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Did God want borders to exist? |
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OT general
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If you are talking about divisions between God's people the answer is no. Jesus prayed for unity of all those who believe in Him through the apostles word (John 17:20-21). Paul tells us that it is God's will that we "all speak the same thing, and there there be no divisions among" us "but that" we " be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement" (1 Corinthians 1:10). The only way we can really be united as Jesus prayed is to follow Paul's admonition or Peter's in 1 Peter 4:11 where he said, "if any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God." |
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Must a woman have long hair |
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1 Corinthians
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I am trying to understand if a woman must have long hair accrodng to the words of the apostle Paul in the book of 1 corinthians chapter 11. Please help me to understand this passage ina biblical sense |
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Jesus' name baptism? |
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Acts 2:38
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Apparently the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus. Was this a revelation from the Holy Spirit after Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? |
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Just as if I had never sinned? |
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1 Cor 6:11
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'The term [justified]describes what happens when someone believes in Christ as his Savior: From the negative viewpoint, God declares the person to be not guilty; from the positive viewpoint, He declares him to be righteous. He cancels the guilt of the person's sin and credits righteousness to him.' (Zondervan NASB Study Bible, p. 1639) All this being true, it would be accurate to regard justification as a state in which my standing in the eyes of God is "just as if I had never sinned." Of course, justification by faith alone (Rom 3:28) does not give the justified one license to sin (Romans 6). The apostle Paul was falsely accused of teaching grace as a license to sin, as are many today who understand that SALVATION IS BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE. "Salvation is conditioned solely on faith in Jesus Christ. Nearly 200 times faith, or belief, is stated as the single condition [for salvation] in the New Testament." (Ryrie Study Bible, Moody Press) Guilty feelings or memories have nothing to do with it; the fact remains "we are justified by faith apart from works of the Law" (Rom 3:28 NIV). |
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Just as if I had never sinned? |
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1 Cor 6:11
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Though I concur with JVH0212 that Jesus has declared the believer righteous, I must add that this 'point of salvation' sinlessness is academic. We are not free from self, sin, temptation or the 'spirit of the age' until the Lord returns and restores us to a pre-Adam state through resurrection. You might say that we have won the (eternal) war, but the (present) battles rage on daily. Except Jesus, no one I am aware of is without sin. Even the patriarchs and the apostles had their failures. We are to pursue righeousness, and hope in it, not claim it falsely. If the church were truly made up of sinless people, there would be no divisions, no 'backsliders,' no problems at all. If we say, "Those troublemakers are not counted as righteous, they are hell-bound," there wouldn't be anybody in the church at all. I know that I won't 'cast the first stone.' This said, I stand by my first answer. For the present time, there is no sinlessness. Anyone who lays claim to present perfection is living in denial. |
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Should Paul haver gone to Jerusalem? |
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Acts
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Should the apostle Paul have returned to Jerusalem for his last visit? |
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How do you then interpret the verses... |
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Luke 8:13
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I want to thank you for the dialogue we've been having. I do appreciate your views and I hope I can be of some help. Of course, the Calvinism vs. Arianism debate has been raging for centuries. It is said that every Christian believes in Election; but not every Christian defines Election in the same way. Because of the length of my answer, I will send this in 2 parts.
. . . WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT ELECTION?
Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. To begin with, let's look at the biblical evidence.
. . . The Bible says prior to salvation, all people are dead in sin-- spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1-3). In this state of death, the sinner is utterly unable to respond to any spiritual stimulus and therefore unable to love God, obey Him, or please Him in any way. Scripture says the mind of every unbeliever "is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8, emphasis added). That describes a state of total hopelessness: spiritual death.
. . . The effect of all this is that no sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him."
. . . This is also why the Bible repeatedly stresses that salvation is wholly God's work. In Acts 13:48 we read, "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed."
. . . Acts 16 tells us that Lydia was saved when, " . . . the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul."
. . . Romans 8:29-30 states, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren; and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."
. . . Ephesians 1:4-5,11 reads, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . . . also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will."
. . . Ephesians 2:8 suggests that even our faith is a gift from God.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the apostle Paul tells his readers, "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation."
. . . Second Timothy 1:9 informs us that God "has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."
