, etc.?
As we look at what is going on in the world and in the churches and congregations today, what do we see?
We see a world where sin, i.e. disobedience to God's law, is and has been multiplying as never before.
We see churches and congregations exhibiting a love for the world as the worship service has become a place for entertainment. And an abandonment of the Bible, the Word of God, as being the ultimate authority; where the church itself is the authority and not the Bible. We see a gospel being proclaimed where man is in control of their salvation and not God alonea do-it-yourself gospel where Christ has done His part and now it's up to us.
So where are we in God's time table of His plan for the churches and the world?
We are, I believe, living in the period describe in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, the Great Tribulation. A period where God's judgment has fallen upon the churches as we read in 1 Peter 4:17 and 2Thessalonians 2:1-12. And where God is preparing the world for His return on the clouds of glory at the Last Day.
It is also a time where God is reveling truth from His Word, the Bible, that has been hidden in times past as we read in Daniel 9 and Daniel 12.
Daniel 12:9 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
But God, in this time, is saving a "great multitude" as we read in Revelation 7:9. Ezekiel 36:24-38, Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah 30 and many other passages which are pictures of God's salvation during this time.
If there were ever a time where we should be searching the scriptures and praying that God in His mercy might lead us into truth, this is that time.
But we must search the scriptures using the principles that God lays down in His Word. A key principle is that Christ is the author of the entire Bible and that He "spoke in parables, and without a parable spake He not" Matthew 13:34 and Mark 4:34.
May God in His mercy open our spiritual ears as we search the scriptures.
Mark 4:20 - And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
I just want to point out that these are Present Tense verbs, showing continuous action. Such as hear the word, continually hearing, and receive it, continually receiving it, and are continually bringing forth fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some a hundred.
Mark 4:21 - And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
The word candle in the King James comes from the word LAMPROS. It is literally the word lamp.
Mark 4:40 - And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Can you imagine such a big storm like that and all Jesus says is "Stop and be quiet!" Everything is like nothing happened! So, Jesus asks them two questions. First, why are ye so fearful? Now if it was me, I would be like "Fearful? You got to be kidding! We were in the biggest storm of our life. What do you mean fearful?"
But this particular word fearful in Greek is the word DEILOS, and in Greek, it literally means cowardly. Not fearful like PHOBOS. Jesus was saying, why were you cowards? How is it that you have no faith? That is not a challenge. He is saying take inventory. Why don't you have faith?
Mark 5:1 - And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
Some of our English texts might say Gergesenes instead of Gadarenes. Actually, these are two cites. And these two areas are close together on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 5:9 - And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
A legion is 6,000 soldiers. This man had 6,000 demons. I'd say that's beyond human ability!
Mark 3:22 - And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
This word Beelzebub, the Philistines had insects as their gods. Beelzebub is the "lord of the flies," and the Jews used to make fun of people. If they came across somebody's religion, they would say "Oh, you are worshipping flies today, are you?" It was because they worshipped the true and living God. So, the Jews would make fun of others.
Some texts say Beelzebul, not Beelzebub. Beelzebul is "lord of the dunghill." So, they say he has Beelzebub, lord the flies, and he casts out demons by the prince of the demons.
Mark 4:9 - And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
That is a very important phrase. I shared this during Matthew's Study, but I will share it again. When Jesus commands for something to happen, it has to happen. This is not an invitation as it might sound. He is saying the one who already has ears to hear, and then the text says, hear. It is a command! So only those people that have a spiritual ear to hear are going to hear it. That is all He told them about the story.
Mark 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
The term "Them that are without" means those that are without Christ, those who do not have a spiritual ear to hear.
Mark 4:18 - And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
In the Greek text it says they keep hearing it. It is a habit of life. They don't just hear it once. They are continually hearing the word.
Filled with the Spirit-The corporate worship experience (Focus on laypersons)
Reading the first chapter of Philippians for a detailed analysis for a special Sunday school project we are doing in the short term I realize that elders and deacons were established fairly quickly in the early church. It has taken me some time to understand somewhat what each of these roles is supposed to be (elder being essentially same as Pastor; and Deacon I believe being a sort of "helps" ministry). Honestly I haven't been in a church with a Bishop so I won't try to figure that out; I'll leave that to others.
I examined the other day how the Ephesians church seemed to have everything right and lost its first love ( Rev. 2:4 if I remember correctly). It would seem although I couldn't prove it that new and excited converts may have been a missing factor. We are; of course admonished on those who receive the Gospel immediately and with joy but have no root ( Mark 4:17) in the first part of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. Both extremes need to be avoided; joy is second next to love which clearly had disappeared ( Galatians 5:22). After all; there is nowhere that states that we cannot have continual joy; but as with a marriage maturity tends to make our perspective change as we delve more into the "meat" of the scriptures.
When it comes to interaction in a church of course it helps when a Pastor is genuinely glad to see congregants on a given Sunday; and especially other days of the week when they wish to discuss something. Again; large churches make this more difficult and the advice Jethro gave Moses to get wise decisionmakers under him rather than taking on menial burdens fits this situation ( Exodus 18:13-27). Of course it is good when we also rejoice and show appreciation for our Pastor. This of course has to go beyond common courtesies; and we should want to do more than just put our time in and check off a box. Unforgiveness on either end stifles the Spirit
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
Mystery of heaven or of the earth is not in itself but is in the Son. Mystery of his Father was in his Will and consequently it as the unseen world was made to appear. God framed the worlds by his world and this mystery can only be explained by what is made to appear. (He.11:3). This being the case the Spirit gives us this line, " If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."(v.23). The key is faith, nothing else. So Jesus employed parables mystery of the kingdom of God can only be opened by faith and enter therein with the help of the Son. All other vain exercises, are temporal and not from God. So the world and how the system works so any fool may aspire to the highest office and sit there is temporal. "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."(2 Co.4:18) So when we saw a dictator like Joseph Stalin striding like a Colossus for some 30 years, there was this mystery of divine Will also at work. Having caused some 20 million deaths he went out like a flesh. What was he but a flash in the pan! What is seen is temporal. Crooks fools innocents saints and all, have had their day. But the earth abides forever because the mystery of the Will is in lockstep with the Son fulfilling it. It is to this the key text refers. "He (man) knoweth not how./For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." It is as deep calls unto the deep.
