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Interpretation of Bible teachings |
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James 5:14
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Please understand that a complete answer to this question would be quite long. Take this information and consider it while you search for Gods answer...and He will definately have one.
1. Most importantly, the idea that scripture has many different interpretations is not true. Hear me out. Yes there is a Priesthood of believers and we do not need to consult anyone but God to understand His Word. But this is not a license to interpret scripture in whatever way best fits our lives or beliefs. God wrote the Bible...end of discussion. To believe that it was a product of man and it may have mistakes is wrong. If it has one mistake, the whole of it can not be trusted. It may have a second mistake and we dont know where it is, so can you trust any of it? What if the part about how to enter into heaven has an error... It is either God Breathed or its not. See 1 Peter 1:20. The Bible must be interpreted with this question settled in your heart. God had only ONE meaning when He wrote it. Scripture has an abundance of Applications to our lives today...it is Living and active, and able..., but only one meaning. Try not to forget that God chose a certain generation and people group to unveil Himself to for the purpose of recording scripture, and that is not us. The epistle to the Corinthians does not begin with greetings to the 21st century Christians in So in So USA. It was to them in their time and their cultural setting. It does apply to us, but it was written to them.
2. Anointing ones head with oil may not mean what you think. In the cultural setting, way back in the time of Moses, God gave very discriptive laws about treatment of the sick. It was the priest who one went to when they were sick and they told them what requirement God gave for that situation. There were no doctors, only priest...elders. For many of the wounds then, a bandage soaked in wine and olive oil was appropriate to heal it. It was the elders responsibility to make sure you took care of the wound properly. This was the case later in the lives of mostly Jewish converts to Christianity in the time James wrote his epistle. In other words, the elders made sure you took their medicine. The wording Anoint your head with oil would have a profoundly different meaning to someone in the first century than it does today. This answer can be studied much more, especially using the Greek language it was written in which gives more details as to its meaning...ie.does the Greek word in place of head in English mean the literal head or does it have a broader meaning for the whole body...the head is control of the entire body as is with Christ being the head of the Church...
Consider this limited answer and go back to the text and look again.
Remember, if you hold that this taking to the elders and anointing someones head with some oil could lead poeple to believe doctors and medicine is not necessary. Maybe all that anointing ones head with oil does is get their hair all greesy!
Hope I helped some... |
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What is Pentecost and its significance? |
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Acts 2:1
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Pentecost is the Promise of a Universal Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon believers who ask for Him (See Luke 11:11, 12, 13) with manifestations Peter emphasizes in his sermon, a promise the Father made centuries earlier by the Prophet Joel (Joel 2) as Peter shows further in Chap. 2. It is the seal of the promise Jesus made in John 14 when He said he would not leave us as orphans, but would send us another comforter, the Holy Spirit.
By the Holy Spirit Jesus constantly remains Emmanuel, God among us. The day iof Pentecost is recorded in history as the birthday of the church which is the body of Christ on earth. |
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Can anyone give me more reasons? |
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Bible general Archive 1
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More Reasons .. ok
1.Not one of the apocryphal books is written in the Hebrew language, which was alone used by the inspired historians and poets of the Old Testament. All Apocryphal books are in Greek, except one which is only in Latin.
2.None of the apocryphal writers laid claim to inspiration.
3.The apocryphal books were never acknowledged as sacred scriptures by the Jews, custodians of the Hebrew scriptures (the apocrypha was written prior to the New Testament). In fact, the Jewish people rejected and destroyed the apocrypha after the overthow of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
4.The apocryphal books were not permitted among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the real Christian church.
5.The Apocrypha contains statements which not only contradict
the "canonical" scriptures but themselves. For example, in the two Books of Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanes is made to die three different deaths in three different places.
6.The Apocrypha includes doctrines in variance with the Bible, such as prayers for the dead and sinless perfection. The following verses are taken from the Apocrypha translation by Ronald Knox dated 1954:
Basis for the doctrine of purgatory:
(2Maccabees 12:43-45), 2.000 pieces of silver were sent to Jerusalem for a sin-offering...Whereupon he made reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
Salvation by works:
(Ecclesiasticus 3:30), Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms maketh atonement for sin.
(Tobit 12:8-9, 17), It is better to give alms than to lay up gold; for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin.
Magic:
(Tobit 6:5-8), If the Devil, or an evil spirit troubles anyone, they can be driven away by making a smoke of the heart, liver, and gall of a fish...and the Devil will smell it, and flee away, and never come again anymore.
Mary was born sinless (immaculate conception):
(Wisdom 8:19-20), And I was a witty child and had received a good soul. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
It teaches immoral practices, such as lying, suicide, assasination and magical incantation.
No apocryphal book is referred to in the New Testament whereas the Old Testament is referred to hundreds of times.
Because of these and other reasons, the apocryphal books are only valuable as ancient documents illustrative of the manners, language, opinions and history of the East.