. . . (article by John MacArthur at www.gty.org - listed in Issues and Answers archives) To be continued in next message.
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Does Jesus' name satisfy Matt 28:19? |
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Acts 2:38
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Dear JVH0212 (again), Though I agree that Jesus Himself commanded that we baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this command was pre-church. The church was created when the Holy Spirit was poured upon the gathered believers in Acts 2. Thereafter, I find no reference to any act being done in any other name than that of the Lord Jesus, the Christ. I find no action 'in the name of God,' or 'in the name of the Holy Spirit.' (Rom 2:24 is OT quote) Rather, I find that the name of Jesus (or Christ Jesus, or the Lord, etc.) is used extensively. I can't think of this as a 'formula.' Was Luke being brief or flippant? Were the apostles being disobedient to Jesus' command? I find it interesting to note that on TV we often hear 'in the name of God' or in a wedding scene 'in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,' but never hear 'in the name of Jesus.' Is this because Jesus is a 'rock of offense' as the Bible (OT and NT) so clearly states? I well understand that abusing the name of Jesus by heartless and mindless utterance or meaningless repetition is not holy. However, the simplicity of His name should not be underestimated, nor should we become too 'religious' in our interpretation of scripture. I am not 'Jesus only' and I believe strongly in the Trinity, or triune nature of God. But that cannot negate the authority and the power of the name of Jesus, in fact it bolsters and confirms it. |
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Sabbath laws....do? or don't? |
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Col 2:16
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Are the Sabbath laws binding on Christians today?
. . . We believe the Old Testament regulations governing Sabbath observances are ceremonial, not moral, aspects of the law. As such, they are no longer in force, but have passed away along with the sacrificial system, the Levitical priesthood, and all other aspects of Moses' law that prefigured Christ. . . . Here are the reasons we hold this view.
. . . In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul explicitly refers to the Sabbath as a shadow of Christ, which is no longer binding since the substance (Christ) has come. It is quite clear in those verses that the weekly Sabbath is in view. The phrase "a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day" refers to the annual, monthly, and weekly holy days of the Jewish calendar (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; 31:3; Ezekiel 45:17; Hosea 2:11). If Paul were referring to special ceremonial dates of rest in that passage, why would he have used the word "Sabbath?" He had already mentioned the ceremonial dates when he spoke of festivals and new moons.
. . . The Sabbath was the sign to Israel of the Mosaic Covenant (Exodus 31:16-17; Ezekiel 20:12; Nehemiah 9:14). Since we are now under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8), we are no longer required to observe the sign of the Mosaic Covenant.
. . . The New Testament never commands Christians to observe the Sabbath.
. . . In our only glimpse of an early church worship service in the New Testament, the church met on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
. . . Nowhere in the Old Testament are the Gentile nations commanded to observe the Sabbath or condemned for failing to do so. That is certainly strange if Sabbath observance were meant to be an eternal moral principle.
. . . There is no evidence in the Bible of anyone keeping the Sabbath before the time of Moses, nor are there any commands in the Bible to keep the Sabbath before the giving of the law at Mt. Sinai.
. . . When the Apostles met at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15), they did not impose Sabbath keeping on the Gentile believers.
. . . The apostle Paul warned the Gentiles about many different sins in his epistles, but breaking the Sabbath was never one of them.
. . . In Galatians 4:10-11, Paul rebukes the Galatians for thinking God expected them to observe special days (including the Sabbath).
. . . In Romans 14:5, Paul forbids those who observe the Sabbath (these were no doubt Jewish believers) to condemn those who do not (Gentile believers).
. . . The early church fathers, from Ignatius to Augustine, taught that the Old Testament Sabbath had been abolished and that the first day of the week (Sunday) was the day when Christians should meet for worship (contrary to the claim of many seventh-day sabbatarians who claim that Sunday worship was not instituted until the fourth century).
. . . Sunday has not replaced Saturday as the Sabbath. Rather the Lord's Day is a time when believers gather to commemorate His resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week. Every day to the believer is one of Sabbath rest, since we have ceased from our spiritual labor and are resting in the salvation of the Lord (Hebrews 4:9-11).
. . . So while we still follow the pattern of designating one day of the week a day for the Lord's people to gather in worship, we do not refer to this as "the Sabbath."