In an astonishing cosmic cycle that occurs every 2.4 million years, Mars' gravitational pull is shifting Earth's path around the sun, warming its climate and increasing vigorous deep ocean circulation, according to a new study published a week ago in the journal Nature Communications. God is in charge, for sure. So nations beat the drum, instead of joy what it brings, destruction! The Soviet empire collapsed within 8 decades.
Heresies did not occur happenstance; but their knowledge of good and evil is still where the fall of man left it. Eve let truth given to her aside and let the counsel of the serpent, that seemed better' decide. She let the context determine if it is good or evil. Thus the context of glory of this world has created in them a contextual truth so they serve both God and mammon. If Adam was not trustworthy with the glory and true riches let him as the Parable of the Shred Steward tells,"for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light./And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations./ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."( Luke 16:8-11)
"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables" Mark gives us mystery of the family as is in heaven and on earth where God is one. He has set his throne which is the throne of sovereignty. He blessed all in his Son and the mystery is of his Will.
St Paul makes his sovereignty as the central plank so his good pleasure in his Son extended to all who received him in faith:
1:"hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." This refers to the everlasting covenant where on day Six God expresses "behold, it was good"(Ge.1:31). This covenant is inclusive so it is not any nation but whosoever received the Son should have adoption, of children as stated in the next:
2: "as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,(Ep.1:3-6). So the man is adopted to himself so he is 'the Father who art in heaven.'
3: everlasting life is conditional so John's Gospel assures us "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."( John 3:16). Today is the day of salvation is now while we are in our vile bodies and it refers our world of flesh and blood. Simultaneously the day refers in heaven as long as the Alpha and Omega mode of Jesus Christ extends and it is not for us to know. The point is we are saved according to the covenant, when we died to the world and to sin. We have a building of God, a spiritual body awaiting us. (2 Co.5:1)
Mark tells us in the next verse those who have dismissed this mystery shall not benefit from parables. "That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."(4:12). Heresies did not occur happenstance.
Christ's ultimate sacrifice: Primary purpose was to do God's will.
In studying Christ's death on the cross and the resulting salvation of our souls it is no small thing to focus attention and time on such a matter on a regular basis. At least from our perspective the meaning to us personally must be considered with all due reverence for how He took us from death to life. John 17:6-8 makes clear that God was the one who gave Christ all the ones who were to be saved. The following verses ask for unity among them all; and to be in the world but not of it (in general). These verses prayed during His agony in Gethsemane are the summation of much of the earlier chapters in John clearly showing that God was the one who predetermined (predestined) all those who would be saved and hear His voice as His sheep.
However you slice it; there are some who will and will not come to Christ. Also God knows ahead of time who these people are so therefore certainly could have designated ahead of time who would be sheep and who would be a goat; who would be wheat and who a tare; etc. In other words; it wasn't up to Christ to give out any information that could lead someone to the truth in a merely intellectual manner and therefore much of His ministry was spent teaching in parables. Compare Mark 4:12 with Luke 8:12. The lack of insight given so that people can be saved is clear from the first passage; but Satan is used as the agent to blind men's hearts in the second example in Luke of the seed by the wayside.
There are as Deuteronomy 29:29 states some things in the Divine counsel which men are not privy to. Certain things can be searched out; however ( Proverbs 25:2). John 3:16 states that God so loved the world and sent His Son. We should keep in mind here that Christ came first and foremost to do the Father's will. All those called and chosen would be saved EXCEPT for the prophesied son of perdition (see Psalm 69:25; Psalm 41:9; Psalm 109).
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." ( Mark 4:28)
Here we have a variation of the fruit-bearing tree with 'seed in itself' stated in the Abstract that shall never change. This is part of MOU between God and Man.(Ge.1:11) Any abrogation of the terms would be self-defeating since it the Law or the Word that is on the line. God cannot deny himself. It is His holiness.
The earth abides forever because it signifies the Son in the divine Will and a day is decreed for him and at the end of it there shall be gathering in sheaves. In the Parable of the Tares, we have this "and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."(Matt.13:30)
There is a time lapse which explains the principle of Similitude where realities of heaven is compared with that of the earth. There is a variation also in the yield. In terms of Isaac blessings of God is converted in terms of yield. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him."(Ge.26:12) Cf. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."(Matt.13:8) How come such variations though God created all hearts alike He tests their works and find their faith is not alike.(Ps.33:15) It is what the King's dream was all about.
(Dan.2:28-45)
Either we gather with Christ Jesus or we scatter which is what we find with the miry clay. Those who mixed God's word with doctrine of men "and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them." There is no place for them. It is what God does to the tares. Megachurches mean nothing; neither does it mean anything because the apostate church backed the winner. What shall they do when the rock hits them?
Jeremiah 17:8 along with Psalm 1 bring out the benefits of a tree whose roots are planted near the water. This steadfast faith in the Lord is contrasted in the next verse which describes the vicissitudes of the heart of unregenerate man. These vital concepts describe the state of a soul; who needs to be vigilant to bearing fruit and testing themselves to see if they are in the faith is a necessary prerequisite ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Those who do not bear fruit are cut off and burned; a figurative statement describing a very real state of the lost at Judgment Day (see John 15:2).
Surely all flesh is as grass ( 1 Peter 1:24) and like a vapor this life soon passes away ( James 4:14). Eternity is in men's hearts showing that indeed the nature of man is for their spirit to live forever after the body and soul perish ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). This means their legacy is either eternal glory and recognition of those things done while living for the Lord; or eternal damnation for the lack thereof. (see Matthew 25:34 and associated verses).
There is some hope for us who still are producing works of wood; hay and stubble ( 2 Tim. 2:21-23) to change to better works if we have a foundation in Christ ( 1 Cor. 3:11). This results in varying degrees or levels in the harvest and subsequent reward for those who are saved (see also Mark 4:20).
Those in the flesh and not Born Again can only interpret what they see around them in the world (the actions of others who serve as their peers and interpreted through their own understanding). God alone as I see it through predestination determines who will be saved. On our end it takes a fair evaluation of who we really are as compared to a righteous God which then leads to godly sorrow and repentance (which is indeed a gift from God as about half a dozen scriptures indicate). John 16:8 must enlighten us to our desperate plight that SHOULD be aided by proper evangelism appealing for individuals to repent.
2 Timothy 2:21 shows that we can clean ourselves so that we are not just vessels of clay but can be vessels of honor. Jesus tells us that he purges branches to produce more fruit ( John 15:2). We thus face that the lost are nothing but dead branches or profane vessels but we can through sanctification work towards purification and honor. We can perhaps see this also with the parable of the sower where some have the thorns of worldly cares snuff them out. ( Mark 4:18-19). A truly saved individual will pass the test of the trials which God places to test His own (see 1 Peter 1:7).