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Would you please give scripture evidence |
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1 Cor 13:12
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An indication of continuity between our present bodies and the bodies that we will have is seen in the fact that those believers who remain alive on the day Christ returns will "be changed" - yet their bodies will not be replaced: 1 Cor. 15:51-53.
Jesus says that people will come from East and West and "sit at the table with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven": Matt. 8:11.
Matthew also tells us that when Jesus died, "the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many": Matt. 27:52-53. The fact that these people's actual bodies were raised, and the fact that they appeared to many in Jerusalem,indicates again that there was some continuity between their dead bodies that were in the graves and the bodies that were raised up. Since they came out of the tombs "after his resurrection" we may assume that these also were saints who had recieved resurrection bodies as a kind of foretaste of the final day of glorification when Christ returns. The fact that these people "appeared to many" suggests that they were recognizable - that the people knew who they were.
The evidence is suggestive rather than conclusive, yet it points in the direction of continuity between the body that existed before the resurrection and the one that existed after it. When Elijah appears on the Mount he is recognised. Also significant continuity between Jesus' body before and after the resurrection is seen in the fact that even the nail prints in his hands and feet and the wound in his side remained in his resurrection body. John 20:20, 27. |
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Explanation of Ezekiel's prophesy? |
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Ezekiel
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Yes, many believe that is what will happen. However, there is no way of proving it until it happens. Just like nobody knows when Christ will come again. |
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How are people married? |
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Eph 5:22
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Ephesians 5:22-31 (NAS;Lockman foundation)
22 "Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.
24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;
29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,
30 because we are members of His body.
31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH"
This is Paul telling the believers in Ephesus what is required of them in their marriage relationships. Marriage is definately instituted by God. do a bible search on "marriage" and you will get more information. |
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Predetermined or Free Will |
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Luke 8:13
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You wrote:
'3: To renounce your salvation would be to turn your back on God, to no longer believe or accept his Gift. To no longer follow the teachings of Christ. Granted, you could always say that person wasn't really saved then. But then what would you say would have happened to that person if they died prior to that drastic change?'
My reply:
Since they were never saved to begin with, then they would have gone to hell.
You wrote:
'And if you say that the person must not have been chosen by God to be saved and was only fooling themselves when they truely believed in Christ and thought they were saved -- '
Me:
That's not what I'm saying; that's what the Bible says.
You cont'd:
' -- then can you say for sure that anyone is saved?'
My reply:
No. Of course not. How can I tell if you are saved or if someone else is saved? Am I God? It would be quite presumptuous for anyone to claim he could tell if someone is saved or not, don't you think?
You wrote:
'Did Jesus die for everyone or just for a select few?'
My reply:
He obviously died for only a select few. In Romans 9, Paul calls them "the elect." If God HAD died for everybody, then everybody would be saved. Do you really think that people whom God has decided to save can resist His will? Do you put mere man on the same level as God?
You wrote:
'I can show you several versus that show that He died for all, can you show one that says otherwise?'
My reply:
Although I have shown you several, you do not seem interested in what they say. Again, a mere smattering a verses (not versus) means nothing if you do not take the whole of Scripture into account in interpreting them.
You wrote:
'Then if Jesus did die for all, how could there be some that God predetermined not to be save?'
My reply:
Indeed, you finally understand me. If Jesus died for all, then all would surely, without question, be saved, for Jesus' blood is in no way ineffectual. However, all are NOT saved; therefore, Jesus did NOT die for all, but only for His people, only for the elect.
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How is this done? |
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John 15:4
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Amigo, By the Holy Spirit! Faith, obedience, fellowship with the body of Christ (His church), sharing the Good News, etc. These will produce the 'fruit of the Spirit.' (Gal 5:22,23)
Live in Christ, Christ lives in you. |
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Is the Holy One Jesus of the Father? |
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1 Pet 1:15
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It is the Spirit of Holiness, which is the Holy Spirit of Yahoshua (John 14:9,10; I Cor. 12:12,13; Romans 8:1-17 compared with John 4:21-24), that is drawing us unto Himself and into a single body of believers in Him. Study the words of Romans 8:9-11 as they relate to the words of Ephesians 4:1-6; if you do, you will see that it is Yahoshua who is YHVH, and that Spirit in Him the Spirit of Holiness (this is His Father "that is dwelling in Him"). I say this because: "God" is one Spirit, but, the passage of Romans 8 has in it a reference to the Holy Spirit as: a. "The Spirit of God", b. "The Spirit of Christ", c. "Christ in you", and d. "The Spirit (of Him) who raised 'Jesus' (it should be Yahoshua) from the dead".
It is the one that dwells in Christ, that Power of Holiness and newness of life, by which Christ called to being that which was not as if it was (Genesis 1 and 2, specifically the verses of 1:26,27.)
One being, two parts (a body and a spirit), and three ministries as a Creator, Saviour, and a Power unto Holiness and newness of life.
