The Apostle Paul has written the epistles, letters (Romans through Philemon), that give us our doctrine of Salvation during this Age, the Church Age.
The gospel is best described in I Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
God created everything, including man. God is ALL-loving, ALL-merciful, ALL-righteous, ALL-knowing, and ALL-powerful as well as being the source of ALL light. God has no part and will not tolerate anything that is not righteous. Righteous means just or lawful, so that means that anything that is not just or lawful will not be, nor can it be tolerated by God. God created beings called angels before He created man. Angels were given the ability of free choice, to which man was given as well, the greatest of these angels Lucifer, Satan, was second to only God in power and dominion. Lucifer wanted more than that, he chose to rebel against God in trying to be as God is. God being the only one, who is ALL-powerful, could not be defeated. Satan after being unable to win over God, tried to win over mankind, and to separate man from God, beginning with Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Man as well as angels, have the ability of free will, the ability of choice. To have choice you must have more than one option to choose from. God allowed Satan some freedom after his rebellion to allow man the choice of either following God or following Satan, there is no other option, for Satan has claimed all that is not of God, which is sin. Now back to God being ALL: loving, merciful, and righteous, it would be wrong to force anyone to live forever in His presence who does not want to, so here we are with the choice to live forever with God, or we can CHOOSE not to live forever with God. We can choose whichever one we want but, if you remember God is ALL-loving, ALL-merciful, ALL-righteous, ALL-knowing, and ALL-powerful as well as being the source of ALL light, if we choose not to live with God, what do you have left? You have no love, no mercy, no justice or law, and no light, the very definition of Hell. People do not want to think about Hell, or that an ALL loving God would make or put people into such a place, but remember you get to choose whether you go there or not. Satan would want us to believe that God puts us in Hell, so we would not believe in Him, for how can a ALL-loving God place us in an eternity of torment, but God loves us so much that He allows us the option, the choice, to live or not to live with Him. God being loving and merciful has made it easy for us to be with Him, because He loves us so much and He wants all to live with Him. All you need to do is believe in God, God the Father, Jesus the Son of God, and the Holy Ghost, and want to live forever with Him. Salvation, do you want it or need it? You get to choose whether to live in the light with a loving God forever, or to live in the darkness without love, mercy or anything just or lawful, for just as long...........Eternity!!
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 10:9-13 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1) Know that everyone is a sinner Romans 3:10 and 3:23
2) The cost of sin Romans 5:12 and 6:23
3) Jesus Christ paid the price for OUR sins Romans 5:8
4) Believe and Accept that Jesus Christ Died for you and arose from the dead, all can be saved Romans 10:9-13
The Free Gift of Salvation means: 1) To know and believe that you are a sinner 2) Jesus Christ Died for Your Sins 3) Jesus Christ Arose up three days later { His proof that He is God } 4) Letting God pay for Your sins and choosing to not pay them yourself, { With Sincerity on these beliefs, do not just speak it without Believing it }
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain . 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Revelation 20:14-15 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The Sin Debt Must be paid by someone, either you can pay it ( In Hell Forever ) or you can allow God to pay it for you. Jesus Christ Loves you So Much, He already submitted the payment, all you need to do is accept it and Live for Eternity in Heaven with Him. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Our sin nature at birth has already separated us from God, but God loves us so much, that He died for us and paid the Sin Debt for us, when God ( Jesus Christ ) Died on the Cross at Calvary. Jesus Christ became the Sin of the World, to bring us back to Him, for we have all gone astray from God. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
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I Corinthians 15:3-4 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There are three main ingredients to gaining a greater understanding of God's word. One is Dispensation. Though God does not change, Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. God does change how He deals with man at different throughout the Bible. I Corinthians 12:5,6 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Without understanding this people, believers and non-believers alike, get confused and take certain scriptures out of context. Remember you need to think of whom the scripture is intended for, and who wrote it. The majority of the bible is written for the Jew, the nation of Israel. There are certain things that were given to them, promises, consequences, and rules such as the law, that we during the Church Age ( Dispensation of Grace ) are not under. Today, Salvation once accepted, is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
So Once you accept the Free Gift of Salvation that Jesus Christ has offered to everyone, that is to believe that you are a sinner, and that you are unable to, in any way save yourself from eternal separation from God on your own, you believe Jesus Christ is God and Jesus Christ died for your sins and arose three days later, you are saved and eternally secure in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
Gospel of Grace from Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
I Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began
Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel
Galatians 2:7,8 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:
Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel
Romans 10:9,10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Galatians 2:14-21 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Romans 1:16,17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Romans 3:23-26 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus
Colossians 2:13,14 13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross
II Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:15-18 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
Galatians 1:6-12 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:15-18 15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. 16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Acts 13:38,39 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Romans 9:30-32 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. 31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Galatians 3:8,11,14 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Galatians 3:22-26 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Jesus Christ's Earthly Ministry was to the Nation of Israel, the Jew
The Jews are descendents of Israel ( who is Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham. ) in the bible. Jacob had 12 sons, and the descendents of those 12 sons are the Jewish people. Now you can be Jewish in religion to which you need not be Jewish of descent. Gentiles are everyone else not born of Jewish parents.
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Jesus Christ ( The Redeemer and The King ) was promised to The Nation of Israel. Jesus Christ is The Messiah, and His Earthly Ministry was the prelude { The Preparation if you will, to get The Nation of Israel ready for that Kingdom promised to Israel, and Jesus Christ is that King }. Remember God selected Abraham and his seed ( Israel ) to be a Nation of Priests that would show the rest of the World of the One True God.