To succeed we need to be hidden in Christ ( Colossians 3:3) and truly be dead in Christ. Our old nature is impossible to put to death otherwise and will forever try to resurrect itself. God has put eternity into the hearts of men ( Ecclesiastes 3:11); yet that verse shows we cannot see to understand God who is basically beyond time and ourselves. Perhaps self preservation is a reflection that we are an eternal soul; thankfully God has the upper hand for those He has called and predestined will make it to glorification; and that for eternity ( Romans 8:30).
The concept of redemption or Kinsman redeemer is seen with the story of Ruth. Christ redeemed us from among men through His atoning sacrifice ( Galatians 3:13). He purchased us with His blood. He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west ( Psalm 103:12 also read verses 13 to 14). We have passed from death to life ( John 5:24). His Spirit bears witness with our spirit as to our salvation ( Romans 8:16).
These and many other promises are things to meditate on and give comfort. We can only undestand such things if we are spiritually discerned; however and one of His children. ( 1 Cor. 2:14-15). Let us test ourselves to see if we are in the faith therefore ( 2 Cor. 13:5-6).
Jesus affirmed,"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."(Matt.7:11) The Spirit introduced in the very outset to establish God as the First Cause and genealogies serve the purpose of creating a holy family from Seth onwards. It is thus predestination works. Many are called but few are chosen because the seed was not in those who did not make their election sure. (Matt.22:14)
Will of God as the cause and the Earth as the effect is neat but because of man's disobedience we have this question from Jesus. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Satan has slipped in tares and what heresies we find in our midst owe to two parallel governances of God and Satan. God shall purge the earth of all tares. "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."(2 Pe.3:7)
The Spirit introduced in the creation account seven days, which are the seven pillars of the house that Wisdom has hewn. (Pr.9:1) Think of each pillar as the cause in the divine Will of the Father; each pillar is built up in a sequence,- cause alternating with effect and it shall be a continual process. The writer to the Hebrews speaks about the Son "And upholding all things by the word of his power." God rested from his labors and there is a continual process going on which no one shall ever know unless it is revealed to him. Hannah in her new song sings thus, "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them."( 1 Sa. 2:8)
In John 6:15 we read that Jesus resisted those who wanted to install him as king by force. Jesus Christ would not want to be the king of the Jews under their terms. "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" (Matt.26:53-54-NKJV)
It allowed no room for compromise. Temporal powers like of Imperial Rome are 'tares slipped in by the enemy'.
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."
Here we are looking at the Parable of Jesus where the field is the world. The sower in the Gospel of St Mathew is God and the good seed is the word of God. St Matthew gives us four types of the ground that received it. In the parlance of the Spirit Number 4 is the word of God being true whether in north, south east or west.
Whereas the key verse quoted from St Mark speaks of the earth that abides forever.(Ec.1:4) God framed the worlds by his word so the writer to the Hebrews gives the will of God having an effect (He.11:3). It is faith of God given its full scope so there is no correction, or modification would be required. Consequently the entire divine Will beginning to show in a sequence,- and there be no variation. First the blade then the ear and so on. St Mark lays emphasis on eternal nature of the word of God, faith and hearts of men, which God formed alike.(Ps.33:15) So it is not an objective lesson from the nature that we are looking at. It is about Christ as the head and of the church.
This idea we find in the creation account, where 'seed in itself' speaks of a holy family, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."(Ge.1:11) God commanded and the effect we read thus:"And it was so." Heaven signifies the will of God and the earth represented by the Son, (the visible image of the invisible God-Col.1:15) sets forth a chain of sequences that we call the church, or in whom is the seed of truth. Full corn in the ear is when 'the one seated upon the throne shall say, "It is done." "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."
And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. ( Mark 3:12).
This and 22 other verses apparently exist in the Gospels where Jesus warned either people or the demons cast out of individuals not to tell anyone who He was. This seems to be particularly focused on the area where the Jews were; for we see exceptions with these examples:
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ( Mark 5:1). Here after Jesus cast the legion of demons out of a man he told him to NOT follow Him right away "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ( Mark 5:19).
We see the same principal with the woman at the well. John 4 doesn't give any explicit command for the woman to stop; but she goes to her town and brings others; who come to faith and He remains 2 days with an unnamed town of Samaritans who also come to faith after hearing from Christ after the woman told them to come.
These incidences above show how the contrast exists with the Pharisees and religious order who were hell bent literally to oppose and try to destroy Christ from the onset. Christ had to ensure that His time wouldn't come until 3 1/2 years after he started the public ministry; as it was there were about 10 attempts on His life before the Crucifixion at the set time. This also showed a lack of faith in general among His own people; a Prophet is not honored in his hometown ( Mark 6:4). Contrast that with the pasage above and others where He stayed multiple days and no doubt they didn't want Him to leave.
This situation lead; no doubt to Jesus speaking in Parables which at one point at least He ONLY did when speaking to the crowds. ( Matthew 13:34; Mark 4:34). This is quite astonishing and shows how facts alone don't convince hardened hearts. Perhaps it allowed less people to blasphemy the Spirit the unforgiveable sin or cause other to be persuaded such ( Matthew 12:31).
Genesis 13:14-17 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the LAND which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an INHERITANCE, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the HEIRS with him of the SAME PROMISE: For he looked for a CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.
Hebrews 11:13-18 These all died in faith, not having received the PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a BETTER COUNTRY , that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
Hebrews 11:39,40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The Promise of the Land, the Inheritance, the City, is the Kingdom of God, New Heavens and New Earth which are, ETERNAL, FOR EVER. It is not a piece of property on this sin-cursed earth which will be destroyed.
Thanks David0921. I'm sorry that I did not address the Scriptures you gave earlier as my comment would have been too long.
So to Revelation 13:8: "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". I understand that the Lamb of God was to be the Sacrifice for mankind's sins, preordained/predestined even before the worlds were framed together. This verse's central point is that Jesus was brought forth as God's Lamb purely for the purpose of sacrificial death in demonstration of God's Love. Those who now under the Blood (OT & NT saints) are written in that Book of Life, otherwise referred to as the Lamb's Book of Life.
Mark 4:33,34 & Psalm 78:2: "parables". I understand that you equate the mention of 'parable' in these references as having the same meaning. That is not always the case. The parables that Jesus spoke were simple stories people could understand & relate to, but they pointed to the intended picture of the nature of God's Kingdom (which they could not comprehend).