Yahoshua is our Father, for it is by His Father (that Holy Spirit that is "dwelling in Him" - John 14:10) that He has created us all (Colossians 1:15-17). When a person tries to split Him into three persons, the confusion begins! I do not remember seeing any version or translation of the Bible refer to the Holy Spirit as "it", but the Spirit is not male or female! See? |
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Commentary on Luke 4:1-13 |
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Luke
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Matthew 4:1-3
Satan's temptations used against Christ are similar to those used against Eve.
1) Appeal to physical appetite (fruit vs. bread)
2) Appeal to personal arrogance (Will not die vs. Will not hurt Your foot)
3) Appeal to power and glory (be like God vs. Have all worlds kingdoms)
Satan's temptation of Christ is a
"Matter of comfort to all the saints. In the temptation of Christ it appears, that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, and very daring in his temptations; but it appears withal, that he is not invincible. Though he is a strong man armed, yet the Captain of our salvation is stronger than he. It is some comfort to us to think that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus it appears that temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions onlyHenry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991.
Matthew 4:1
Note that Jesus is tempted immediately after a great revelation and testimony by God the Father about who He is and how the Father feels about Him. God may often allow Satan to tempt us immediately after a high point in our lives as a way of both humbling and testing our reliance upon the Spirit of God. Prhaps God was also showing us that the best inner defense against the attacks of the devil is to remember our sonship in the family of God.
Jesus was tempted while he was alone in the wilderness. A place of solitude is perfect for spending time with the Lord, but it is also a perfect opportunity for Satan to attack. We must be on our guard when we are alone and Satan has opportunities to make our thoughts wander, often followed by deeds which we would NEVER do if we were in the presence of others. Even in prayer, how often have our thoughts been pulled aside to other things besides the Lord?
Jesus was led by the Spirit to be tempted. God will never to do this to us (James 1:13). God led Jesus to this in order to show Satan that He was defeated. Jesus was not able to give into that temptation and sin. Such is not the position of believers. Our response should be to pray that we will not be lead into temptation (Matt 6:13). Cetainly God will never tempt us, only our own lusts and desires (James 1:14). God may allow us to be tempted for purpose of testing, but it is not something we should desire. If God leads us there, then we need to depend on Him, but we should not tempt Satan to tempt us, for God may very well leave us to our own strength at that point. Satan is not to be taken lightly.
Matthew 4:2
Jesus only became hungry AFTER 40 days and 40 nights without food? Clearly He is no ordinary man.
Matthew 4:3
Notice the timing of Satan and his temptation. He did not tempt Jesus while he was in the desert for forty days, only after. One of Satan's attacks is to attempt to take advantage of our outward condition. He watches carefully for what opportunities present themselves. What about a man whose family is starving - is it OK for him to steal to keep them from dying? What should he do? Our outward condition is no excuse to go against the commands and the will of God. As Christians, then, we must be aware of others needs around us and make sure we do what we can to help them.
Note secondly the method of attack:
1) He attempts to cause Jesus to question His relationship to the Father, His Sonship. He wants Jesus to question the goodness of God in leaving Him in this position. The Spirit testifies that we are God's children (Romans 8:16), while Satan, the accuser of the brethren, constantly refutes the claim.
2) Satan uses our physical conditions and circumstances to attempt to make us believe that God has left us, does not really love us, is not really good. When a crisis arrives, we MUST work to see Satan's role and refute him.
3) The Devil aims to shake our faith in the word of God, and bring us to question the truth of that. He did it to Adam and Eve, he tries it here with Jesus. God had just said "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.", and yet Satan says "If You are the Son of God...". If we ever question any part of the Word of God, we are giving Satan an opportunity.
4) Satan wants us to act based on our own will, not that of God. Notice that he is crafty in that he tempts Jesus to do something that He has the power to do. Just because we CAN do something, does not mean that we SHOULD. How subtle it is for him to get us to do something Godly against the will of God! Satan wanted Jesus to act on His own. He does not say, Pray to your Father that he would turn them into bread; but command it to be done. We must likewise be careful not to rely on our own desires, even good ones, or our own abilities, even our spiritual gifts, to do things which are not motivated by the will of God. |
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Commentary on Luke 4:1-13 |
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Luke
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Part 2 - Matthew 4:4-6
Matthew 4:4
Jesus responds with Scripture. Why? Being God, the author of all Scripture, Jesus certainly had it within himself to answer the devil without quoting from the Scriptures. He did this as an example to us, who are not God, for how to deal with Satan's temptations.
Jesus reponds from (Deuteronomy 8:3) and following. He likens his plight in the desert to that of Israel in the wilderness - 40 days vs. 40 years - coincidence? Israel was an example of a rebellious son, Jesus is the perfect Son.
Jesus had just gone 40 days without hunger. Clearly the Father had supplied His need for that time. why should he begin to distrust now that He is hungry. Here is a another lesson for us - we must remember what God has done for us in the past, sometimes the very recent past, and not let Satan make us forget or doubt God's continued care for us. It is far better to live on meager amounts provided by god than to live on plenty supplied through our own sinful pursuits.