Isaiah 7:13,14 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The House of David held the throne of Judah at the time Isaiah spoke this prophecy and The house of David were Jewish and this Prophecy was given unto Them, The Jewish Nation.
Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
Daniel 7:13,14 13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Luke 1:30-33 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
The Old Testament Prophecy was directed to Whom? The Nation of Israel, not to the Gentile World. The Books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were in line with the Old Testament Prophecy, speaking to The Nation of Israel and dealing with covenants and promises that were given to the Jewish Nation. Gentiles came through the Nation of Israel to get to God during this Time, for that is how God set it up. God came to Earth in the Flesh, Jesus Christ, to prepare Israel for the Kingdom promised to Israel and to prepare the Nation of Israel to become the priests as God intended when God separated Abram ,who God later renamed Abraham, to bring the rest of the world to Him, the One True God.
Matthew 3:1,2 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17,23 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 10:5-7 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Now after the Fall of Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, there are some that think that only two of the twelve tribes survived, let us go to scripture to see what God wrote on this issue.
Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Peter was speaking to Jews in Acts chapter Two ( in the first century A.D. ) to the whole house ( 12 Tribes ) of Israel, so all 12 tribes were present then. John wrote to us of Prophecy that will occur during the Tribulation ( The Last Week spoken of in Daniel ) and The Prophet Ezekiel both shows us prophecy that is not yet fulfilled, but will be when Jesus Christ returns, and all 12 tribes are present and will be united again as One Nation.
Ezekiel 37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Ezekiel 37:22 And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.
Revelation 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Remember God never changes.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Malachi 3:6a For I am the LORD, I change not;
Though God never changes, He does change how he deals with mankind. Those changes ( AGES ) are called dispensations, we are currently in the Age of Grace or the Church Age. During this Age we are saved by the Gospel of Grace, defined by 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel.
Paul's Gospel was given to him from Jesus Christ Himself.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
I Corinthains 12:5,6 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Ephesians 3:2,3 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Ephesians 1:9,10 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Galatians 1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
I Corinthians 9:16,17 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Galatians 1:6-12 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
See here Paul makes it clear when he wrote to the churches at Galatia that The Gospel of Grace ( He referred to it here as the gospel of the uncircumcision, which was committed to him, Paul )and the Gospel of the Kingdom ( referred to here as the gospel of the circumcision, because of the covenant to Abraham that all his family ( Jews ) to be circumcised )was committed to Peter. Genesis 17:10,11 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: I Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
There is Only one Name, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:10-12 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
There is Only one Mediator between us and God. I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
The Word of God, The Bible. Which Bible though? Many might not think about it, but having the correct Bible is very important. When you read the Bible you read it because you believe God inspired it.
II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That God used man, many writers in fact, to ink the scriptures so we can all have the truth to understanding God's will for us, and the way God wants us to live. God preserved His word for us. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. Psalms 12:6,7 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
Now if you compare the Bibles, verse for verse, you will find that the NIV, as well as the other newer English translations, verses do not honor God, the Christ as the verses from the KJV do. The NIV also omits a lot of verses. Some claim that the NIV and all other new English translations use better and older manuscripts that were not available to the translators of 1603 commissioned by King James, which is the Authorized Version of 1611.
If God protected and preserved His Word, and He said He would in Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. You must also know that you are not to add or take away from His Word. Revelation 22:18,19 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
So forget what man says, I Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. and forget what I say. Take God at His word that He has preserved His word, since all new translations in English were only available since as early as 1881 in the Revised Version, why would you think God would not have had His Word available before that time? God did indeed preserve it prior to 1881, not always in English but He preserved it. God did have it preserved in English since 1611 though in the Authorized Version of 1611 commissioned by King James of England, now called the KJV, to which all verses on this site uses. The Apostle Paul had trouble with man wanting to use words that were not God's in his time as well I Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. and II Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. Do not fall into the same trap that Satan, in the guise of the serpent, used from the beginning to have man question the Word of God Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
Now you have the second Ingredient to understanding God's Word. The first Ingredient mentioned is understanding dispensation, the second is using God's Word, not man's word.
Romans 3:3,4 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Use the Word of God, In English use the KJV. The Last main Ingredient ( First and most Important I should say ) to understanding God's Word is be a believer. I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. God has placed understanding of a lot of His Word beyond the grasp on non-believers, and given it to His Children who seek it. God's Children are all who accept Jesus Christ's Gift on Calvary.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus also said in John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Also in John 6:63,64 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64 But there are some of you that believe not.
Even The Apostle Paul told us why some would not listen to the Gospel of Grace
II Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
So if you wish to gain in understanding of God's word, then you must first be a believer, then you must use the KJV Bible, and understand dispensation. II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Remember Man does not teach you God's word, but the Holy Spirit to which you are given at salvation does.
I Corinthians 2:10-14 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
I Corinthians 2:10-14 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Proverbs 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
Who is the Word? John clarifies it in the Gospel John
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Many People find the Triune Nature ( or the coined term Trinity )of our One God hard to understand, and it is not something that can be totally understood, just believed. God tells us that there is only one God as well as telling us that He, God is in 3 Natures 1) The Father, 2) The Son, and 3) The Holy Spirit.
The Hebrew word most used being translated into English in The Old Testament for God is Elohiym or Elohim ( 430 for reference in The Strongs Concordance ). Elohim pretty much means One God in plurality.