. . . (www.gty.org Click on Issues and Answers. Click on Previous Topics) |
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Predetermined or Free Will |
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Luke 8:13
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You apparently did not read my post very carefully. For example, in citing Eph. 2:1 -- "dead in transgressions and sins" -- you made the point that it was not a literal term and then answered as though I claimed the verse referred to literal death. However, I specifically said "spiritually dead," which is how the apostle meant it. Spiritually dead is still dead, spiritually speaking, and so man cannot choose God. It's right there in black and white. You are not taking the words in their normal sense, but reading your view into them.
You seem to have presupposed the correctness of your own view and begun with a bias against Calvinism and will accept nothing else. Rather than starting with what you would like to be true, you ought to consider what Scripture says to be true. (Whether Calvinism is true is irrelevant.)
You also seem to not understand the term "predestined." That has the word "destiny" in it. It means that ones destiny is already decided. It does not mean that God knows what is going to happen in advance; God knowing in advance would be omniscience.
If you do not know the meanings of these basic terms, how can you interpret the verses correctly?
Finally, I notice that you have answered NONE of the questions I have posed to you. If you want to let us know your "verses," that's fine. But if you want dialogue, you need to respond to my questions as I have responded to yours. |
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Is Passover celebrated by Messianic Jews |
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NT general
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Again, to answer, we are going to have to ask the question: Did the twelve apostles, and those who came after them, stop keeping the passover?
If you are a Jew, then you are obligated by your circumcision to do so; however, if you're a gentile, not being of that circumcision of the flesh, then there is no obligation. The book of Galatians deals with the result of the gentiles who sought to be justified by circumcision and strict following of the works of the law - they fell from grace (Eph. 2:8,9). For we are justified "by grace and through faith", sanctified "by grace and through faith", and baptized with the Holy Spirit "by grace and through faith".
Noone could ever be saved (justified, sanctified, or receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit) by working the law, for all have sinned (transgressed the law - I John 3:4) and fallen short of the glory of "God" (Romans 3:9-31, specifically 23 and also 19,20). Neither the Jew nor the gentile can be justified "by the deeds of (by strict observing of) the law", "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (see verse 28 of the above passage in Romans). Neither are we made perfect by strictly observing the law; but, by our walk in His Holy Spirit in us (who are in Him by that Spirit) we grow on into perfection.
I believe that if your a gentile who is going to observe the passover to gain a deeper insight and understanding of the type, and not because you feel you have to do so, you are doing well. Otherwise, you have stumbled; but, be of good cheer, YHVH will uphold you even in your darkest hour. That is why he gave Paul the words to speak to the Galatians, and in a way to us today, so that we could be convicted of walking in legalism (if we do so) and repent. |
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Blue marbles roll faster than red ones |
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Rev 19:4
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The Urantia Book is believed to be a revelatory book. My opinion is that it could be the "book" that God said would be sealed up until the end as reported in the last chapter of Daniel. The Urantia book also could be one of the two witnesses noted in the book of Revelations. The Bible is the first witness and the Urantia Book is the second witness. The Uranita Books covers the life and teaching of Jesus Christ and uses many sources of information including the notes and diary maintained by the apostle Andrew. I believe the narrative of Jesus that is covered by the Urantia Book lines up with the words of Jesus as quoted in the four Gospels. This is the good news. The bad news is the Urantia Book is also a dangerous book. Because of the amount of information contained in the book, the reader's brain can be overwhelmed and short-circuited if the reader is not grounded in the knowledge that Jesus is the Son of God. Except for the pages devoted to our Master, the rest of the book is information we do not need to know. I use the book at a Bible commentary because it goes into greater detail about the events that took place in the life of Jesus. If you have other questions, please ask. |
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What does Bible teach on election? |
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Bible general Archive 1
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First, thanks for the excellent idea of setting up a temporary hotmail email account to communicate with other members of this website. Good work!
. . . Second, please note: what people usually call predestination is actually the doctrine of election. The two terms are not synonymous. "Divine predestination means that God has a purpose that is determined long before it is brought to pass. It implies that God is infinitely capable of planning and then bringing about what he has planned, and Scripture speaks of him as doing this" (p. 628, Baker's Theological Dictionary of the Bible, Edited by Walter A. Elwell, Baker Books). For example, Rom 8:29 (NASB) "For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;"
. . . On the other hand, "Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. . . .