The OT also had accounts given in a similar parable style (as in 2 Samuel 12:1-4; Isaiah 5:1-7; & others). But Psalm 78:2 you quoted (& in others), the Psalmist is not sharing just a story with a spiritual meaning, but some of the history of Israel which he hoped would stir the hearts & minds of his readers to learn from. So there is a difference in the meaning of 'parable', even as the Hebrew word, 'mashal' suggests, & Psalm 78:2 makes no suggestion to Jesus' use of such parables. To Page 2.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
Mark 4:33,34 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Chris,
The efficacy of Christ's payment for the sins of ALL whom He has saved or ever will save extends throughout the history of the world beginning from creation.
The Ceremonial Laws which Old Testament Israel were commanded to observe were "historical parables" designed to teach them, and us, about the nature of Salvation, the forgiveness of sins. Observance of these Ceremonial Laws did not save anyone. And apart from Salvation, there is no forgiveness of sins.
Old Testament Israel did not have the whole Bible as we do today; so there understanding of the Nature of Salvation would not have been nearly as complete as ours should be today. Although Jesus was critical of Nicodemus for not understanding that we must be "Born Again".
But God does not require an extensive knowledge of the Word of God to save because Salvation is 100% the Work of God Alone, i.e. Grace Alone. The Salvation of the 120,000 Ninevites who humbled themselves and repented of their wickedness at the preaching of Jonah is a beautiful example.
So once again, there is ONE AND ONLY ONE Salvation for anyone whom God saves throughout the history of the world. And that Salvation is by God's Grace Alone, apart from any obedience to the Law of God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock{the LORD Jesus Christ}I will build my church{the Eternal Church, All True Believers throughout history, the ISRAEL OF GOD}; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mark 4:34 But without a PARABLE spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
The historical events that God records in the Bible are absolutely accurate in their historical account. But God did not record these events in the first instance to give us a history lesson. They are recorded to teach us some aspect of the Gospel which is God's Judgment and Salvation program for Mankind and this World.
And the Book of Jeremiah, like the entire Bible, is exactly that.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible interpretation that the God lays down:
Christ is the author of the Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
...the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
As we approach the end of the world, and Christ's return, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end. This is spoken of as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation is not found in the Bible. It seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the whole Bible is written for us today.
I am reading these one at a time and responding to each if that is okay.
1) Life in Christ begins when an individual accepts Jesus as their Savior. It is here that they are born again, spiritually speaking, that is.
2) From that point, the individual must either
a) continue on the quest for spiritual life in Christ or
b) fall away.
3) If they fall away from Christ with the belief that they are still along the pathway to salvation, then they are mistaken in their belief and are on the pathway to not only hell, but are in danger of being cast out with Lucifer.
4) Hell is that condition of being denied salvation from sin, whereas being cast out is that condition of living with their father Lucifer, who hates them.
5) Both "hell" and being "cast out" are for the spiritually dead in Christ. Those who will be judged.
6) Those individuals who remain loyal to Jesus and follow him have eternal life and are saved from the just judgment of God for their sins. That is, they have salvation in Christ their God, from judgment.
7) Those who remain loyal to Jesus are free from judgment, while those who do not remain loyal to Jesus will be judged to go to hell or be cast out. Such will be the case for the beast and his false prophet, who are cast out with Lucifer ( Rev. 19:20, 20:10).
8) This is the parable of the sower where Jesus is the sower and some fall while others live ( Matthew 13:1-23, Mark 4:1-20, and Luke 8:4-15).
9) Stay close to Jesus and live.
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."
Matthew 24
Mark 13
1 Peter 4:17-18 " For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Read the Book of Jeremiah. It is TODAY'S NEWSPAPER.
Mark 4:33-34
"33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Mark 4:17 "And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended."
Deuteronomy 4:30 "When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;"
Revelation 2:10 "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
Matthew 24:9"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake."
Mark 13:24-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light," "And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken." "And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory." "And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven."
Blessings
Because it is completely impossible to go an increasing way if we do not obey Jesus Christ. Then we understand that He has the last word and we must hurry and get clarity on where we fell from. Hallelujah The Lord is so good to me. As always, He shows me a way out, whether among people and I appreciate that. But His word is what solves a case. Now you will hear: This morning I opened my Bible as always, since I am early retired I have time for that. And seek Him. I just pray that "there are straight pipes" go straight up to God. He gives an answer to accusation, I believe that. 1 Corintians 13, as you mentioned GiGi. Everything written there shows us the mind of Christ. The "room" we are talking about is here. Mark 4:24-25 So it is proven that we must be careful with what we hear and also what we say, and of course about what we think. That we must be simple as doves and sneaky as snakes. Simple yes, but cunning as a snake I can't do very well. Since we are also dead in Christ, we are alive in the spirit. We notice that when we testify about Him. It is completely boiling with love and the people around discover and feel Jesus' care through us. So we want to live with Him in this way.
Then the Lord Jesus must help me and get through in my fight with my people I have around me. That we have the patience of an Angel and that He teaches us when we should move on. Away from what I get hung up on. As I have clearly done in this question. Thank you for the intercessions of all of you, may we all walk in the light of Christ so that the light we have in our hearts always shines for the outcast, the weary, those who do not have Jesus, the bitter, the downtrodden, the disappointed and the wounded, the sick and the poor, the grieving, the homeless and for peace for Jerusalem and that Israel is saved. Amen in Jesus Christ holy name.Stay stro
Part 4
Many people interpret Luke 16:19-31, the story of the rich man and Lazarus, as a literal account rather than a parable. However, in Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10, Jesus explicitly states that He spoke to others in parables. We must consider the entirety of Scripture when evaluating this story, as I have referenced only a few relevant passages.
If this story were literal, it would imply that individuals receive their rewards immediately after death. This notion contradicts the rewards are given after the resurrection, as indicated in Revelation 22:12, Luke 14:13-14, 2 Timothy 4:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, along with what we see in Revelation 20:4.
What was the purpose of this story? Is it our choices, what we have faith in, God, or do we crave wealth, or do we have faith, and charity, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. This story shows the rich man rich in worldly things, but poor in morality, and Lazarus the opposite. This story also points to Jesus' death and resurrection, Luke 16:31. We see that is what happened, they still rejected Jesus after He was hung on a cross and died, put in a tomb, rose from the grave, and spoke to them for 40 days, and it did not convince them.