Many scriptures throughout The Bible alludes to the Triune Nature of God, but I will only be posting some of them for quick reference, but always search the scriptures for yourself to seek the truth on this and all doctrines of The Bible.
II Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. Romans 8:9,10 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
These two passages show that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are One.
John 14:9-11 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. These passages show that The Father and Jesus are One.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Genesis 11:5-9 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
the LORD came down and in v. 7 let us = One Lord in Plurality, but many scriptures show that there is only One LORD or GOD.
Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. I Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; The Godhead is composed of three natures ( Father, Son, Holy Spirit ), but only one of those three are seen and that is Jesus Christ, OUR LORD!
I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Colossians 2:6-9 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Doctrines are very important, and it is a good thing to know what teachers of God's Word stand on the various doctrines of the Bible and why.
I. [A] Salvation is by the Grace of God alone ( Ephesians 2:8,9 ) and not by any merit that man can do on their own. [B] Salvation is a free Gift from God ( Romans 5:15-21 ) that Jesus Christ has offered to all mankind by living a perfect ( sinless ) life, dying on the Cross, and Arising up three days later (I Corinthians 15:1-4 ).
[C] Salvation comes by choosing and accepting ( Ephesians 1:13 ) that we are sinners and asking Jesus Christ to save us from our deserved fate, and of course being sincere when we ask Jesus Christ to save us ( I. Corinthians 15:2 ). [D] Salvation is eternally secure, for God seals us at the birth of our spirit with the Holy Spirit. ( Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30 )
II. God's Word in English is the Authorized Version of 1611 or better known as the King James Version, for all other English translations have omitted, added, or changed part of, or entire verses of God's Word. God has already stated ( Revelation 22:18,19 ) what He believes on people that alter His Word. God has written The Bible through various writers by inspiring them to write exactly what God wanted to be written ( II Timothy 3:16 and II Peter 1:21 ) and preserved His Word as He promised. ( Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 59:21, and Psalm 12:6,7 ) The Bible in English, the KJV, is our Final Authority to know how to live and is of NO private interpretation, is infallible and inerrant.( II Peter 1:20 ).
III. Virgin Birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born fully man, but was ALWAYS and FOREVER will be Fully
God. ( Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:27-35, and John 1:1-14 )
IV. There is only one God, and that one God exists in three persons, [1]The Father [2] The Word, or The Son, who is Jesus Christ [3] The Holy Spirit. God created all things that were created and nothing was created that was not created by Him.
( Isaiah 44:24, Isaiah 45:5-22, John 1:3 and I John 5:7 )
V. All mankind are sinners and will continue to have our old nature ( The Flesh ), even after we are saved by accepting Jesus Christ's payment for our sin debt, the old nature of ours will always war with our new nature ( spiritual quickening by The Holy Spirit).
( Romans 3:23 )( Galatians 5:17, Romans 7:23, and I Peter 2:11 ).
VI. Rightly dividing God's Word. ( II Timothy 2:15 and I Corinthians 12:5,6 )I agree in Dispensations and properly placing the appropriate doctrines and truths in their proper places.
VII. Water Baptism is something that I once believed in, growing up as a Baptist, but I can no longer pretend that a tradition of man, that pulls a doctrine from a previous dispensation, is valid for today. The Apostle Paul clearly states that he was not sent to Baptize, so if it was something that we were required to follow The Apostle Paul would not have told us that he was not sent to baptize.( I Corinthians 1:17 )
Some would argue that Paul did in fact write of baptism, but if you read them carefully and you would have to put water in them yourselves, for Paul was speaking of spiritual baptism in the following places: Romans 6:4, Ephesians 4:5, Colossians 2:12, Galatians 3:27, and I Corinthians 12:13
VIII. We are to live by Faith not Sight for today. ( II Corinthians 5:7 and Hebrews 11:1 ) I do not agree with Speaking in Tongues, Laying of Hands to heal, God talking to us in Dreams, or any other method that one claims to be from God that adds or changes God's Word, for that which is perfect [ The Bible ] is now here ( I Corinthians 13:10 ).
IX. Existence of Satan, The Devil. Satan, once called Lucifer was greatest among the angels, but desire to
be God and to supplant God caused his downfall and that of many other angels, which are now called demons or unclean spirits. Those angelic beings are far more powerful than us, but those fallen angelic beings are doomed to Hell just as we, mankind, who rejects Christ and the Gift that He offered freely to all. We are to resist The Devil and his minions by putting on the armor of God and relying on God alone to protect us from The Devil. ( Isaiah 14:12-15, I Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:9-11, James 4:7, and Ephesians 6:11,12 )
X. The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus will return in two parts and the first part in the air, Jesus Christ will take His Saints, believers in The Gospel of Grace, with Him to Heaven at the time of being caught up
( Rapture ). The Tribulation, will occur when the Age of Grace is completed, we The Body of Christ is Raptured, and God returns to dealing with the Jews. Christians of Today will not go through the Tribulation, for we were spared of the wrath to come, Jesus' second coming will occur when Jesus Christ sits as King in Jerusalem for the 1000 year Kingdom. ( I Thessalonians 4:16-18, I Thessalonians 5:9, and I Thessalonians 1:10 )
XI. The Souls of all believers will at the death of their body, go directly to be with God immediately at death. ( II Corinthians 5:6-8 and Philippians 1:23,24 )
XII. All Christians are ambassadors of Christ. We are all to witness of the Good News, of Salvation through Jesus Christ [ the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ ], to all around us. ( II Corinthians 5:20 and I Corinthians 15:1-4 )
Hello and God Bless to all who are reading this. I want to thank everyone that is in search of the truth, for the truth in God's Word is the second most important thing on this earth, next to accepting His Love and Mercy by accepting Jesus Christ's Free gift of Salvation that was offered to everyone at the Cross at Calvary when Jesus Christ Died and arose 3 days later.