. . . "In 2 Thessalonians 2:13, the apostle Paul tells his readers, "God has chosen (elected) you from the beginning for salvation."
. . . "In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God's attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God's sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice." (John MacArthur at www.gty.org, under Issues and Answers, "What Does the Bible Teach About Election?")
(. . . For further study: John MacArthur, The Love of God (Dallas: Word, 1996); J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1961). © 2000 Grace to You)
. . . Third, while all Christians do believe in election, not all Christians define election in the same way.
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Who are the 24 elders in this verse? |
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Rev 19:4
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Since the 24 elders are neither named nor identified, then we do not know their identity with any certainty. The 24 elders are "representative of either the whole company of believers in heaven or an exalted angelic order worshiping and serving God there . . . The number 24 is often understood to reflect the 12 Israelite tribes of the OT and the 12 apostles of the NT." (Zondervan NASB Study Bible, p. 1854) |
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In Jesus' name...except baptism? |
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Col 3:17
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"...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." COL 3:17 Except water baptism? I ask this question seriously. I am not Jesus Only. But it seems to me that this issue is very emotional. I asked before and got the patent answer, "The Lord Himself said..." I have heard others base their belief upon tradition. Admittedly, even some early church fathers baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost (Spirit). I also heard that the name of Jesus is an abbreviation of a 'fuller formula.' Fine. But that does not answer why we use one scripture to supercede many other scriptures. If we are to baptize according to the 'fuller formula,' should we not then do all things in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit? How is this reconciled with the numerous actions of the apostles in the name of Jesus, and the commands to use His name? Were our predecessors disobedient to the command of the Lord? Perhaps they were running out of time, and used the abbreviation? My friends and colleagues, I am not trying to be irreverent. These are valid questions. Whenever we study the Bible, we give weight to such arguments when discussing other topics. Please, answer from the Bible, trying not to be led by tradition or the commentary of others. My intent is unity, not division. I believe in the power of the name of the Lord Jesus. On a side note, please notice that it is not only the 'formula' that is an area of division concerning water baptism. Method, age, place, baptizer, etc. are all subject to 'differing views.' (i.e. division) I look forward to some good answers. (p.s. please don't SHOUT) In Christ Jesus
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Apostles mistaken? |
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Col 3:17
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Dear Ric, Are the examples of baptism recorded for us in the book of the Acts of the Apostles then invalid or mistaken? If everyone agrees on the 'formula' and the 'into the Trinity' theory, then why does so much controversy exist in almost every other area of the 'method' of baptism, including whether to baptize at all or not? I must tell you that it is uncomfortable to be 'swimming against the tide,' but I still find these arguments to be traditional, emotional and shallow. Without the single scripture, Matt 28:19, anyone doing a word study on baptism would come to the conclusion (and conviction) that it is proper to baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please, convince me with the Bible. In Christ Jesus. |
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In Jesus' name...except baptism? |
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Col 3:17
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Dear Xapis, I agree with your use of Colossians 2:12. Indeed, from God's point of view, baptism is not into a 'formula,' but by faith into Him. I have no intention of separating the Trinity. However, my point is the original scripture, Colossians 3:17 and the many scriptures in the New Testament the encourage us to live and hope in the name of Jesus. But, when it comes to water baptism, there is great controversy. In the Lord, this seems strange. Since tradition strongly favors those who use the accepted 'formula,' I have no 'earthly wisdom' to protect. I ask this from a sincere desire to serve my Lord Jesus. One of the most effective ways I know to serve Him is to study and observe the heart and actions of the apostles that actually walked with Jesus, and to pursue the same Spirit that they were led by. I know they were not infallible, but I also know that God gave us a record of their walk in faith that we might be strengthened and encouraged. I continue to ask, "All in Jesus' name...except baptism?" In Christ Jesus |
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(again) Apostles mistaken? |
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Col 3:17
