Matthew
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Matthew 28:1, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
Let's see the grk." Opse(late or after) de Savvaton(the Sabbaths), te epephoskouse(as it begun to light) eis mian Savvaton(towards the first of Sabbaths)..."
Lets write it in English. Late (of after) the Sabbaths as it begun to give light towards the first of Sabbaths..."
Well it seems that we have a contradiction here. Because initially it says that the Sabbath was to be gone or just gone and next it says that as the Sabbath was gone the first of the Sabbaths was or just started to show. Why is this?
Because the first Sabbath is meant to be the day Sabbath and the second Sabbath is meant as a week. So the KJV correctly translated as "the first day of the week"
Compare it with Luke 23:54 and it gets very clear. According to Luke it was late at Friday (Preparation) not long before the Sabbath starts (which means not long before getting dark)
The plural form has to do with how the Jews expressed it in their language. Every language doesn't express meanings in an identical to all languages form.
Nicely laid out!
I also believe there were 2 Sabbaths that week. "The weekly Sabbath and perhaps the yearly"
Matthew 28:1 may suggest that.
"In the end of the "SABBATH" as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre..
From my research "Which may or may not be correct " In the original the Sabbath used here in this verse is in the Plural. (Sabbaths)
Also, this may have been the year of Jubilee
Jesus may have made reference to this in
Luke 4:18-19. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Just a thought
God bless you Brother.
It's possible that if they had the Holy Spirit, they may have been able to discern, but no guarantee. As for Matthew 28:17, those who were following along but still had doubt seem to fit the description given to us in James 1:8 of a "double-minded man." In Matthew Chapter 28, they see Jesus, they are worshipping Him, but there's another side of them that says this is too good to be true. They still had their doubts.
We know that Peter trusted Jesus, but when he was placed in an extremely difficult circumstance, he began to doubt as we see in Matthew 14:31. Peter was trying to look at Jesus and trust Him, and yet looking at the circumstances at the same time. We know Peter was saved. What become of those doubters in Matthew 28:17, we don't know but we can only hope that the Lord removed their doubt just as He did for Peter.
Blessings again my brother!
Judas Iscariot would be a good example of that.
No one suspected him. He fit right in with them from the outside looking in.
I've wondered if the Desciples would have been given the Spirit at that time would they have been able to disern that something wasn't quite right with him.
In Matthew 28:17 It amazes me how they saw the Lord, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
Again, Thanks for all that you do.
Blessings
Pt. 2
God is said to have favor on Noah and Abraham. Moses, and Israel in the OT. He did so in order to use these people to serve Him and accomplish His will in history in unique ways. He delighted in them because He had chosen them to be favored. I think it is important that we do need to often remind ourselves that our blessed standing before God as His child is not because of anything we have done or decided, but because it pleased God to show His favor upon us, to select us, even before He created anything.
That is a very profound thought. God knew He would bless us with His favor because He chose us to the praise of His glory aforehand! The Scriptures often say that so-and-so found favor in God's sight. But the reality is that the person found out that God placed His favor upon them, not that they earned it in any way.
Those who are favored of God know that God is with them and that nothing can happen to them apart from His good purpose ( Romans 8:28). When we have the favor of the Lord, we rest in quiet confidence that our sins are forgiven ( Romans 4:7), we are within the plan of God ( Psalm 86:11), and that He is there for us at all times ( Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20).
When someone has the favor of God upon their life, it means they carry an endorsement from heaven. God smiles upon them and approves of their pursuits and destinies.
Psalms 5:12 says "Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." The only righteous people are those who have Christ's righteousness imputed onto them.
His goodness, compassion and lovingkindness
To have the Lord's favor means that the Lord is in accord with an individual and has shown gracious kindness towards them. When we think of someone who has the favor of God, we think of someone in whose life we see tangible evidence of God's approval.
See Pt. 3
Brother, what you do is appreciated, you inspire study. I hope you do not mind this is my understanding, you say Jesus is not sitting on the right of God on His throne, that is an idiom, this means it is saying this is the person that has authority and power, and I agree but was given authority and power, but not with we will not see Jesus, Revelation 21:22. If we also read Ephesians 1:17-23 along with Acts 5:31 it says God exalted Jesus, exalted, the Greek word hupsoo means to lift or raise up, to exalt, raise high.