My name is Nathan Spinazzolo and I was born October 30, 1974 in Zanesville Ohio. I currently live in Crestview Florida, but I was raised in Ohio and lived in Ohio, until February of 1998, when I moved to North Carolina. It was in North Carolina, in I believe May of 2003, that I met a young man that helped change my life for the better. Matthew Edwards was only 18 at the time and I was 28, a 10 year gap that is pretty large these days in differences and relating due to that age gap, but we had a common thread that brought us close. We were both Christians, and we both were considering going into the field of ministry. Matthew and I did not have a lot of time together, no more than 6 months before he was called home on October 31, 2003. I met Matthew where I worked and it was there that we first talked and realized our shared brotherhood, and from that time we started to have bible study, a couple times a week up to 10-12 hours a week, discussing and searching the scriptures for the truth, not what man or pastors proclaimed to be true. Matthew was a young man who turned 19 while I knew him and though he was young, he brought so much to the world. Matthew was a good friend, but more so he was a strong Christian man, zealous to serve God and he influenced all those around him for the better, God used Matthew in Life and in Death to help others know of Jesus Christ. I will never forget Matthew and the influence he had on me. Matthew was my first, true Christian friend and bible study with him was the highlight of my week, he had so much energy and motivation to serve God that I could only wish to come close to his level of energy for God. Emory Matthew Edwards was born September 3rd 1984 and was called home to be with God on October 31st 2003. Matthew was an inspiration to me and to others around him, and like the Apostle Paul, in life or in death Jesus Christ was magnified with Matthew, and I am a far better person by knowing him.
Emory Matthew Edwards
The year 2004 was tough for me and as I was getting over the loss of my friend, I lost my grandmother on June 27th and then my mother within 3 weeks. I used to call my mother for words of comfort or wisdom, to which she always provided with a large dose of Love, and though she went home to be with the Lord on July 17th 2004, she is and will always be an inspiration to me. My mother was the reason I went to church when I was little, and though it was Jesus Christ that saved me, it was my mother who introduced God to me. I was saved at some time before I was 10, I am not sure exactly when, but it was before my parents divorced. At the age of 10, when my parents divorced, it was an impressionable time in my life, for any time in a child's life is impressionable. I went through a very difficult time and I started to blame my mother, so that being said was the reason my teen years and into my 20's my church participation was minimal to none. I am not blaming anyone but myself, but the fact was that for many years I did not live a life focused on God, so of course I went somewhat astray from the path I should have walked. When I was 27, I started to think about God more and had a co-worker that was a church goer and we had discussions that I found to be different from what I remember being taught, granted I knew little of the bible and never thought I would ever think about going into the ministry at that time, so I wanted to find out the truth. I called my mother, for she was, to that time the backbone of my Christian fellowship, and asked questions and she told me what she thought on the matter and suggested to read the bible for better understanding on my own. I have read very little and remembered even less at that time of the bible, so I just started to read and pray for the understanding of what I was reading. I found out a lot of things that I do not remember ever hearing about in church, which does not mean that I could have missed it, and I was feeling somewhat cheated that God's Word was not being taught. Yes, that being the KJV, God's Word was not being discussed with people of the congregation and the big differences that other translations had that was different from the KJV. I learned that dispensations existed, which explained why I was confused over what I thought was conflicts in the bible and those issues all started me to want to know more and more of what God's Word really said and not what I was taught or believed to be true prior to that point. God used my co-worker and my feelings of being ashamed of not being able to explain the most important thing in my Life, God. I then started on a road to discover the truth of what God's Word says and some time later was when I felt like I was being called to the ministry, to share the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ to others.
I am now 34 years old and though I went through a lot of difficult times, I can from hindsight tell you that I got through it all because God was there with me and helped me, even at times I did not ask for Him to do so.
I will not go into details of all that I did while living a life for myself with some God thrown in at times, but I will tell you that going through it and realizing that when I was in control of my life, I messed up everything and was unhappy while I was doing it. I am stronger and wiser now, but I am still nothing compared to God, to which I may add is the reason I am stronger and wiser. Let Jesus Christ live in your hearts, let Him guide you in all things and you will find a life happier and less turmoiled than you could ever do on your own.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Saviour and I am not ashamed or hesitant to tell you or anyone of what God wrote to us in the Bible, for I care only to what God thinks of me and not of man. I will say that I am not always right, and if I write anything or say anything on God's Word, I will show scripture to back it up, or I will say that it is my opinion on that matter. Let God be God. God's Word is our final authority in life, it shows us how to live and we should all let God show us the truth in all things by praying and witnessing the truth of Jesus Christ to all those around us.
In ending, what I see to be a long testimony, I have been trying to allow God to guide me and though I still go through times of sadness, I know that it is nothing compared to the Love of God and the happiness that I have knowing that one day I will be forever with God in Heaven. God has blessed me, God has brought a strong Christian woman into my life to be my wife, I married Carrie Anne Forbush on June 17th 2006. God Bless and May God guide you in all things.