See part 5
We read in Luke 2
25And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
The key verse in this passage is verse 34, "Behold this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against."
Let's first understand which Israel is God talking about. Is God talking about the political nation of Israel alongside the Mediterranean Sea? The answer is, absolutely not! Christ spoke in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them ( Mark 4:34). A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly or spiritual meaning. All kinds of people read the Bible superficially or literally and think that God is talking about the political nation of Israel. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Cont in Part 2
Luke 8:10 "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand."
Mark 4:9-12 "And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable. And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."
Mark 4:33,34 "And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."
Matthew 13:33,34 "All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."
Daniel 12:4 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Daniel 12:8,9 "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end."
In the Bible, a PARABLE is an earthly story with a Spiritual meaning. Christ, God Himself, is the author of the entire Bible and He declares that "without a parable spoke He not".
Is not then every historical account in the Bible not only a literal account but also a HISTORICAL PARABLE teaching some aspect of the Gospel? ceremonial Law, lamb of God, book of Ruth, etc.?
As we look at what is going on in the world and in the churches and congregations today, what do we see?
We see a world where sin, i.e. disobedience to God's law, is and has been multiplying as never before.
We see churches and congregations exhibiting a love for the world as the worship service has become a place for entertainment. And an abandonment of the Bible, the Word of God, as being the ultimate authority; where the church itself is the authority and not the Bible. We see a gospel being proclaimed where man is in control of their salvation and not God alonea do-it-yourself gospel where Christ has done His part and now it's up to us.
So where are we in God's time table of His plan for the churches and the world?
We are, I believe, living in the period describe in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, the Great Tribulation. A period where God's judgment has fallen upon the churches as we read in 1 Peter 4:17 and 2Thessalonians 2:1-12. And where God is preparing the world for His return on the clouds of glory at the Last Day.
It is also a time where God is reveling truth from His Word, the Bible, that has been hidden in times past as we read in Daniel 9 and Daniel 12.
Daniel 12:9 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
But God, in this time, is saving a "great multitude" as we read in Revelation 7:9. Ezekiel 36:24-38, Jeremiah 29, Jeremiah 30 and many other passages which are pictures of God's salvation during this time.
If there were ever a time where we should be searching the scriptures and praying that God in His mercy might lead us into truth, this is that time.
But we must search the scriptures using the principles that God lays down in His Word. A key principle is that Christ is the author of the entire Bible and that He "spoke in parables, and without a parable spake He not" Matthew 13:34 and Mark 4:34.
May God in His mercy open our spiritual ears as we search the scriptures.
Mark 4:20 - And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
I just want to point out that these are Present Tense verbs, showing continuous action. Such as hear the word, continually hearing, and receive it, continually receiving it, and are continually bringing forth fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some a hundred.
Mark 4:21 - And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
The word candle in the King James comes from the word LAMPROS. It is literally the word lamp.
Mark 4:40 - And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Can you imagine such a big storm like that and all Jesus says is "Stop and be quiet!" Everything is like nothing happened! So, Jesus asks them two questions. First, why are ye so fearful? Now if it was me, I would be like "Fearful? You got to be kidding! We were in the biggest storm of our life. What do you mean fearful?"
But this particular word fearful in Greek is the word DEILOS, and in Greek, it literally means cowardly. Not fearful like PHOBOS. Jesus was saying, why were you cowards? How is it that you have no faith? That is not a challenge. He is saying take inventory. Why don't you have faith?
Mark 5:1 - And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
Some of our English texts might say Gergesenes instead of Gadarenes. Actually, these are two cites. And these two areas are close together on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee.
Mark 5:9 - And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.
A legion is 6,000 soldiers. This man had 6,000 demons. I'd say that's beyond human ability!
Mark 3:22 - And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
This word Beelzebub, the Philistines had insects as their gods. Beelzebub is the "lord of the flies," and the Jews used to make fun of people. If they came across somebody's religion, they would say "Oh, you are worshipping flies today, are you?" It was because they worshipped the true and living God. So, the Jews would make fun of others.
Some texts say Beelzebul, not Beelzebub. Beelzebul is "lord of the dunghill." So, they say he has Beelzebub, lord the flies, and he casts out demons by the prince of the demons.
Mark 4:9 - And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
That is a very important phrase. I shared this during Matthew's Study, but I will share it again. When Jesus commands for something to happen, it has to happen. This is not an invitation as it might sound. He is saying the one who already has ears to hear, and then the text says, hear. It is a command! So only those people that have a spiritual ear to hear are going to hear it. That is all He told them about the story.
Mark 4:11 - And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
The term "Them that are without" means those that are without Christ, those who do not have a spiritual ear to hear.
Mark 4:18 - And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
In the Greek text it says they keep hearing it. It is a habit of life. They don't just hear it once. They are continually hearing the word.
the Boats double n more meaning, is its the 'Heart' or the 'Room' thats inside the heart of Evryone
Whatevr is constantly on someone's mind,wether it be someone or something. Is in there Boat
what ever is there, Abides with that persons soul/spirit. side by side.
Very important, if something not beneficial to a person knowing or not, look out!
so like the insurance commercial whats in your wallet, instead its, Who or What is in your Boat..
That space is never empty,while on earth,its the person n who or what..is with them in there space
Jesus's Beautiful message is, If im in your boat, no matter how quick a storm comes
no matter how much stuff in there you dont want
That boat will not sink.
he has power over the elements
his friends said Who is this.That can do this....ha..
the Son of God of course..
Reading the first chapter of Philippians for a detailed analysis for a special Sunday school project we are doing in the short term I realize that elders and deacons were established fairly quickly in the early church. It has taken me some time to understand somewhat what each of these roles is supposed to be (elder being essentially same as Pastor; and Deacon I believe being a sort of "helps" ministry). Honestly I haven't been in a church with a Bishop so I won't try to figure that out; I'll leave that to others.
I examined the other day how the Ephesians church seemed to have everything right and lost its first love ( Rev. 2:4 if I remember correctly). It would seem although I couldn't prove it that new and excited converts may have been a missing factor. We are; of course admonished on those who receive the Gospel immediately and with joy but have no root ( Mark 4:17) in the first part of the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. Both extremes need to be avoided; joy is second next to love which clearly had disappeared ( Galatians 5:22). After all; there is nowhere that states that we cannot have continual joy; but as with a marriage maturity tends to make our perspective change as we delve more into the "meat" of the scriptures.