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Dear Ric, Are the examples of water baptism recorded for us in the book of the Acts of the Apostles then invalid or mistaken? I know, deja vu. But I really am asking the same question again. So far, I have been likened to the 'Jesus Only' or 'Oneness' people, and accused of attempting to break up the Trinity, but no one has answered my question from the Bible. I seem to be getting into the emotions and traditions of man. The beginning of this line of questioning is the validity and efficacy of the name of Jesus. Please answer without giving me your opinion of the correct manner of baptism, or making suppositions of my motive or doctrine or accusing me of being attached to some denomination. In Christ Jesus. |
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In Jesus' name...except baptism? |
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Col 3:17
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see (again) Apostles mistaken? |
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In Jesus' name...except baptism? |
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Col 3:17
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Here is my thought on this subject. It is one that I have studied because I asked the same question and got the same standard answers. In Mat. 28:19 we are told this:
(Mat 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:
Then in the book of Acts, we see the Apostles baptizing people and they baptize them in Jesus name and not the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost. Using the Bible as my guide and not men's opinion nor doctrine. I have come to this understanding. Jesus is the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. It was in Jesus that God revealed Himself to mankind. Hebrews says,
(Heb 1:1) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(Heb 1:2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
(Heb 1:3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Jesus is what we know of God. Everything we learn or understand about God we pretty much learned from or through Jesus. So I believe doing everything (Col. 3:17) in the name of Jesus is doing everything in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Remember also that John 14-16 says when He, the Spirit is come, he glorify Jesus, not God. So I see everything in Jesus bringing glory to God the Father. By the way, I believe in the trinity, but in God's wisdom, He chose to reveal Himself to us in Jesus, one man, His only begotten Son.
WDC |
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Is any type of contraception allowed? |
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Bible general Archive 1
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Charis, your answer is excellent. It shows a great deal of knowledge and understanding -- Scriptural, biological and social -- of the subject. There's not a word of your answer that anyone could refute with Scripture.
. . . One group that has traditionally forbidden the use of any method of birth control except abstinence is the Roman Catholic Church. They have their reasons, with which I'm not actually familiar. But, along with you, I see no place where the Bible expressly prohibits the use of contraceptives.
. . . On the other hand, many Scriptures and Scriptural principles could be cited to argue against abortion, the USA's favorite form of birth control, especially abortion on demand. The first one that comes to mind is the Commandment "Thou shalt not kill," Exodus 20:13. Nor do I find any portion of Scripture condoning child abuse, of which abortion is the worst form, resulting in death. And none of the teachings of Jesus or the apostles give approval to the abuse of women. Since half of all abortion victims are girls, is this not abuse of women?
. . . Well, I'm sure you're familiar with the arguments against abortion. Thanks, Charis, for an on-target, thorough answer to the question. Keep them coming. Every day I search out Answers and Notes written by you. Your answers are always well thought out, but they are never dull. Take care.
. . .. JVH0212 |
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Baptism question in Acts 2 and John 3 |
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Not Specified
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1.
Acts 2: 37-39
Now when they heard they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
Does the order that Peter is mentioning here, i.e. repent, be baptize and receive the Holy Spirit, only apply to the Jews at that time in Jerusalem? Or for all of us for all times?
2.
John 3:4 – 6
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Is the water that Jesus is speaking about the water baptism or the water from the womb?
(I don’t mean to pull these out of their context but I wanted to make is simple. There’s a lot that goes into the background of what is being said and to whom it is being said to. Please fell free to reference other verses for me to look at based upon your response.)
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Baptism question in Acts 2 and John 3 |
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Acts 2:39
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1.
Acts 2: 37-39
Now when they heard they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself."
Does the order that Peter is mentioning here, i.e. repent, be baptize and receive the Holy Spirit, only apply to the Jews at that time in Jerusalem? Or for all of us for all times?
2.
John 3:4 – 6
Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Is the water that Jesus is speaking about the water baptism or the water from the womb?
(I don’t mean to pull these out of their context but I wanted to make is simple. There’s a lot that goes into the background of what is being said and to whom it is being said to. Please fell free to reference other verses for me to look at based upon your response.)