I have posted topics that I have prepared as well as links to articles on topics in the Bible from other writers, Remember that all material is to help guide you to a better understanding of God's Word, but always use the KJV Bible for the final authority on all things and pray to God for growth in grace and understanding, May God Bless you and guide you to a better understanding of His Word.
The Bible is the Word of God. God created all things including man. The Bible is The Book where God tells us how creation started and where we are now in that timeline after creation. Remember some answers are not in The Bible, for there are some things in life that God just wants us to believe by The Faith that God is in Control and is taking care of those things for us.
In The Bible it tells us that there is Only One God, a Triune God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
The Bible shows that early on in creation, one creature ( Satan )created by God, wanted to be as God is Isaiah14:12-14 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. , and rebelled against God.
The Bible shows how Satan, pulled man into sin ( that which separates man from God) through temptation to disobey God in the Garden of Eden. The Bible then shows us how God loves us and BOUGHT us back from eternal death and Hell, which is separation from God forever. Remember that Sin must be dealt with and God shows us that there are two ways, we can pay it: {1}We can pay it ourselves and spend eternity without God, or {2}We can allow God ( Jesus Christ ) to pay it for us and spend an eternity with God.
How to read the Bible.
Know that the Bible was written by the Inspiration of God. God gave us The Bible ( His Word ), to be Our Final Authority in how we should live. Know that The Bible is broken up into time frames or economies, called dispensations ( Dispensation = How God deals with mankind during a defined time or circumstance). Know that things that are different are not the same.
The Bible starts off in the Old Testament. The creation of all things, and the fall of mankind through sin. The Bible shows how we are unable to live a life without sin, and how sin separates us from God. God created us to have fellowship with Him and even though we separated ourselves from God with sin, God is always wanting us to return to Him. Many writers through the inspiration of God inked The Bible
II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: God dealt with mankind at different Ages ( Dispensations ) differently. To understand The Bible we need to always ask ourselves who wrote this, and to whom, in order to better understand The Bible you need to understand the divisions that God placed within The Bible. Those divisions is where God dealt with a certain time frame a certain way.
Example God told the Nation of Israel to not eat pork, so eating pork by the Jew at that time would be a sin. Deuteronomy 14:8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.
Today, we are in the time of Grace, and God told The Apostle Paul to tell us that it is ok to eat pork or anything else for that matter when we say grace before eating. I Timothy 4:4-5 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
This is just one example of the many changes God made from one Age to the next. So when you read The Bible just remember that you need to rightly divide. If God tells us to rightly divide then, some things are meant to be divided. Remembering that, is The key to a good start of understanding God's Word.
II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Know that we need to properly divide God's Word, and that All Scripture is for one, two, three or all four of the following ways:
II Timothy 3:16 for All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Some might not even like that term, since it is not the term they use for themselves. Some people use the term homosexual, alternate life style, gay, lesbian , etc...
I figure if God used the term Sodomite in the bible, then that word takes precedence of what man uses to describe them, regardless if they like to hear it or not.
Genesis chapter 2 18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
It is clear God made man, and then later made a woman for man and they shall be one flesh.
Matthew 19:
5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?
6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Again Jesus said that man and wife will be one flesh, so marriage is between man and a woman.
Genesis 19:
4 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.
Here Lot tells the men of Sodom to not do so wickedly, describing the act of sex between man and another man.
In I Kings 14:22-24 it talks of the land of Judah under King Rehoboam 22 And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done.
23 For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree.
24 And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
So the sodomites behavior is just as bad as idolatry to God; an abomination.
In I Kings 15:11,12 it talks of King Asa and what he did that was right in the eyes of the LORD. 11 And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father.
12 And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made.
So to God sodomy is wrong and sodomy is the act of same sex knowing each other in ways that should be between a married man and his wife.
Moses told of the Law in Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 Lev 18:22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
Lev 20:13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
So we have a law that says that if the broke the law regarding sodomy, that they should be put to death. God did not think lightly on this subject.
In Romans, Paul talks about it for the Age of Grace, to which we are now under.
Romans 1:26-3226 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them
In Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
In Conclusion, I am not saying that you should hate them, since we are to hate the sin not the sinner, nor are we to treat them different from murderers or liars. Sin is sin. No one is perfect, but as Christians we should be able to determine what is right and what is wrong in God's eyes. We are all sinners and will continue to do so, but we should not continue to allow ourselves or other to think a behavior is acceptable just because millions says it should be. God is right, not man in that regard. We should be able to love everyone and witness to them of Jesus Christ and the bible and pray that their eyes will be open to their deeds.
Romans 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
II Timothy 2:8Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel
To understand how Salvation is by faith alone, you must rightly divide, we are today in The Church Age ( Age of Grace ) and The Gospel of Grace. Salvation is always attained by the spilt blood of Jesus Christ, but in different Ages ( Dispensations )there are differences in what God told us to do to be or keep Salvation.
Some might not like what I just wrote, so let us go to God's Word, for God's Word ( KJV
in English ) is always the Final Authority, never what I say or any other man, be it a pastor, deacon/elder, or Bible college teacher.
2 Timothy 2:15Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I Corinthains 12:5,65 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Ephesians 3:2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Romans 1:16,17 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
What is Faith ??? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
John 20:27-2927 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
So what does The Apostle Paul say about faith and Salvation?