When it comes to interaction in a church of course it helps when a Pastor is genuinely glad to see congregants on a given Sunday; and especially other days of the week when they wish to discuss something. Again; large churches make this more difficult and the advice Jethro gave Moses to get wise decisionmakers under him rather than taking on menial burdens fits this situation ( Exodus 18:13-27). Of course it is good when we also rejoice and show appreciation for our Pastor. This of course has to go beyond common courtesies; and we should want to do more than just put our time in and check off a box. Unforgiveness on either end stifles the Spirit
"St Mark presents the parables of Jesus as mysteries so 'his doctrine' explains the familial relationship of the Father Son in terms of the earth."
"And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,/Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow"
Here we see what makes the Gospel of St Mark distinct from others, especially that of St Matthew to which it has more affinity an others. In three chapters St Mark having revealed the power of the Son in healing of demons states the concept of family with God as the only Father includes both heaven and the earth on single standard: faith.
The significance of the Parable of the Sower owes to the faith which incorporates both heaven and the earth as one entity: the kingdom of God.
Before the worlds began God sent forth his word which shall not return to him void. So the harvest at the end ought to teach us the one world at a time as interpreted by false teachers is not from God. Satan has spread his tares so denying deity to Jesus the word become flesh by some is from bad motives. "But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come."(v.29)
The seed is good as the ground which is good. So we have the yield. "And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred."(v.8). The variation in yield shows up the nature of heart, a spiritual space. God formed all hearts alike and tries their works. :He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.:(Ps.33:15)
St Matthew presents the Sermon on the Mount, which in order to give a context of the Alpha and Omega aspect of the Son is set against the mountain. St Marks presents 'his doctrine' in terms of the two worlds framed by his word. So the earth is not to be detached from heaven where the word sown , fruit of which are yet to collected as well.
Mystery of heaven or of the earth is not in itself but is in the Son. Mystery of his Father was in his Will and consequently it as the unseen world was made to appear. God framed the worlds by his world and this mystery can only be explained by what is made to appear. (He.11:3). This being the case the Spirit gives us this line, " If any man have ears to hear, let him hear."(v.23). The key is faith, nothing else. So Jesus employed parables mystery of the kingdom of God can only be opened by faith and enter therein with the help of the Son. All other vain exercises, are temporal and not from God. So the world and how the system works so any fool may aspire to the highest office and sit there is temporal. "while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."(2 Co.4:18) So when we saw a dictator like Joseph Stalin striding like a Colossus for some 30 years, there was this mystery of divine Will also at work. Having caused some 20 million deaths he went out like a flesh. What was he but a flash in the pan! What is seen is temporal. Crooks fools innocents saints and all, have had their day. But the earth abides forever because the mystery of the Will is in lockstep with the Son fulfilling it. It is to this the key text refers. "He (man) knoweth not how./For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." It is as deep calls unto the deep.
In an astonishing cosmic cycle that occurs every 2.4 million years, Mars' gravitational pull is shifting Earth's path around the sun, warming its climate and increasing vigorous deep ocean circulation, according to a new study published a week ago in the journal Nature Communications. God is in charge, for sure. So nations beat the drum, instead of joy what it brings, destruction! The Soviet empire collapsed within 8 decades.
Heresies did not occur happenstance; but their knowledge of good and evil is still where the fall of man left it. Eve let truth given to her aside and let the counsel of the serpent, that seemed better' decide. She let the context determine if it is good or evil. Thus the context of glory of this world has created in them a contextual truth so they serve both God and mammon. If Adam was not trustworthy with the glory and true riches let him as the Parable of the Shred Steward tells,"for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light./And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations./ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much."( Luke 16:8-11)
"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables" Mark gives us mystery of the family as is in heaven and on earth where God is one. He has set his throne which is the throne of sovereignty. He blessed all in his Son and the mystery is of his Will.
St Paul makes his sovereignty as the central plank so his good pleasure in his Son extended to all who received him in faith:
1:"hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." This refers to the everlasting covenant where on day Six God expresses "behold, it was good"(Ge.1:31). This covenant is inclusive so it is not any nation but whosoever received the Son should have adoption, of children as stated in the next:
2: "as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, "unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,(Ep.1:3-6). So the man is adopted to himself so he is 'the Father who art in heaven.'
3: everlasting life is conditional so John's Gospel assures us "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."( John 3:16). Today is the day of salvation is now while we are in our vile bodies and it refers our world of flesh and blood. Simultaneously the day refers in heaven as long as the Alpha and Omega mode of Jesus Christ extends and it is not for us to know. The point is we are saved according to the covenant, when we died to the world and to sin. We have a building of God, a spiritual body awaiting us. (2 Co.5:1)
Mark tells us in the next verse those who have dismissed this mystery shall not benefit from parables. "That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."(4:12). Heresies did not occur happenstance.
In studying Christ's death on the cross and the resulting salvation of our souls it is no small thing to focus attention and time on such a matter on a regular basis. At least from our perspective the meaning to us personally must be considered with all due reverence for how He took us from death to life. John 17:6-8 makes clear that God was the one who gave Christ all the ones who were to be saved. The following verses ask for unity among them all; and to be in the world but not of it (in general). These verses prayed during His agony in Gethsemane are the summation of much of the earlier chapters in John clearly showing that God was the one who predetermined (predestined) all those who would be saved and hear His voice as His sheep.
However you slice it; there are some who will and will not come to Christ. Also God knows ahead of time who these people are so therefore certainly could have designated ahead of time who would be sheep and who would be a goat; who would be wheat and who a tare; etc. In other words; it wasn't up to Christ to give out any information that could lead someone to the truth in a merely intellectual manner and therefore much of His ministry was spent teaching in parables. Compare Mark 4:12 with Luke 8:12. The lack of insight given so that people can be saved is clear from the first passage; but Satan is used as the agent to blind men's hearts in the second example in Luke of the seed by the wayside.
There are as Deuteronomy 29:29 states some things in the Divine counsel which men are not privy to. Certain things can be searched out; however ( Proverbs 25:2). John 3:16 states that God so loved the world and sent His Son. We should keep in mind here that Christ came first and foremost to do the Father's will. All those called and chosen would be saved EXCEPT for the prophesied son of perdition (see Psalm 69:25; Psalm 41:9; Psalm 109).
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." ( Mark 4:28)
Here we have a variation of the fruit-bearing tree with 'seed in itself' stated in the Abstract that shall never change. This is part of MOU between God and Man.(Ge.1:11) Any abrogation of the terms would be self-defeating since it the Law or the Word that is on the line. God cannot deny himself. It is His holiness.