Matthew 4:5
Satan's 2nd temptation teaches us some more about him and his ways. Note that he moves from the realm of personal need to popular power. Where the 1st temptation was alone in the wilderness, the 2nd is in the greatest city of the land, in the most prominent place. The first temptation appealed to the necessities of life, the 2nd to the desires for fame.
There is no place where we can consider ourselves safe from Satan's reach. Adam was tempted in a Holy Garden, Jesus in a Holy City. What holy place do we consider off limits to Satan?
Places of prominence are places of greater danger as they carry greater responsibility and often greater pride in our own abilities. While it is good for us to desire to do lofty work, we must let God be the one who leads us to do it, provides the way, and gets the credit. Otherwise we prepare ourselves for a fall. Note also that the higher we are, the more costly can be that fall.
Matthew 4:6
Satan is still attempting to question the goodness and the truthfulness of God. He still says "If You are the Son of God", yet Satan does make some changes in his second attack.
Satan begins to use the scriptures. Since Jesus responded with Scripture to his 1st attempt, he now uses scripture to tempt him a second time. However, he purposely did not quote (Psalm 91:11-12) accurately. He left out an important phrase, "in all Your ways." According to the psalmist, a person is protected only when he is following the Lord's will. For Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple in some dramatic display to accommodate Himself to the people's thinking would not have been God's will, and hence the promise would be null and void. Satan will twist the truth, or leave out important points in order to trap us. He is crafty. We must be wary. We must know the Scriptures, be willing to search them for truth, and follow them once we have found it. We cannot be too quick to follow. Belive in no man, but believe in what the Spirit of God reveals to you. Once He has done so, do NOT neglect to follow it.
Satan also utilizes historical prophecy in tempting Jesus that "thou art that Messenger, that Angel of the covenant, that should suddenly come to the temple" (Mal. 3:1). While Jesus following Satan's temptation would have been valid fulfillment of prophecy, it was not the way in which God intended it to happen. (Matthew 21:12).
Satan could not cast Jesus down. Satan's power is limited. He cannot make us sin. All he can do is entice us, tempt us. The sinning is up to us (James 1:14-15). For believers, temptation can be resisted (1 Corinthians 10:13). We must remember, however that just because the Holy Spirit gives us the power to resist temptation and flee sin, that we need to not be presumptuous. As Matthew Henry puts it:
Nor are any extremes more dangerous than those of despair and presumption, especially in the affairs of our souls. Some who have obtained a persuasion that Christ is able and willing to save them from their sins, are then tempted to presume that he will save them in their sins. Thus when people begin to be zealous in religion, Satan hurries them into bigotry and intemperate heats.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991.
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Commentary on Luke 4:1-13 |
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Luke
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Part 3 - Matthew 4:7-11
Matthew 4:7
Jesus now has Satan in a bad position, exchanging Scripture to back up their views. He responds here with a personal application of a plural command as found in (Deuteronomy 6:16). Here is a lesson for us to learn - while the Scriptures are written for all men, they are only efectual in the lives of men one at a time. Their truths must be applied personally, not to others, not even to a group which we are a member of, but right to our own heart. It is so easy to apply the Bible to other's lives, it is not so easy to apply it to our own.
Where does standing on the promises of God become presumption? Matthew Henry once agains speaks clearly when he says:
If we expect that because God has promised not to forsake us, therefore he should follow us out of the way of our duty; that because he has promised to supply our wants, therefore he should humour us, and please our fancies; that because he has promised to keep us, we may wilfully thrust ourselves into danger, and may expect the desired end, without using the appointed means; this is presumption, this is tempting God. And it is an aggravation of the sin, that he is the Lord our God; it is an abuse of the privilege we enjoy, in having him for our God; he has thereby encouraged us to trust him, but we are very ungrateful, if therefore we tempt him; it is contrary to our duty to him as our God. This is to affront him whom we ought to honour. Note, We must never promise ourselves any more than God has promised us.
Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers) 1991.
Matthew 4:8
Satan's last attempt to tempt Jesus to sin is to appeal to the pride of men which desires to by in charge, to control, to rule. To do so, Satan shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world, as if he was showing Him something He was not imtimately familiar with. After all, did not Jesus create the world? Put in place all rule and authority?
Matthew 4:9
Satan was within his power to offer this, since he is the ruler of this world (2 Cor4 :4).
He was only giving to Christ that which was already promised to Him. This teaches us that we must not accept even those things which are promises of God from the hand of Satan.
Look at the condition which Satan sets forth for his deliverance of the kingdoms, Christ worshiping him! How vile, how ludicrous. How could Satan even begin to think that the one who created him and everything around him would fall down and worship that which he created. Satan here shows convincingly that he is no match for the God of the Universe. He displays a weakness which seems even silly for men, that of worshipping that which they themsleves have made. Satan is truly an inferior creature as compared to a magnificent, omnipresent, omnipotent God!