Ephesians 2:8-98 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Titus 3:5-7 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 8:24,25 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
II Corinthians 5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight)
During the Age of Grace, The Gospel given to Paul by Jesus Christ, Salvation is by faith alone, plus nothing. Faith in what? Faith that Jesus Christ is GOD, THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, That Jesus Christ lived and died to atone for our sins, arose up three days later from the dead with Power.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 5:8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
I Corinthians 15:22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Romans 5:1,2 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 6:19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel
I pray that everyone search their hearts to whether they have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, for Jesus Christ died for our sins, all you need to do is accept The Free Gift that He is offering. The Gift is for all that want it, for Jesus Christ died for us all, the sinners of the world.
If you are nor sure and would like more information, please feel free to e-mail me and I will help you with prayers or in conversation, to bring you to Jesus Christ and the Peace and Security that comes along with it.
foreversavedbychrist@yahoo.com
God Bless and may God be with you!!!
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 1:,2, 6-8 1 Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
I John 4:4 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
We at times can get so caught up in our lives, that we forget that God is always with us and God is our Defense and Sanctuary from all that ails us in the world today.
Philippians 4:5-7 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
We need not to worry about anything, for God will help us to deal with whatever we face, for we might be limited, but with God All Things are Possible.
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 91 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Many people today are either confused or misguided to tongues and other gifts, and whether they are still valid for today. Remember allow God's Words to guide you not what you think, or what you have been taught prior, even this article is to help you, but Read and Pray for the understanding on your own.
II Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
First lets us look to the book of Mark Mark 16: 14-1914 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Jesus taught the Gospel of the Kingdom and was talking in regards to the Jews and the Age they were under, Law and the Gospel of the Kingdom. We are not under Law or the Gospel of the Kingdom today. Again what did Jesus tell His disicples.
Matthew 10:5-75 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus and His disciples taught the Gospel of the Kingdom. not the Gospel of Grace to which we now live, that was given to Paul to tell us.
Remember Paul was given the Gospel of Grace, after God placed the Jews and the Law on hold, but after the rapture of the church, God will return to the Jews and complete the promises He gave to them. Jesus gave to Paul the Gospel for us today
Ephesians 3:2,3 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Galatians 1:11,12 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Signs, such as tongues were given to the Jews.
I Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
Jews needed signs, so God provided them to the Jews. Also Paul told us why tongues were given.
I Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
I Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Tongues are not for today, neither are the gifts that were given to start the church, today we live by faith alone, Gospel of Grace that was given to Paul, the books : Romans through Philemon.
II Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Sight would be a sign, not an act of faith and we were told to live by faith.
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Also Acts 2 defines to us what tongues are, tongues are not a heavenly ( unknown language { Angelic } to which some claim ), but actually earth spoken languages. That is like someone born here in the USA speaking in English, going to another country at a large event with a crowd of people from all over the world that can speak only their native tongue ( not English ) and all being able to hear our spoken English in their native tongue. Acts 2:4-11 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
I hope I did not offend you, but Tongues and other signs are not for today during the Age of Grace. They were there for the Age of law and during the ministry of Jesus during the time of the Gospel of the Kingdom. We cannot mix doctrines from one Age to another. So always remember as you read your bible, ask yourself who is writing it, and whom are they refering to.
Searching for a Church Home or unsure of the one you are currently attending?
First always pray to God for guidance in this and all other matters, regardless of how mundane it appears to you.
It is always good to have a talk with the pastor of a church to see what that particular church teaches and stands on. I have a few important questions one should address, but in all things search the scriptures and pray for the guidance to know how to proceed in searching for a good church home.
1) How is Salvation attained, and can it be lost?
2) Does the church have a stand on the King James Version?
3) Does the church teach to rightly divide, teaching about dispensations?
4) Does the church stand or agree with traditions that are not scripturally based?
5) Does the church teach on various topics that might offend some of the congregation or visitors that God clearly talks about in His Word, but people would not want to talk about, such as: sodomy, fornication, evolution, female pastors, family structure, translations, abortion, capital punishment and other such topics?
Granted that these are not by all means all of the questions one can ask, but these are important ones with perhaps others that you stand firmly on, that you might want to ask prior to attending a church or becoming a member. In all things pray to God for the guidance and be patient to let God lead you to where He wants you to be.
God has instructed us how a family is to be founded and the roles each in that family has.
Psalm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
I Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
The entire Family should be founded on Jesus Christ, if it is founded on anything else it will not be sound and will eventually fail. The roles of the family will be addressed separately.
Husbands:
1) Head of the House. Ephesians 5:23a For the husband is the head of the wife,
2) Love you wife. Ephesians 5:25a Husbands, love your wives,
3) Do not be bitter towards your wife. Colossians 3:19 Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.
Wives:
1) Submit yourself to your husband. Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
2) Subject yourself to your husband. Ephesians 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
3) Reverence your husband. Ephesians 5:33b ; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Husbands and wives:
1) Submit yourselves to each other. Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
2) Render due benevolence to each other. I Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
3) Do not hold back from each other. I Corinthians 7:4,5 4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. 5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Fathers:
1) Do not provoke your children to wrath. Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
2) Do not provoke your children to anger. Colossians 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
Children:
1) Obey your parents. Ephesians 6:1,2 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Colossians 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
The Family:
Do everything in the name of The Lord. Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Ephesians 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Colossians 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
There is a lot more said about the family in God's Word, but it is clear that the family needs to be founded on God, and Love and consideration should be given to all within the family.
Many today may have different views on how our government is being run, whether or not they like the present president, etc and etc. This study will only address to how we should respond to them.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
I Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
It is also good and pleasing to God to not only obey those in authority over us, but we are to pray for them as well, even if we do not agree with them on all things.