The earth abides forever because it signifies the Son in the divine Will and a day is decreed for him and at the end of it there shall be gathering in sheaves. In the Parable of the Tares, we have this "and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn."(Matt.13:30)
There is a time lapse which explains the principle of Similitude where realities of heaven is compared with that of the earth. There is a variation also in the yield. In terms of Isaac blessings of God is converted in terms of yield. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him."(Ge.26:12) Cf. "But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold."(Matt.13:8) How come such variations though God created all hearts alike He tests their works and find their faith is not alike.(Ps.33:15) It is what the King's dream was all about.
(Dan.2:28-45)
Either we gather with Christ Jesus or we scatter which is what we find with the miry clay. Those who mixed God's word with doctrine of men "and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them." There is no place for them. It is what God does to the tares. Megachurches mean nothing; neither does it mean anything because the apostate church backed the winner. What shall they do when the rock hits them?
Acts 16:13, Acts 17:2 Acts 18:4
"Protestants do not realize that by observing Sunday they accept the authority of the Spokesperson, the Pope." ( Our Sunday Visitor February 5, 1950.)
Jeremiah 17:8 along with Psalm 1 bring out the benefits of a tree whose roots are planted near the water. This steadfast faith in the Lord is contrasted in the next verse which describes the vicissitudes of the heart of unregenerate man. These vital concepts describe the state of a soul; who needs to be vigilant to bearing fruit and testing themselves to see if they are in the faith is a necessary prerequisite ( 2 Cor. 13:5). Those who do not bear fruit are cut off and burned; a figurative statement describing a very real state of the lost at Judgment Day (see John 15:2).
Surely all flesh is as grass ( 1 Peter 1:24) and like a vapor this life soon passes away ( James 4:14). Eternity is in men's hearts showing that indeed the nature of man is for their spirit to live forever after the body and soul perish ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). This means their legacy is either eternal glory and recognition of those things done while living for the Lord; or eternal damnation for the lack thereof. (see Matthew 25:34 and associated verses).
There is some hope for us who still are producing works of wood; hay and stubble ( 2 Tim. 2:21-23) to change to better works if we have a foundation in Christ ( 1 Cor. 3:11). This results in varying degrees or levels in the harvest and subsequent reward for those who are saved (see also Mark 4:20).
Those in the flesh and not Born Again can only interpret what they see around them in the world (the actions of others who serve as their peers and interpreted through their own understanding). God alone as I see it through predestination determines who will be saved. On our end it takes a fair evaluation of who we really are as compared to a righteous God which then leads to godly sorrow and repentance (which is indeed a gift from God as about half a dozen scriptures indicate). John 16:8 must enlighten us to our desperate plight that SHOULD be aided by proper evangelism appealing for individuals to repent.
2 Timothy 2:21 shows that we can clean ourselves so that we are not just vessels of clay but can be vessels of honor. Jesus tells us that he purges branches to produce more fruit ( John 15:2). We thus face that the lost are nothing but dead branches or profane vessels but we can through sanctification work towards purification and honor. We can perhaps see this also with the parable of the sower where some have the thorns of worldly cares snuff them out. ( Mark 4:18-19). A truly saved individual will pass the test of the trials which God places to test His own (see 1 Peter 1:7).
To succeed we need to be hidden in Christ ( Colossians 3:3) and truly be dead in Christ. Our old nature is impossible to put to death otherwise and will forever try to resurrect itself. God has put eternity into the hearts of men ( Ecclesiastes 3:11); yet that verse shows we cannot see to understand God who is basically beyond time and ourselves. Perhaps self preservation is a reflection that we are an eternal soul; thankfully God has the upper hand for those He has called and predestined will make it to glorification; and that for eternity ( Romans 8:30).
The concept of redemption or Kinsman redeemer is seen with the story of Ruth. Christ redeemed us from among men through His atoning sacrifice ( Galatians 3:13). He purchased us with His blood. He has removed our sins as far as the east is from the west ( Psalm 103:12 also read verses 13 to 14). We have passed from death to life ( John 5:24). His Spirit bears witness with our spirit as to our salvation ( Romans 8:16).
These and many other promises are things to meditate on and give comfort. We can only undestand such things if we are spiritually discerned; however and one of His children. ( 1 Cor. 2:14-15). Let us test ourselves to see if we are in the faith therefore ( 2 Cor. 13:5-6).
Agape.
Jesus affirmed,"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit."(Matt.7:11) The Spirit introduced in the very outset to establish God as the First Cause and genealogies serve the purpose of creating a holy family from Seth onwards. It is thus predestination works. Many are called but few are chosen because the seed was not in those who did not make their election sure. (Matt.22:14)
Will of God as the cause and the Earth as the effect is neat but because of man's disobedience we have this question from Jesus. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Satan has slipped in tares and what heresies we find in our midst owe to two parallel governances of God and Satan. God shall purge the earth of all tares. "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."(2 Pe.3:7)
The Spirit introduced in the creation account seven days, which are the seven pillars of the house that Wisdom has hewn. (Pr.9:1) Think of each pillar as the cause in the divine Will of the Father; each pillar is built up in a sequence,- cause alternating with effect and it shall be a continual process. The writer to the Hebrews speaks about the Son "And upholding all things by the word of his power." God rested from his labors and there is a continual process going on which no one shall ever know unless it is revealed to him. Hannah in her new song sings thus, "For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them."( 1 Sa. 2:8)
In John 6:15 we read that Jesus resisted those who wanted to install him as king by force. Jesus Christ would not want to be the king of the Jews under their terms. "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?" (Matt.26:53-54-NKJV)
It allowed no room for compromise. Temporal powers like of Imperial Rome are 'tares slipped in by the enemy'.
"Full Corn In The Ear" (1 of 2)
"For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear."
Here we are looking at the Parable of Jesus where the field is the world. The sower in the Gospel of St Mathew is God and the good seed is the word of God. St Matthew gives us four types of the ground that received it. In the parlance of the Spirit Number 4 is the word of God being true whether in north, south east or west.
Whereas the key verse quoted from St Mark speaks of the earth that abides forever.(Ec.1:4) God framed the worlds by his word so the writer to the Hebrews gives the will of God having an effect (He.11:3). It is faith of God given its full scope so there is no correction, or modification would be required. Consequently the entire divine Will beginning to show in a sequence,- and there be no variation. First the blade then the ear and so on. St Mark lays emphasis on eternal nature of the word of God, faith and hearts of men, which God formed alike.(Ps.33:15) So it is not an objective lesson from the nature that we are looking at. It is about Christ as the head and of the church.