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Baptism question in Acts 2 and John 3 |
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Acts 2:39
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Dear Bereian, A lot of people from various backgrounds heard Peter preach these words. True, most were Jews. However, suppose it were only for Jews. Then it would only be the Old Testament-Part 2. The fact that we have the rest of the New Testament proves that these words were for all who hear and believe. The alternative is ludicrous. As to the words of Jesus in the book of John, I believe the Lord was speaking clearly about water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Apparently, thinking of 'water' as being water from the womb is trying to legitimatize the idea that we no longer need water baptism. I think the book of Acts is pretty clear that water baptism is a valid act of faith, a cleansing and a strength to all believers in Jesus. See Acts 8:26-38, 10:44-47, 19:1-5 I pray that these will help you. In Jesus' name. |
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Is Jesus God? |
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John 1:1
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Your question: Can anyone show me any passages that show that Jesus is God?
. . . The following outline is taken from Baker Topical Guide to the Bible, Walter A. Elwell, (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1991), ISBN 0-8010-2255-X, pp. 88-106. The Scripture references are far too numerous to include here. Also, if your friend is sincere, I would suggest he read (without the accompanying interpretation of The Watchtower organization) the entire New Testament, particularly the Gospel of John and the other gospels. As to your friend's unbelief, as Jesus said in Luke 16:31: "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead." Likewise, if they do not listen to Jesus Himself (the Gospels) and the Apostles (NT Epistles), they wouldn't believe if they were eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection.
Here is my answer.
The Deity of Christ.
...A. Jesus' Claims to Deity.
. . . 1. Claims Relating to God.
. . . a) Jesus Claimed Equality with God. Matt 10:40; Matt 11; Matt 28; John 3; 5; 6; 8; 10; 12; 14; 15; 16; 17.
. . . b) Jesus Claimed the Rights of God.
. . . (1) Jesus Claimed to Forgive Sins.
. . . (2) Jesus Claimed to Give Life.
. . . (3) Jesus Claimed to Judge.
. . . (4) Jesus Claimed to Grant Spiritual Blessings.
. . . (5) Jesus Did Miracles.
. . . (6) Jesus Cleansed the Temple.
. . . (7) Jesus Claimed to Establish God's Kingdom.
. . . (8) Jesus Exorcised Demons.
. . . (9) Jesus Claimed to Defeat Satan.
. . . (10) Jesus Claimed to Be Lord of the Sabbath.
. . . (11) Jesus Claimed to Be David's Lord.
. . . c) Jesus Claimed the Authority of God.
. . . d) Jesus Described Himself as God's Counterpart on Earth.
. . . e) Jesus Accepted Prayer, Praise and Worship.
. . . f) Jesus Found the Source of Power within Himself.
. . . g) Jesus Never Showed Any Consciousness of Sin.
. . . 2. Claims Relating to Human Beings.
. . . a) Jesus Promised Peace and Rest to Those Who Trust Him.
. . . b) Jesus Claimed Power over All Life, Space, and Time.
. . . c) Jesus Claimed to Determine People's Eternal Destiny.
. . . d) Jesus Claimed Final Authority over People.
. . . 3. Claims Relating to Jesus' Mission.
. . . a) Jesus Came to Be People's Savior.
. . . b) Jesus Came to Make God Known.
. . . c) Jesus Came to Sum Up the Entire OT.
B. NT Claims to Jesus' Deity.
. . . 1. Jesus Is Considered Equal with God. Acts 2; 1 Cor 1; 12; 13; Eph 4; 6; Phil 2:6; Col 1; 2; 3; 1 Thess 3; 2 Thess 2; 1 John 2; 1 John 5; Rev 20; Rev 22.
. . . 2. Jesus Possesses God's Attributes. E.g., Omnipotence; Omnipresence; Omniscience; etc.
. . . 3. Jesus Does the Work of God.
. . . a) God's Work Related to the Created Order.
. . . b) God's Work Related to Mankind.
. . . c) God's Work Related to the Problem of Sin.
. . . d) God's Work Related to Believers.
. . . e) God's Work Related to Scripture.
. . . 4. Jesus Is Identified with God.
. . . 5. Jesus Is Paralleled with God.
. . . 6. Jesus Is Assigned OT Designations of God.
. . . 7. Jesus Is Superior to Men and Angels.
. . . 8. Jesus Receives Prayer, Praise, and Worship.
. . . C. The Sinlessness of Jesus.
. . . D. The Glory of Christ.
. . . E. The Resurrection of Christ.