I Timothy 2:1-3 1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
It is good to know while searching for a church to join, or if one is thinking about becoming a pastor to know what God says about the subject on what criteria a pastor ( steward or bishop ) should have.
I Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
This verse is important for everyone, but a pastor must be teaching about God from the bible and not from what he or the majority of people believes to be true of the proper interpretation, God's Word is our final authority and is of NO private interpretation. II Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
I Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
I Timothy 3:1-7 1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Titus 1:6-9 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers
Some people believe that pastors can be women, but among the many requirements that Paul spoke of that a bishop should have, he was very clear. A man, a husband of one wife, makes it in no way possible that a woman should be a pastor.
Also pastors should live what he preaches and try to set an example to those he teaches to.
I Corinthians 9:14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I Peter 5:1-4 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
A good pastor guides and teaches the congregation by example and with meekness, and humility, for Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. Ephesians 5:23b , even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Also pastors should seek the position of a pastor if they are called and preach for the love of Christ which is within and spread the good news in the hope that others will find Jesus Christ, and not think of it as a job or desire to become rich from doing so.
Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Galatians 5:22,23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Christians are to Love everyone, and live a life that God wants us to live. Love without conditions, love even when it may be easier to walk away in anger or to become upset and lash out at people. It is difficult at times, when people do not behave towards us as we would like them to. It is even harder to love someone who hates us and wishes to do us harm, but God makes it clear how to treat our enemies. Luke 6:27,28 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
God wants us to treat those who hate us with love, so we should be even more careful to be loving, understanding, and patient with our family and friends. There are times when we do not think of how our statements effects others, and there are some who are more sensitive and are prone to be hurt from what people say in what they believe to be a joking manner. If you are aware of someone that is sensitive, then you need to be more careful of how you joke around, give advice, give constructive criticism, or in any other mode of communication towards them. Do not become unthoughtful or uncaring with your communication with your friends, family or your enemies, if you are not sure if something you say will hurt someone, then you should reconsider saying it. James 1:19,20 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Galatians 6:1,2 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Luke 6:27-37 27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, 28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. 30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:27 A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.
God makes it clear what He thought of them that used magic and sought after unclean spirits, for example in seances, voodoo and in any other method ( runes, ouija boards, etc ) that one tries to gain knowledge through witchcraft.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch. 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
People watching or reading sci-fi or fantasy, should seriously think about abandoning doing so, and to parents that let your children watch or read anything that contains magic should stop them from doing so and teach them why it is wrong. God treats those who practice magic as an abomination, it is easy to pretend that as long as we do not believe it, it is ok to watch it. I am not immune, I grew up and lived over 20 years loving the sci-fi and fantasy genre, Far above any other, but God makes it clear that it is wrong, and we should be careful of it seeping into our minds, or giving the example that magic is ok. I ask that any that read this and think that magic is ok, to pray to God and seek the truth for your self, children are at stake, and if we let them watch it or show that it is ok by doing so ourselves it gives them the impression it is ok.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
I Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
I know that to many the phrase, KJV ONLY, are very strong words that angers, confuses, or is misunderstood. I personally will not tell anyone that God's Word is in English outside of the KJV ( 1611AV ) for in any of the new English translations, which are all based on the corrupt manuscripts and using Westcott and Hort that produced the Greek Text, from which all modern Bible versions use. Who were Westcott and Hort?
What I mean by King James Only
I believe that God's Word in English is the Authorized Version of 1611 or better known as the King James Version, for all other English translations have omitted, added, or changed part of, or entire verses of God's Word. God has blessed the KJV in the four hundred years since God had His Word translated into English. Remember God wrote the Bible and preserved it, and man can not claim credit in anyway on God’s Word. You might want to check about how the other English Translations has copyright infringement warnings on them.
I believe that God preserved His Inspired Word in English in the KJV, and no one needs to study Greek or Hebrew or to read the original texts ( Textus Receptus ) that was written in Greek or Hebrew. I believe that the Majority Texts are God’s Word, and not the minority texts, which all new modern English bibles are using to translate into English. The early church writers thought those texts ( minority texts ) were corrupt so they did not use those manuscripts, that should be a sign enough for us today, but the fact that those minority texts are in disagreement with the Majority Texts as well as those fall into the minority texts, should show you that something is wrong. Those differences as well as the fact that they put question into one’s mind that Jesus Christ is Not God and has many other errors in doctrine, is more than just a misprint or spelling error. Those differences is just plain purposely written false doctrine, to which we should all be able to clearly see when we study God’s Word and put on The Armour of God, Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians 6:10-18 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Remember if someone is not saved and allow God’s Word to be their Final Authority, then they are not someone you should listen to on God’s Word. Many of the writers that advocate the minority texts, do not believe that Faith alone saves, they add works which is contrary to true doctrine as well as other stands of doctrine contrary to God's Word.
Majority Texts = over 90% of manuscripts that agree with each other, while the Minority texts = are those manuscripts that do not agree with the Majority Texts, and I might add has many differences among themselves as well.
I do not believe that the KJV in any way gives superior or gives more revelation in God’s Word that the original Greek and Hebrew Texts ( Majority Texts ).