Ephesians 1:20-21, God raised Jesus and set Him; the Greek word kathizo means make to sit; I set, appoint a physical position of the power of the throne, that is God's divine power and authority over all of creation. After Jesus was raised from the dead, Psalm 8:6 Philippians 2:9-10. This will be until all enemies are under His feet, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28. The throne can also mean sharing in honor and glory by overcoming as we see in Revelation 3:21.
Jesus has been given this position, we know God placed Jesus above all in heaven and earth and under the earth Ephesians 1:19-21. Jesus was raised in a glorified body, and we will be raised in a body as His, Philippians 3:21. Jesus ascended and is in heaven in that glorified body, Acts 1:10 and when He returns it will be in that same glorified body, Revelation 19.
The other words that throw light on this are Matthew 28:18 and John 13:3, given the Greek word didomi which means to give, to give something to someone, to bestow a gift, to appoint to an office, to supply, furnish necessary things. Something given to you that you did not have before it was given like salvation and eternal life is given, godliness, 2 Peter 1:3-8.
We also have Matthew 11:27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father" delivered the Greek word paradidomi a close word to didomi properly to give, hand over, to deliver over with a sense of close personal involvement.
Thank you and God bless,
RLW
May we all learn and desire to trust and obey You in everything we are called to do. Matthew 28:18-20
September 7, 2024
1 John 5:7: For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.
John 14:26: But the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.
Matthew 28:18- 20: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and on earth. (Read More)
John 15:26 But when the Comforter comes, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
1 Corinthians 8:6: But to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
John 14:10: Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself; but the Father that dwells in me, he doeth the works.
Genesis 1:26: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and the cattle, and all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.
Romans 8:26- 27: Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered. (Read More...)
Ephesians 4:6: One God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all.
1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Isaiah 48:16: Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the begin
1. All the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ, for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. [ Col 2:9]
2. All of God is in Christ. [To wit, that God was in Christ] 2Co 5:19]
3. All the fullness of the Father dwells in Christ. [For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell, Col 1:19]
4. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh. 1Ti 3:16]
5. God dwelt among us. [And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, Joh 1:14]
6. Jesus is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father. Isa 9.
7. All things were created by Jesus. Col 1:16.
8. Jesus is God with us (Immanuel). Matt 1.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one omnipresent God, consistent with His Law. In Exo 20:3. He tells us to have "no other gods before me." ( Exo 20:1-3) Those who deny God's omnipresent nature on earth have another god.
Other references that support "one triune God" and not a "trinity of three" are: Isa 9:6-7; 1Tim 3:16; Mat 1:23; Joh 14:9; Joh 1:1-14; Lev 11:44; Joh 4:24; Mar 14:62; Joh 8:24; Exo 3:14; Joh 10:30-33; Rev 1:7-9; Rev 1:18; Mat 28:17; Heb 13:8; Joh 6:61-64, and there are more.
1 Thessalonians 5:23- 28 confirms our triune nature. "May the very God of peace sanctify you wholly, and I pray God your whole (1) spirit, (2) soul, and (3) body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Being made in the image of God means we cannot be separated; otherwise, we are dead like all idols. But praise His holy name, our one omnipresent tripartite God has appeared in the Old and New Testaments in the image of man,
Matthew 28:19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost:
John 10:30: I and my Father are one.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (One God)
Thanks for your response bro. Ronald. I looked at Matthew 28:19, but unfortunately couldn't really understand your point here. But if I may, I will address the latter part of your recent comment to me, first.
You stated, "The importance that has been placed on this doctrine (trinity) 400 years after Jesus and the people who have been killed over it..". I know that this is a generally held belief by those holding the non-trinitarian position, but from examination of Church history, I've found this to be untrue. If I might provide some quotes in support:
"Now may the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the eternal High Priest himself, the Son of God Jesus Christ, build you up in faith and truth and in all gentleness and in all freedom from anger and forbearance and steadfastness and patient endurance and purity, and may he give to you a share and a place among his saints, and to us with you, and to all those under heaven who will yet believe in our LORD AND GOD JESUS CHRIST and in his Father who raised him from the dead." (an excerpt from the Letter of Polycarp to the Philippians, AD120-190).
Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch, wrote several letters to the Churches en route to his execution in Rome (circa AD110).
In his Letter to the Ephesians (18:2) he states: "For our God, Jesus the Christ, was conceived by Mary according to God's plan..".
In (19:3) he states: "Consequently all magic and every kind of spell were dissolved, the ignorance so characteristic of wickedness vanished, and the ancient kingdom was abolished, when God appeared in human form to bring the newness of eternal life..".
In (7:2) he states: "There is only one physician, who is both flesh and spirit, born and unborn, God in man, true life in death, both from Mary and from God, first subject to suffering and then beyond it, Jesus Christ our Lord". Onto Page 2.
Thank you, not trying to offend anyone because the belief in this doctrine goes deep. I once believed in the pre-existence of Jesus. In my study, there are too many things that contradict it. Like Matthew 28:19 there is not one baptism done in Scripture, only in the name of Jesus.
John 1:1-5 The reason I understand it as the beginning of Jesus's ministry is John also repeats it in 1 John 1:1 "That was from the beginning". Luke 1:2 also begins his introduction "which from the beginning" it was the beginning of time the apostles were with Jesus. We see in Revelation 19:13 that Jesus's name is called the Word of God, my understanding this is a title it does not say Jesus is God.
Jesus was the Word of God, we see all through Scripture Jesus says it is God's word, not His. In John 1:3 If we take the beginning as Jesus's start of His ministry the beginning of the new creation came into being through Jesus.
We see in John 1:6, that John tells of John the Baptist, a man sent from God, this is also about the beginning of Jesus's ministry when Jesus was anointed the Messiah. In verse 10 it says the world was made by him the Greek word dia could read as well as the world was made through him. That I see as in the plan of God all was through and for Jesus and what He would be since God sees the end the same as the beginning.
The importance that has been placed on this doctrine 400 years after Jesus and the people who have been killed over it, and today many churches will ostracize you. I don't feel the love of God would be in that. If it is that important that it is held equal to the belief in Jesus, Jesus would have told us when He was here but He did not say a word about it.
Thanks again brother, I know we do not agree.
God bless,
RLW
Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
John 17:1-3 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
2 John 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
1 Corinthians 15:25,28 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Revelation 3:12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
God bless,
RLW
2 Chronicles 25:19 KJV
Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
My Respond:
It's best not to do what you believe in yourself if not of God to say and do. Because it can turn into pride that can lead to a defeat.
2 Chronicles 25:18 KJV
And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.
My Respond:
"Our strength and success, should always be grounded in obedience to God, not in your abilities & pride." My interpetation what has blessed me not to believe in thistle but to Trust in God Ephesians 6:15 KJV having obedience not to go astray staying aligned with God's will.
When it comes to our own logics and preparations we must see logic as the set of rules we must follow to think like God thinks , when is to think rightly . Logic undegirds morality , making decisions between right and wrong. Gives a clear conscience to speak and behave and helps you making decisions not to be bitter and harm people. To help have preparations is to read your bible ( Romans 12:2 KJv)
Preparation- In a general sense, to fit, adapt, or qualify fir a particular purpose,end, use, service, or state, by any means whatever.
Ways your logic can be in God's logic is come to God in humility to receive Jesus Christ in your heart ( Romans 10:9-10 KJV) believing in his death burial , resurrection.- Matthew 27:50 KJVMatthew 27:51 KJV, Matthew 28:9 KJV .
Published by REDAPPLETREATY4MEONLY
Matthew 27:50 - Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
The word yielded in Greek means to dismiss your spirit. He literally dismissed it. And the word ghost is spirit. He decided when He was going to die, and He dismissed His spirit.
Matthew 28:4 - And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And for fear of him the keepers, that is, the soldiers, they did shake. It's interesting that this is the same word as earthquake, SEISMOS. The soldiers did shake, and they became as dead men. It is also interesting that the dead man rose, and the earth shook, and the keepers shook and became dead.
Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
He says, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations. Now the word "go," and you hear this quoted often, but the word go in all of the manuscripts, it is not a command. It is actually what is called an Aorist Participle.