Matthew 4:10
Jesus response here to Satan is harsh and forceful. He is offended at the very thought of worshipping other than His Father and he immediately stands to defend Him. While Satan's other attempts were against Jesus and His character, this one is against God the Father and Jesus puts a quick stop to it. We should treat affronts to the divinity and sovereignty of our God in similar fashion. We should abhor the very thought.
Jesus clearly states that worship is for God and God alone. Considering the harshness of His rebuke, and His strong conviction for His Father, it makes a very great case that Jesus was in fact God in that He readily accepted worship of Himself while He was on the earth.
Jesus then commands Satan to begone.
Matthew 4:11
Satan MUST obey the command of Jesus. He has no choice and Jesus has endured enough of his ignorance. We need to recognize Christ's power over Satan. Jesus is already victorious and since His Spirit dwells in believers, we in a sense are victorious as well. Let us never forget that Satan cannot defeat us if we stand firm in our relationship to God the Father, through Jesus the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Satan need not be feared! |
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Is there no volition? |
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John 15:4
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Dear fellow, Please understand that I mean dear, and I mean fellow. I am in no way being condescending. I don't know your name, your gender, your age, or your place of domicile. I know you only as a Christian. You are apparently well-read and fervent in your faith in Christ Jesus. I injected irony into my comments, and I did say, "...you believe...," which was inappropriate. You are correct in stating that you never mentioned the word election. For these I humbly apologize. This forum is for the benefit of all who read, of the many-membered body of Christ. It seems to me that your answers tend to be more theological or philosophical. I can see that you have spent a great deal of time studying the Bible and the works of others (dead and alive) that dedicated themselves to the study of the Bible. Though I also study, my calling leads me to be more concerned with the application of faith in everyday terms dealing with common folk. Very few people understand (or care) about how Hebrew and Greek applies to them. Few people really grasp the difference between 'produce' and 'bear' fruit. Even I know that my good works do not purchase my salvation, and I think that anybody who has come to a personal relationship with Jesus understands this. "Credit for us?"(scoff) Yes, I think we do participate in the battle against sin. I do understand that "all praise is God's," but we also enter the fray. Maybe you live in an environment with little temptation or trial. Where I live there are less than 1 percent professing Christians. Theoretical faith has little use. When someone asks me, "How do I abide in Christ?" I have to give them some practical direction, not a theological discourse. Winning arguments doesn't win souls here. It only further alienates those who are already convinced that all Christian are pedantic and arrogant. Please understand my point of view, and I will try to reciprocate. Back to this forum, I am under the impression that many who participate are searching for practical means of serving God. I hope be share with them, giving and receiving as we work out our salvation.
Peace to you, in Jesus' name. |
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Is there no volition? |
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John 15:4
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Thank you for a terrific note. Now I feel I understand better where you are coming from. Your letter helps me to better see the world in which you live and your practical concerns. Forgive me if I have offended you. In your current note you express genuine concern for the body of Christ as well as the unsaved. I must agree with your observations on where the average person is at and which approaches to evangelism are appropriate and which are not. I seem to have completely misunderstood you and didn't see your admirable spirit and attitude. This is not idle flattery on my part. I am not a flatterer. You deserve credit for a keen mind and a good heart. I will be the first to admit an incorrect perception of you. Thank you again for your current note to me. I will keep it and treasure it. You sound like a person I'd like to be friends with. God bless you richly. As far as the desire to serve, obey and honor God with a clean and godly life, I agree with you 100 percent and admire your stand for right living and pleasing God. From now on, I'll be looking for your questions and notes with great interest. |
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That's an interesting belief. |
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Luke 23:43
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My Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus died for all my sin. Since at the time He went to the cross, all of my sin were in the future, I believe that all of my sin includes all of my future sin as well as my past and present sin. Paul and I share the agony, (Romans 7:24-25, 8:1)" O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
As much as the new man (Spiritual Man) in me hates the sin or old man within me, this condition will remain until I'm given a new incorruptible body.
The good news is that as the Holy spirit continues to correct me and teach me and as I give up my own will little by little, Jesus gives me the spiritual victory only found in Him.
My salvation is assured because I am His child and His perfect nature would not allow His promise to be broken. He said in I John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God bless.. |
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Help with misled teen with gender issues |
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Not Specified
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Help, with an adolescent son of 16, whom accepted Christ; of his own free will without any coercion, etc. perhaps 5 years ago.After taking Acutane, a medication for acne, became very depressed,suicidal;our physician said there was no causal link.. . unknown to them at that time and during the depression, self esteem eroded, gender identification issues surfaced. I know these are developmental issues, normally not this extreme,acute. Until he wound up searching the internet. I know, I know, mea culpa, for answers; found unfortunately. support withother sad people, and now believes he is transgendered. He has prayed and asked God for greater than one year, to take away these feelings etc. We didn't know he was feeling this way for about a 6 mo period.
He is a great son, certainly confused, but now, intellectually sure that he is a girl in a boys body. Unable to find a Christian counselor who has been successful in reaching our son. Or not enought MONEY to send him to residential centers that might,thousands of dollars a month, that insurance won't subsidize.