. . . F. The Exaltation of Christ. |
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No hope for unity of faith? |
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Hebrews
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Is there no hope for unity of faith? My esteemed (esteamed? :-) colleagues, I believe there is one possibility. Many years ago a present-day prophet spoke over me that I was a dreamer, but my dreams would come to pass. I envision a day when the Lord does bring us together, maybe even before His glorious return. I agree that this cannot be done by the present system of church organization. (or should I say division?) An appropriate scripture might be, "'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 3:6-4:10 Now I understand that these are commonly considered post-return scriptures, but I am not quite done. Paul spoke as if there was a method to bring us together. "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift... And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ...from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love." Ephesians 4:7-16 NASB I read here that just maybe the Lord is able to bring us together by adherence to His original plan of church leadership. I am not suggesting a 'super denomination.' This was not His intent. I am speaking of a simpler situation in which each local church serves the Lord autonomously with some (limited) spiritual oversight from the above ministers. As I said, it is a dream, not something I have 'worked out.' Though difficult to imagine, I believe the Bible says it is possible, AND better than what we have now. I cannot believe that our differences 'will never cease.' (kind of defeatist, don't you think?) I welcome comments. In Jesus |
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5-fold, what do they DO? |
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Hebrews
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Amen! EveryHome. I did not expand my thoughts regarding the exhortations in Ephesians 4, but if you don't mind, I will here. The question about these 'five-fold' ministers is not how we 'translate' their Ministry into modern language, but ask, "What do they DO?" An apostle is a "...person(s) sent out by churches on special errands..." Ungers Bible Dictionary. He is a servant between churches. NOT a 'capital"A"' Apostle, a boss, a ruler, or the top of the ladder. The servant part goes for all ministries in the church. Prophets should prophesy God's relevant, living word to those God sends him to. Evangelists should bring forth the Good News, not just to the unsaved, but to those who have not yet become able to live it. Pastors should shepherd the flock, and I mean KNOW them. Teachers should teach the things of God, not just Sunday School, but wherever God sends them. I do believe that when the above ministry returns to the church, we will be closer to the unity of the faith. Friend, I agree that this is happening in many places. And I know that there are many, many servants in His church in America, but it is obvious to this 'outsider' that the church is full of arrogant 'ladder-climbers' and seekers of fame and fortune 'for the glory of God.' Recognizing these 'false' teachers and prophets will bring simplicity and humility and unity to the church.
In case you haven't noticed, I preach about 'spiritual unity' now and then :-)
In Christ Jesus. |
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5-fold, what do they DO? |
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Hebrews
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Wonderfull that is what we are to do unity, ? are all prophets are all apostles, rhetorical it demands an answer. Jesus said in Luke 16:16 the law and the prophets were until john the baptist.Now the office of a prophet exhorts , lifts up and edifys the flock of God. there are only 12 apostles Rev 21:14 names of them the twelve apostles, remember for no other foundation can any man lay. love in Christ rcscroll Th.M |
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0-fold ministry? |
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Hebrews
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Dear rcscroll, Then Paul was saying what? 3-fold ministry? Paul called himself an apostle 16 times, so he was at least number 14 after Matthias. Then there was Barnabas, Andronicus, Junias, and James, the Lord's brother. Jesus was a prophet after John the baptist. In Acts 15, Judas and Silas are called prophets, and Paul speaks of prophets and prophecy as for the church in 1 Corinthians and Ephesians. Shall we also do away with 'pastors,' as the word only occurs once? 'Evangelist' comes up three times, and 'teacher' as a ministry only twice. You see, my friend, you cannot legitimatize ministry based on your own traditions. All five ministries are listed for a reason, and I think all are 'under-utilized.' As a matter of fact, many spiritual gifts (ministries are gifts) are misunderstood and 'under-utilized.' I believe that many today shun or disregard the spiritual gifts because they focus on the abuses. I will be the first to admit that these gifts are misused, abused and sometimes just plain false. However, I have witnessed these spiritual gifts being used in an orderly manner, bestowing blessing and guidance, edifying the church, and lifting high the name of Jesus. Would you also deny miracles, healing, and guidance by the Holy Spirit? Yes, indeed, these will help in our pursuit of unity. Obviously, knowledge and scholarship have not led us to unity, yet. I understand a dearth of balance these days, on both sides, but to do away with some of our most powerful weapons is unwise. Peace to you in Christ Jesus. |
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