It's translated "After having gone." It is not a command to go.
Well, that is all I have to share on Matthew. I may have missed some things, but what I've shared are places where I see differences in what our English bibles are saying and what is said in the Greek text. Some of this information I have shared is just general information, other things are words that I feel the translators may not have used the correct word or words.
I am currently working on Mark and will be posting soon with what I find (Lord willing!)
God Bless!!!
Ephesians 2:1,8-10. As earlier mentioned, these verses show that we were dead in sin, but now made spiritually alive. And this has happed by God's Grace & God's Faith that are given to the sinner under conviction so that he might be saved. Grace & Faith must be present before re-birth - not after; if after re-birth, then there is no point in such needed Grace & Faith after salvation, for salvation is already received.
You may "fail to see how my understanding fits with any of the verses you have quoted", so I've shared what my understanding of those verses is. "Universal Atonement", or better, 'The Gospel to be brought to all people' is taught in the Bible ( John 3:16, Matthew 28:18-20), that all need to hear of this Good News of Salvation & express faith in Jesus' finished Work to be accepted of God. Or else, the Holy Spirit should have alerted Paul, Peter, and others as to specific individuals that should hear, receive the Gospel & be saved, to the exclusion of all others. And I simply don't find them doing any such thing or even teaching it. True, the Lord knows who will come to Him in repentance & faith, but all must have the opportunity to hear & respond. And those who seriously attend to the Gospel & affected by it, will surely engage the Spirit's ministry to lead that lost sinful soul to the point of repentance & calling upon the Lord for salvation. Romans 10:12-17.
Matthew 28:19
John 10:30
Colossians 2:8-9
Hebrews 1:8
1 John 5:20
John 10:30
etc
Try searching 'Godhead'
1 Corinthians 15:24-27KJV
24 The END cometh, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to GOD, even the Father( Luke 20:35-36); when he shall have PUT DOWN all RULE and all AUTHORITY and POWER.
JESUS does not need to be visible here on earth or present in Person to perform the strange work as Isaiah prophesied: Isaiah 28:21-22
21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that He may do His WORK, His strange WORK; and bring to pass His act, His strange act.
22 Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I HAVE HEARD FROM THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS a CONSUMPTION, even determined upon the WHOLE EARTH.
Luke 21:26-27
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.(cloud?it is the same cloud of Acts 1:9-11, understand? it has nothing to do with cloud or H2O around the whole world, such a thought is/would be ridiculous. Take a look)
By the way, The NATIONS will be wrathed, but the WRATH of our GOD comes... and He should destroy them which destroy the earth.
GET READY
1 Corinthians 15:24-27KJV
24 The END cometh, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to GOD, even the Father( Luke 20:35-36); when he shall have PUT DOWN all RULE and all AUTHORITY and POWER.
25 For he must reign, till he hath PUT ALL ENEMIES UNDER FEET.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
GET READY
Peter Apostle warned: 2Peter 3:12-14
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the Day of GOD (this Day arrived, the seventh and last Day or seventh and last millennium),
wherein the heavens( Ephesians 1:3-8-OT and NT) being on FIRE- Isaiah 20-21 AND 19- shall be DISSOLVED, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Get ready, do what GOD recommended- Isaiah 20-21
As to your question you have received several answers, my understanding in the Bible baptism is done only by immersion as the word means. As Jesse said sprinkling did not start until the 1300s and it was for the reason it was so inconvenient. So, this was done just because of convenience's sake, nothing Biblical about it. I agree with Giannis, and we must believe as Jesus said in Mark 16:16.
All we do is to be done in our Lord Jesus's name, Colossians 3:16-17. Many use Matthew 28:19 but we also see in the rest of Scripture that a person who is baptized in Jesus' name is someone who believes in Jesus as Savior, the Messiah, the Son of God who for us died, was buried, and was resurrected we acknowledge this by being baptized in His name, Acts 2:38 Acts 8:12 Acts 8:16 Acts 10:48 Acts 19:5 Acts 22:16 Romans 6:3 Galatians 3:27 Colossians 2:12 Ephesians 4:5.