How do we reach him? he reads his bible, but somehow the answer, is elusive
Help (I know, WHAT is the question - ) |
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Help with misled teen with gender issues |
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1 Pet 5:7
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Help, with an adolescent son of 16, whom accepted Christ; of his own free will without any coercion, etc. perhaps 5 years ago.After taking Acutane, a medication for acne, became very depressed,suicidal;our physician said there was no causal link.. . unknown to them at that time and during the depression, self esteem eroded, gender identification issues surfaced. I know these are developmental issues, normally not this extreme,acute. Until he wound up searching the internet. I know, I know, mea culpa, for answers; found unfortunately. support withother sad people, and now believes he is transgendered. He has prayed and asked God for greater than one year, to take away these feelings etc. We didn't know he was feeling this way for about a 6 mo period.
He is a great son, certainly confused, but now, intellectually sure that he is a girl in a boys body. Unable to find a Christian counselor who has been successful in reaching our son. Or not enought MONEY to send him to residential centers that might,thousands of dollars a month, that insurance won't subsidize.
How do we reach him? he reads his bible, but somehow the answer, is elusive
Help (I know, WHAT is the question - ) |
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Help with misled teen with gender issues |
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1 Pet 5:7
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I would not be so foolish as to try to answer your question with a one-size-fits-all Bible verse. Finding a Christian counselor is not an easy task. Especially if you live, as I do, in a small rural area. Be assured God does care and He loves you and your son. I would suggest calling 1-800-4 PRAYER. The folks there don't do couseling, but they can sure encourage you with their prayers. |
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What is the spiritual gift of faith? |
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1 Cor 12:9
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I'll give it a try. v.7 states that the gifts are for the common good, and nine gifts are listed. It is possible there are more than nine, but to the Corinthians Paul believed these were what they needed. Each gift must be real, and effective. Apparently, they are given at the discretion of the Spirit, and possibly as a lifelong responsibility, as a service to the body of Christ. So, the gift of faith is different from saving faith (as you both stated) and seems to be a gift to the church through a chosen believer, whose ministry is to share the gift when God tells him to. This might be called the ability to help someone believe in the grace, and the power of the Lord. I do not think these gifts are the 'property' of the believer, or that can be used 'at will.' Rather, God uses said believer to bless (encourage)His people at a time chosen by God. I'm being very careful how I describe my understanding of this, because I have seen so many abuses of these gifts. Usually called 'MY' gift, and often bandied about like a 'spiritual sixgun.' Hope this answers the question. In Jesus. |
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What is the spiritual gift of faith? |
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1 Cor 12:9
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A most excellent answer! Charis, yours is a very well thought out and well put answer. I agree with you: The Holy Spirit distributes spiritual gifts to each one individually as He (the Holy Spirit) wills (see 1 Cor 12:11.) The gifts are not given primarily to glorify or build up the individual who is given the gift. Rather they are to be excercised in love (1 Cor 13 and 14) and are for the purpose of "equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Eph 4:12 NKJV). Finally, 1Co 14:40 (KJV) "Let all things be done decently and in order."
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Why won't Calvinists answer directly??? |
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Job 38:1
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PART TWO.
Why won't Calvinists answer directly? 1) Who is a Calvinist? If I don't call myself a Calvinist, who are you to put that label on me? 2)Answer what directly? Sometimes the questions are so off topic, so hypothetical and broad, that they cannot be answered.
. . . 3) Do you respond directly? You all never respond directly to the Scriptures used to defend election. I've rarely, if ever, seen an anti-electionist directly answer a scripture or an argument used to prove election. You usually answer a question with more questions or with sophistry that only confuses the issue. I've read more rambling remarks, irrelevant Scripture, hypothetical questions, "why" questions full of suppositions and way off topic, angry comebacks and just plain nonsense in the anti-Calvinism answers and questions. How is anybody supposed to answer such wide-ranging, hypothetical questions?
. . . I would also note that the underlying resistance of the anti-election people is due to their idea that God just wouldn't be fair if election were true. And so they ask WHY questions that are worded to get the other person to agree with them. If election isn't true or doesn't exist, why does the Bible make 250 references to the subject?
. . . Again people keep raising objections to what they call Calvinism while not bothering to even try to read and understand a definition and explanation of the doctrine. It's as if I had driven a Honda Accord for 20 years. Then you come along. You've never even seen a Honda Accord, but you've already decided you don't like Accords and don't want one. In that situation do you think you could convince me the car is no good? Having never seen one, you wouldn't have the slightest personal knowledge on which to build an argument. At best, you would be limited to quoting the writings of others, parroting their ideas while having none of your own.
. . . Again, if I ever saw a well-thought-out, Scripture related question re election, I would make a sincere attempt to answer it.
. . . In conclusion, thiese remarks may have sounded harsh and critical. Such was not my intention. I have love and respect for you and all who are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I respect your right to your own attitudes, opinions and beliefs.