This idea we find in the creation account, where 'seed in itself' speaks of a holy family, "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so."(Ge.1:11) God commanded and the effect we read thus:"And it was so." Heaven signifies the will of God and the earth represented by the Son, (the visible image of the invisible God-Col.1:15) sets forth a chain of sequences that we call the church, or in whom is the seed of truth. Full corn in the ear is when 'the one seated upon the throne shall say, "It is done." "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end."
This and 22 other verses apparently exist in the Gospels where Jesus warned either people or the demons cast out of individuals not to tell anyone who He was. This seems to be particularly focused on the area where the Jews were; for we see exceptions with these examples:
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. ( Mark 5:1). Here after Jesus cast the legion of demons out of a man he told him to NOT follow Him right away "Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." ( Mark 5:19).
We see the same principal with the woman at the well. John 4 doesn't give any explicit command for the woman to stop; but she goes to her town and brings others; who come to faith and He remains 2 days with an unnamed town of Samaritans who also come to faith after hearing from Christ after the woman told them to come.
These incidences above show how the contrast exists with the Pharisees and religious order who were hell bent literally to oppose and try to destroy Christ from the onset. Christ had to ensure that His time wouldn't come until 3 1/2 years after he started the public ministry; as it was there were about 10 attempts on His life before the Crucifixion at the set time. This also showed a lack of faith in general among His own people; a Prophet is not honored in his hometown ( Mark 6:4). Contrast that with the pasage above and others where He stayed multiple days and no doubt they didn't want Him to leave.
This situation lead; no doubt to Jesus speaking in Parables which at one point at least He ONLY did when speaking to the crowds. ( Matthew 13:34; Mark 4:34). This is quite astonishing and shows how facts alone don't convince hardened hearts. Perhaps it allowed less people to blasphemy the Spirit the unforgiveable sin or cause other to be persuaded such ( Matthew 12:31).
The TRUE presence of God causes division
Genesis 13:14-17 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the LAND which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed FOR EVER. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an INHERITANCE, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the LAND OF PROMISE, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the HEIRS with him of the SAME PROMISE: For he looked for a CITY WHICH HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose BUILDER AND MAKER IS GOD.
Hebrews 11:13-18 These all died in faith, not having received the PROMISES, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a BETTER COUNTRY , that is, an HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God:
Hebrews 11:39,40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
The Promise of the Land, the Inheritance, the City, is the Kingdom of God, New Heavens and New Earth which are, ETERNAL, FOR EVER. It is not a piece of property on this sin-cursed earth which will be destroyed.
Christ "spoke in parables" Mark 4:33,34.
Thanks David0921. I'm sorry that I did not address the Scriptures you gave earlier as my comment would have been too long.
So to Revelation 13:8: "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world". I understand that the Lamb of God was to be the Sacrifice for mankind's sins, preordained/predestined even before the worlds were framed together. This verse's central point is that Jesus was brought forth as God's Lamb purely for the purpose of sacrificial death in demonstration of God's Love. Those who now under the Blood (OT & NT saints) are written in that Book of Life, otherwise referred to as the Lamb's Book of Life.
Mark 4:33,34 & Psalm 78:2: "parables". I understand that you equate the mention of 'parable' in these references as having the same meaning. That is not always the case. The parables that Jesus spoke were simple stories people could understand & relate to, but they pointed to the intended picture of the nature of God's Kingdom (which they could not comprehend).
The OT also had accounts given in a similar parable style (as in 2 Samuel 12:1-4; Isaiah 5:1-7; & others). But Psalm 78:2 you quoted (& in others), the Psalmist is not sharing just a story with a spiritual meaning, but some of the history of Israel which he hoped would stir the hearts & minds of his readers to learn from. So there is a difference in the meaning of 'parable', even as the Hebrew word, 'mashal' suggests, & Psalm 78:2 makes no suggestion to Jesus' use of such parables. To Page 2.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of THE LAMB SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.
Mark 4:33,34 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it. But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
Psalms 78:2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:
Chris,
The efficacy of Christ's payment for the sins of ALL whom He has saved or ever will save extends throughout the history of the world beginning from creation.
The Ceremonial Laws which Old Testament Israel were commanded to observe were "historical parables" designed to teach them, and us, about the nature of Salvation, the forgiveness of sins. Observance of these Ceremonial Laws did not save anyone. And apart from Salvation, there is no forgiveness of sins.
Old Testament Israel did not have the whole Bible as we do today; so there understanding of the Nature of Salvation would not have been nearly as complete as ours should be today. Although Jesus was critical of Nicodemus for not understanding that we must be "Born Again".
But God does not require an extensive knowledge of the Word of God to save because Salvation is 100% the Work of God Alone, i.e. Grace Alone. The Salvation of the 120,000 Ninevites who humbled themselves and repented of their wickedness at the preaching of Jonah is a beautiful example.
So once again, there is ONE AND ONLY ONE Salvation for anyone whom God saves throughout the history of the world. And that Salvation is by God's Grace Alone, apart from any obedience to the Law of God.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Acts 7:38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock{the LORD Jesus Christ}I will build my church{the Eternal Church, All True Believers throughout history, the ISRAEL OF GOD}; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mark 4:34 But without a PARABLE spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
The historical events that God records in the Bible are absolutely accurate in their historical account. But God did not record these events in the first instance to give us a history lesson. They are recorded to teach us some aspect of the Gospel which is God's Judgment and Salvation program for Mankind and this World.
And the Book of Jeremiah, like the entire Bible, is exactly that.
The following are the fundamental rules of Bible interpretation that the God lays down:
Christ is the author of the Bible. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14
...the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit 2 Peter 1:21
Christ spoke in parables (earthly stories with a spiritual meaning). But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples. Mark 4:34
We compare spiritual with spiritual. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:13
As we approach the end of the world, and Christ's return, God is unsealing truths that have been kept sealed until the time of the end. This is spoken of as a vision that will speak at the end and not lie.
Daniel 12:9-10 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Habakkuk 2:2-3 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
The historical-grammatical method of interpretation is not found in the Bible. It seeks to discover the writer's intended meaning, customs of the times, and the writer's intended audience and thus fails to recognize that God is the author and that the whole Bible is written for us today.