Paul shows the importance of being baptized in the name of Jesus, Acts 19:1-6. God has placed Jesus and His name above all that is in heaven and earth, Matthew 28:18 Philippians 2:9-11. Salvation only comes in His name Acts 4:12 Romans 10:13. The name of Jesus is the source of power and authority for healing, miracles, and deliverance, Mark 16:17 Luke 10:17 Acts 4:7 Acts 4:30 Acts 16:18.
We are to give thanks in Jesus's name, Ephesians 5:20. Our faith is through Him and in His name, Acts 3:16. We must believe in Jesus, John 3:16 John 6:47 Acts 16:31 1 John 3:23 1 John 5:13. Whatever we ask for we are to ask in His name, John 14:13-14. We are to pray to the Father in His name, James 5:14. Jesus is our priest and the only mediator between God and men, 1 Timothy 2:5.
God bless,
RLW
I don't think any of us said that it is necessary to speak Hebrew and Greek to be able to understand the scriptures properly, that is impossible anyway. There was just a confusion on why some Bibles, like the KJV, use the word "world" in Matthew 28:20 while other, like the NIV, use the word "age or time" instead. And I think we came up with a good explanation.
My belief is that all those scholars and theologians who speak those languages have done that job for us translating the original scriptures so we are now able to read and understand the Word of God. And I think nobody doubts that if the Holy Spirit does not shed light in vain we read the Scriptures.
GBU
Firstly let me say I prefer the King James translation.
With that being said, Let me ad on to what Giannis has shared.
When we as English speaking people, when we see the word world we are thinking of the physical world at large.
I believe there is a Greek word for that, and it's oikoumen. "land that is the (terrene part of the) globe;
You will find the word world used this way in Matthew 24:14. "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."
In Matthew 28:20 in the Greek the word used for world is "eos" (time,age) its an Era or time period.
"kosmos" is also used for the word world, and you will see it used in John 8:23. "And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this WORLD.
kosmos is defined as
"orderly arrangement that is decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense including its inhabitants.
These greek words have different meanings and can not be interchanged.
Using the word age in Matthew 28:20 doesn't change the meaning intended.
God bless
yes, He will again return now IN LIKE MANNER to the same place from where He ascended, and He will reign and lead us in new celestial environment ( Ephesians 1:3) by His power, for a period of 1.000 years, the SAME CLOUD also will appear again, understand?) , as it is revealed in Philippians 3:20-21: -->20 For our conversation is in heaven (heaven: Ephesians 1:3. Take a look.)-; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working whereby He is able even to subdue all things unto himself. By the way, He made it very clear when He said: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth- Matthew 28:18.
Get ready,Behold, the bridegroom cometh;go ye out to meet Him- Matthew 25:6.
Lets pray
Unfortunately,there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Re.18:1-3
According to GOD's Word,what needs to happen first? Exactly what is written in Revelation 18:1-5,i.e. the Judgment of the Great Whore,as follows:
1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven,having great power;and the earth was lightened with his glory.
2And he cried(will cry)mightily with a strong voice,saying,Babylon the great is fallen,is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils,and the hold of every foul spirit,and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
3For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her...
Get ready
29'I will not,' he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. 30Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. 'I will, sir,' he said. But he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
( Matthew 21:29-31).
We see through Romans 8:30 the idea of being called; justified and glorified without any mention of sanctification implied through discipleship. We can look at immature believers in Corinth who likely died in some cases without really being effective disciples. Nonetheless; we want to ensure that as Paul says in Phillipians 3:14 that we run for the prize. Crowns given for ministry; patient endurance or martyrdom don't come easy or to all but nonetheless since it affects our stance and spiritual authority under the King at least for the Millennium if not all eternity these are vital goals for us to pursue!
When we consider the Great Commission and God's calling for us to go and make Disciples of all men in Matthew 28:19-20 we certainly see that emphasized; and that seemingly over the concept of just leading men to Christ which of course is part of what it means to teach all the things Jesus meant and taught to His own on His earthly ministry.
The concept of personal sanctification and becoming separate from the world; therefore is also part of our growth as well as teaching others to be FOLLOWERS of Christ and the sacrificial lives that should accompany their declaration of salvific faith.