It's just that I cannot sit by silently and read all the criticism, mockery and misunderstanding of the Bible doctrine of election. As Dylan said, "Don't criticize what you don't understand."
If you've read this entire answer, then I thank you for your time and patience. Let's keep searching and learning for greater wisdom and understanding, shall we? After 30 years of serious Bible study, I feel as though I've only begun to scratch the surface in knowing and understanding Scripture. My thanks to you and the other users for stimulating me to continue to search, study and pay attention to the details of the Bible. Always look forward to reading your questions or comments. In Christ, Radioman |
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Help with misled teen with gender issues |
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1 Pet 5:7
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Charis,
thanks for feedback, I love my church,
Woodmen Valley Chapel in Co Springs, Co.
We are inbetween pastors, hope to have one in the next few months. I have spoken to several in the body; who are in my opinion Christian Sages. This isn't a typical problem. Transgender issues are not an issue that most people could speak to off the top of their head. It is NOT like homosexual issues. Although it may seem to be on the surface, to anyone who has not researched this and lived the situ I am in with my son. I do believe that it stems from a common problem; self esteem, self concept self identity adolescent issues. I have another in our body who I intend to talk to. I have spoken to him once, in the past, looking for help of an older teen or young adult mentor for my son. Within our our body; we are large 3000 plus, hoping we had a mentoring program etc. Wwe didn't and although HE was receptive,he is about 30 something and degreed in a Christian college, ordained, he is our Youth, College, Career Prg Mgr Director. He did say, that sadly our young,college age kids were more self directed, introspective about their careers, and not invested at this time in mentoring, etc. It broke my heart,what could I say? THAT would have made a CHANGE; I can't change people, thats the Holy Spirits venue. . .
The indiv I referenced,is receptive and I will contact him again, at your suggestion and perhaps he will be instructive. He does not know specifics of my sons problems. My church, through the board, have agreed to offer some financial support regarding a residential tx center for my son; it is sadly not enough, short a mere thousand plus per month. This was after a Christian physician contacted them on our behalf, because he also knew people in our church (board), explaining the situ. They did not say to him, let her come and discuss this with us, after they were told what was going on. . . . so, perhaps, they didn't feel qualified to assist any other way. thats what I surmised, anyway.
Thank you again, and I am interested in any help, suggestions you have. It was an appropriate query and I certainly appreciate the thought and time you have taken to respond, do not cease to care; that and love are the greatest gifts, esp that we have to offer each other.
SFriend |
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Help with misled teen with gender issues |
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1 Pet 5:7
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Dear SFriend, As I said before, my prayers are with you. With all due respect, your situation seems to be like "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd." Matthew 9:36. You say that you are 'between pastors,' does this mean that a church of 3,000 has no other shepherds capable of meeting the Lord on your behalf? Also, I could not help but notice that you have described this problem as almost insurmountable, being so specialized that only a specialist could handle it. In that case, I am out of my territory for sure. However, I very firmly believe that Jesus Christ is able to overcome this problem in the exact same manner that He overcomes every problem. The church is His body, and He has appointed shepherds to lead His flock, to care for them. This has nothing to do with medical diagnoses. Another point I am compelled to make, with all love and compassion toward you and your son. Man's problem is sin. Though there are many manifestations of it, and some would like to think of it as very complicated, it is still sin against which we battle. In no way do I judge you, your son, or your church, I simply note that you are speaking of a nigh-impossible problem with no spiritual help on the horizon. The situation you describe in your 'local body of Christ' breaks my heart, too. How you procede is up to you, but acceptance of the simplicity of your plight is in order. Maybe (my opinion) your church has to repent from it's ways. Or maybe (again, my opinion) you must simplify the situation in your own heart. Maybe both. As things stand, I do not see the problem going away by itself, nor do I think that cash will solve the problem. I would say that faith, fellowship, shepherding, patience, and love are the elements necessary to resolve the situation. All these must be present, or it is not a church. Be of good courage, and He will guide you. In Christ Jesus.
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Eternal Security and 2 Peter 2:20 ??? |
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2 Peter
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Guffaw! LOL! RoFL! I just looked up Luke 14:2. Howl! Cacchination! (regaining composure) chuckle, chuckle.