It has been stated and I wholeheartedly agree that today the message of coming to Christ is often watered down. This often is to keep attendance up and money coming in from unscrupulous church leaders. It also comes from the misguided notion that we may say something to scare someone off unnecessarily. We must share hard truth with love.
Evangelizing.
Some seems to prefer to minister to only other believers and have very little to say to unbelievers.
They are quick to judge and tell them where they are going but don't offer them the only way of escape. The Gospel.
In John 17:20 we see Jesus praying for our ministering to them.
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
I once copied an article on Evangelism. Here's how it reads.
Part 1.
To evangelize means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. Personal evangelism should be the lifestyle of every true Christian. We've been given a great gift, and our Master left us with clear instructions: "Go into all the world and make disciples of every nation" Matthew 28:19. Before we can "make disciples," we must evangelize. There are other reasons, besides Jesus' command, that should also motivate us to share the greatest news in the world with people who haven't heard it:
Evangelism is an act of love. Love must be the defining characteristic of every follower of Jesus Christ John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so anyone who walks in the Spirit will demonstrate love in dealing with people Galatians 5:16, 22-23. We possess the best news in the world, and love propels us to share it with those who haven't heard. Love wants everyone to have a chance to respond to God's offer of salvation. Withholding news that could save someone's life is the utmost cruelty; therefore, those who truly love God will love the people whom Jesus came to save John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:20.
Evangelism builds our own faith. Nothing helps us learn a subject like teaching it to someone else. When we make a practice of sharing our faith with those in our lives, we strengthen our own beliefs. Regular evangelism forces us to wrestle through the hard questions, find answers for ourselves, and prepare to respond to the questions of others.
See part 2.
Thanks for those insightful pages.
I would like to share another verse that is sometimes missed when studying this portion of scripture.
Matthew 28:19. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in "THE NAME" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(The name) notice that this is singular, not plural! of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus didn't say baptize in "The names" (plural) as in three different people. He said in "The Name" as if the father Son and Holyspirit is one God of the same.
This is an early indication of the Trinitarian Godhead and an overt proclamation of Jesus' deity.
God bless.
Thank you for your significative reply.
You know that "no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For 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".2Pe.1:20-21.
The author to the Hebrews wrote: Hebrews 1:1-3
1 GOD, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days(last two GODs' Days or last around 2000 years) spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the EXPRESS IMAGE of GOD's Person( John 10:30 combined with John 5:17), and upholding all things by the Word of His power( Matthew 28:18), when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Hallelujah!!!
And Paul Apostle wrote : 2Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of GOD may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
GOD BLESS
To the only wise GOD our Saviour, be Glory and Majesty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:25
Part 2.
We are not joined with those outside the body of Christ so, what are we as children of light supposed to do in a lost dark world?
We are to bare light and that light is supposed to shine on Christ.
We are his ambassadors in a foreign land.
We are to display the work of Christ in our lives and the evidence of a new birth bearing fruit. By this all people will know we are his disciples, and the fruit (especially Love for the Brothern) will also Distinguish between a false teaching religion/teachers and spirit filled believers where the spirit gathers and energizes. This is the operation of God by the baptism of the Holy spirit.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES; John 13:34-35, Matthew 7:16-20. 1 1John 4:20-21, If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
We are to Love the unbeliever, witness to them, and treat them with kindness and help them in a Godly way.
So, in what ways we are not to be unequally yoked with them? Many things can be mentioned but I won't get into that here.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18.
"The command implies that a great difference exists between a believer and an unbeliever. Generally speaking, the motivations, goals, and methods of a Christian are incompatible with those of an unbeliever.
Faith changes the character of a person. A Christian's highest ambition in life is to glorify the Lord Jesus and please Him in all things; an unbeliever is, at best, indifferent to such goals. "
Again, don't get me wrong here, we are called to minister to them in particular.
That is the Lords Commission. Luke 4:18.
It is our Great Commission to spread the Gospel; Matthew 28:16-20.
We do that with truth! We don't do it with lies and deception.
How should Christian treat one another?
See part 3.
7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord JESUS shall be REVEALED from heaven with His mighty angels, (for example, Michael. Daniel 12:1-3 combined with Revelation 12)
8 In FLAMING FIRE taking vengeance on them that know not GOD( Matthew 11:27), and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
9 Who shall be PUNISHED with everlasting destruction( Revelation 11:18) from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His Power( Matthew 28:18);
10 When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe...in this day. (The last Day, the seventh and last Day-this Day just arrived-, or seventh and last millennium)
1John 2:28 - And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
Isaiah 33:10-14
10 Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up myself.
11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
12 And the people shall be as the burnings of lime: as thorns cut up shall they be burned in the fire.
13 Hear, ye that are far off(Gentile peoples), what I have done; and, ye that are near(Jewish people), acknowledge my might.
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the DEVOURING FIRE? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? -> Hebrews 12:29- For our GOD is a consuming fire.
The Word is from everlasting to everlasting, the Word is GOD, self-executing, understand?
My post yesterday discussed Christ as firstfruits; specifically that raised from the dead. HIs uniqueness includes the following:
Being God in the flesh. This makes Him superior to all of His creation whether man or angels. Yet He had to be made a little lower than the angels to live vicariously that is in our place yet suffer all things as we do without sin. Hebrews enlightens us on this subject in many places and I would suggest studying the entire book as I did a few years back with a small group.
Besides His sinless life; we have His death and resurrection; which demonstrated His victory over the grave and sin and His atonement for God's chosen sons and daughters.
He has a name only He knows .( Revelation 19:12)
He has been given all authority over heaven and earth ( Matthew 28:18)
He has the keys to the gates of hell ( Revelation 1:18)
He will rule forever ( Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:33)
One aspect that is sometimes glossed over is that God can be jealous; and for HIs own Name's sake and also desire worship and be sinless. This is something that for any created being; man or angel that leads to destruction. This is why any image man creates of his conception of God is so dangerous and warned against in verses such as Exodus 20:4. That verse doesn't specifically mention God but it states anything in heaven above or earth below thus the Godhead would also be included. God can't be seen by human eyes ( John 1:18). Christ is by far the most represented in paintings and sculpture of the members of the Godhead; but with man's idolatrous heart he is led to worship these images much as he does with Mary and the "saints" whether real or imaginary ones in terms of their earthly ministry. The image of the cross is only beneficial as an offense and a curse; and is only beneficial to remind us of Christ's sufferings but also we need to look beyond that to His Resurrection and current ministry ( Heb. 7:25).
Part 3 Trinity discussion,
Do you believe the Son is a created being?
What is the meaning of created? Does it mean something that is made out of nothing? I would have to say no, Jesus is the Son of God who was conceived in the womb of Mary, Matthew 1:20 Luke 1:35, I do not think I would say He was created.
If so, when did He come into existence?
In God's plan before anything and physically when He was conceived in Mary's womb.
Do you believe that the Son is only human in nature?
Jesus is the Son of God fully human but without sin same as the first Adam, Scripture is clear when Jesus was baptized, He was anointed with the Holy Ghost/Spirit without measure, John 3:34. All the works of Jesus were done by the Spirit of God, Matthew 4:16 Matthew 12:28 Acts 10:38.
Do you believe that Jesus became "the Christ" during His lifetime (Adoptionism)?
I had never heard of Adoptionism until now, I had to look it up, it's false. Christ and Messiah are the same; Jesus was anointed by the Spirit of God after He was baptized by John, He then was made the Messiah/Christ fulfilling the prophecy in Daniel 9:25. Jesus is the Son of God conceived in the womb of Mary by the Holy Ghost/Spirit.
Do you believe Jesus ever aquired a divine nature in His earthly life?
If you mean a divine nature is to have all the attributes that make God who He is I would have to say no. If so, Jesus could not sin or be tempted, Matthew 4:1 Hebrews 4:15. If so, Jesus living a perfect life without sin is meaningless. Jesus could not have died; Jesus was given the power of the Holy Spirit when He was anointed the Messiah. After He rose from the dead God gave Jesus all power in heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18. God raised and placed Jesus on His right side, Ephesians 1:21-23. Jesus did not return to where He was before, God the Father placed everything under Jesus God's only begotten Son's feet and Jesus will reign until the last enemy is destroyed, 1 Corinthians 15:24-28.
See part 4.