This discussion reminds me of me. Bless both of you saints. I am not Calvin's disciple, nor am I his 'pendulum swing' opposite number, Arminus' follower. I think both these guys let brains and brawn get out of hand, and denied the Spirit. I read with great interest these comments, and quite a few others in this line. I despise compromise for the sake of 'making everybody happy,' because obviously you cannot. However, I do believe the truth in this matter probably incorporates both arguments, in a much simpler manner than we are accustomed to. If Jesus were asked, He might answer, "Who?" Much in the same way, Paul asked, "Apollos who? Paul who?" (I Corinthians 3:4-9) Perhaps the word 'Election' with a capital "E" is the problem, or at least a great contributor. In a general sense, I must believe that God, without favor, offers the hope of salvation to all, regardless (irregardless? There IS such a word) of gender, race, location or situation. Knowing all things, God knows who will 'be there' at the final trumpet. There are there by His Grace, and by His grace alone. But those there DID respond, hopefully (a disjunct) with alacrity and continued response. We do seem to have an 'unforgivable sin' in Matthew 12 (unless of course believers are not believers without the Holy Spirit, assuming that everyone receives 'automatically'), but this can't be too easy to do, or none of us will qualify for 'election.' This is why, from a layman's point of view, I cannot accept 'once-saved-always-saved.' Surely, from God's divine viewpoint this may be true, but to us here, now, it is ludicrous. It is only to easy to say, "Right. Like Jim Jones." Our 'righteousness' of looking at things from God's eyes (impossible, anyway) alienates us from the down-to earth reality that most people perceive. Of course, I do not promote becoming an 'air-head' or 'loose-minded, loose-moraled(sorry)' emotional nitwit. (i.e. "Of course, a truly nice god would save EVERYBODY!") I do believe there is a balance. In my Bible, and in my heart (through the Spirit), I believe I am 'called.' Not only called to a specific ministry within His church, but generally called to be His. Thank You, Jesus. I know that I am stating both cases, indeed, this is my intent. I see, very clearly, pertinent arguments from both camps. Is it possible that both are valid, with a bit of moderation and the revelation of the Holy Spirit? I believe so! I would not want to 'wake up' in the Holy Presence, and find that one group or another was 'missing.' Please understand that I do not mean the same for all fringe aberrations of faith. Some will be shown to be just plain wrong. But, in this case, and perhaps several others, adjustment is necessary, not a total revamp. "...Let God is true, and all men liars..." Romans 3:4 May the peace AND truth be upon us all, in Christ Jesus. |
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Arminian viewpoint? |
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Bible general Archive 1
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To jvh0212: Thank you for the apology, but my communication was to Radioman(unless you are he) I am still waiting and hoping for a scriptural answer to the original question to which you replied, "Are there any Arminians among us? Yes. Are any of them able to shed light on this subject? Good question. We shall see."
Surely, since the vast majority of Christianity believes in an age of accountability, there is some Scriptural support. Somebody besides Radioman please answer. |
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The headship of Christ |
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Col 3:17
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Dear Ray V.H., Why? For instance, the body of Christ, the name of the Lord. It would not denote a personal name, so no capital. Possibly, "My Head, my Savior?" In Jesus. |
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The headship of Christ |
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Col 3:17
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My Head, my Savior is what I had in mind as to what the verses were saying. But there are other words that are not personal names that are rightly capitalized in scripture. Is there any other Rock, I know of none. There is only one Holy One. Christ is the Light of the world while we are only lights. I would also capitalize the fact that He is the Bread of life.
You mentioned the body of Christ. I didn't see it capitalized in Rom 7:4, ICor 10:l6, nor Eph 4:12. In the sense that we, the church, are the body of Christ, it should not be capitalized. Consider Colossians 3:3 however, "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our Life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." Capitalization of "Life" is mine.
"The name of the Lord" was also mentioned by you and that brings up two interesting examples. Lev 24:ll and II Sam 6:2. Lev 24:ll says "The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed." NASB
The New King James reads "blasphemes the name of the Lord and cursed." with "of the Lord" in italics showing that it was inferred. Even the New International version has "the Name" although it capitalizes no other pronouns, which to me denies His deity each time they use "his" name.
I hope you are understanding what I am trying to say; that capitalization shows interpretation and it is important. That is why I wondered how everyone is interpreting the "Head" in Colossians. He has to be a head before He is the Head;
He has to be a lamb in order to be the Lamb sacrificed for us; He has to be a light in order to become the Light of the world. He has to be a rock before he can be known as the only Rock; He has to be a spirit in order to be the one Spirit.
Thus, it will be difficult in our individual reading of scriptures and comparing them to know whether to capitalize or not. I think though that a good start would be consistency and testing the spirits. Does anybody see where I am coming from? See also III John 7-12.
Ray V.H. |
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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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Jesus at God's Right Hand. |
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Mark 16:19
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Yes I agree. God is Spirit. I wasn't quoting the phrases to imply God's "physical hand or arm" as in a material body of flesh like our own. But I'm quoting them to show just the opposite... to display the power and authority of that place of honor to which Jesus alone is worthy. God's "holy arm" that's revealed in Isaiah 53 as a "He" who grew up, oppressed and afflicted, was cut off from the land of the living, and bore the sin of many. God's "right hand is exalted." Jesus is "exalted." God's "own hand laid the foundations of the earth"... his Son "laid the foundations of the earth"... "Salvation" is "revealed" when God's holy arm is "laid bare"... "Salvation" is seen when "Jesus Christ is revealed."
I just believe these references, which are indeed figures of speech, pertain to/help illustrate the importance of Christ's position as the Son of God exalted to His right hand.
Please accept my apologies for any confusion my previous comments may have caused. Thanks for your clarifications on my oversight.
In Christ... God bless.
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