I believe that even though the other English translations are corrupt. God being God and wanting all to come to salvation allowed the Gospel of Grace to remain, so I do not believe that one needs a KJV to become saved, nor do I believe that the KJV is better in any way to the original Greek and Hebrew Texts. ( Majority Texts )
Psalm 12:6,7 6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. 7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
To those that claim that there is no perfect translation out there for us to read, I must say that they serve a God other than the one I serve, My God does not LIE, and if God said He would do something, then He DOES IT!, and God said He would preserve it.
Revelation 22:18,19 18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
I cannot see how anyone that claims God is perfect and all Powerful can ignore what God had written for us in His Word. None of the newer English translations are the same in meaning from verse to verse throughout the entire bible. You might want to ask the copyright office why that is, since every new translation brings in millions of dollars into the hands of greedy people selling books that claim to be God’s Word.
One does not need a 4, 6 or 7 year degree to notice that something is different from something else. Compare the KJV to other translations, if one word is omitted, or one verse then it means something other than what the KJV says. That would mean ONE of translations is NOT GOD’S WORD. The Authorized Version of 1611, KJV has been proven by history to save and bring forth revivals throughout the U.S. and in other countries, IT IS GOD’S WORD, and God has blessed it in the four hundred years it has been around.
I pray that anyone that does not agree with this Article, to honestly compare bibles and pray on this issue, for it is a big difference holding onto God’s Word or some imitation that contains some of God’s Word within its bounding. Let God be true, and let His Word guide you in all things.
God is dealing with everyone today, the Jews and Gentiles alike during this Age of Grace, but for most of the bible God dealt with the Jews. God chose the Jews to witness and to teach the world of the one, true God, but when the Jews failed to do so and rejected the Christ who was promised to them, God started a new dispensation, to which we are now under, the Age of Grace.
Genesis 12:1-7 1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Genesis 17:1-8,19 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. 19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
Genesis 21:12 12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Some would say that God used the seed of Ishmael and the religion that spawned from that seed ( Islam ), but here it is clear that God was calling upon the seed of Abraham in Isaac, not Ishmael.
Genesis 22:15-18 15And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
How are all nations blessed through the seed, because Jesus Christ came from the seed of Isaac, and the world is saved through Jesus Christ.
Matthew 1:1-16 1The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; 3And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 4And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon; 5And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; 6And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa; 8And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias; 9And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias; 10And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias; 11And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon: 12And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
Genesis 25:23-33 23And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 and when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. 27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Genesis 27:30-37 30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau. 33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed. 34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father. 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing. 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
Jacob has now taken Isaac's blessing from his older brother Esau, so he has now both Esau's birthright and blessing. This is important since the promise of God is with Jacob not with Esau.
Genesis 35:10-12 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
Here God proclaims that Jacob indeed has the promise that was given to Abraham, God then changed Jacob's name to Israel and gave the land that was promised to Abraham ( Gen 12:5-7 ) to the seed of Israel.
Exodus 19:3-6 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6 6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Deuteronomy 14:2 2For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
So it is clear that God choose Abraham and his seed and gave to them land and promises. One of the promises is being blessed of all nations through his seed, Jesus Christ. God also choose the Jews to be a Holy people and a kingdom of priests to spread the word of God to the world, but the Jews rebelled and rejected Christ, and failed to do so, and God has punished them and for the moment has placed them on hold, but they are still chosen and God will pick up with them again and deal with mankind through them after the rapture of the current Church Age saints. No one should judge the Jews for failing God, for every dispensation comes into being, because man failed God. When the rapture comes, it is because we ( the Church of God, all believers that accepted Jesus Christ's payment for our sin debt) have failed as the Jews did in living and spreading God's Word. God loves us so much that even though we fail Him, God still loves us and through Jesus Christ we all can find Life, so spread the gospel and witness to all you know of about Jesus Christ and the free Gift that is available to all that want and accept it.
Romans 16:17,18 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Colossians 2:6-8
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Many people today either do not hold to doctrines, or they compromise
doctrines to accommodate others in order to not make waves or because they
believe that it is ok to let some things slide in order to get along with
our fellow believers in Christ. Know, that God wants you to first be aware
of His doctrines that are found in God's Word ( The KJV Bible ), and once
you learn them, God wants you to follow them without compromises to the world
or churches that no longer hold to sound doctrines.
II Timothy 4:1-4 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Titus 2:1-8 1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:
2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
I Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment
I Corinthians 11:18,19 18 For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
If you think that doctrines are not important, or it is ok to continue to
associate yourselves with others ( church you attend, friends you spend a regular
amount of time with, etc.. ) that do not hold onto sound doctrines it
tells God that you do not want to live your life completely for Him, for you are
promoting and standing up for worldly views and not godly ones. God wants us to
separate ourselves from the world and the views or thoughts that are contrary to
His Word.
II Thessalonians 3:13-15 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
I Thessalonians 5:21,22 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
So, once you know that God wants you to behave a certain way and to not associate
yourself with those who believe contrary to God's Word, you are purposely and deliberately
NOT doing God's Will. People may decide to go along with the crowd or follow along because
they do not know differently, but it is your responsibility to read God's Word and to search out
the truths of how God wants you to live. Once you understand how God wants you to live, you
are to live it, REGARDLESS of what others say, REGARDLESS if you are criticized, attacked,
or persecuted in your church, at home, or in your workplace. God does not care if others,
( your family, friends, or whomever ) are not happy with you when you decide to live for Him.
Jesus Christ stated in Matthew, that when you follow God and stand up without compromising, it
can effect those who do not know or care to live for God 100%.
Matthew 10:34-39 34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Now, if you allow your church to remain divided over doctrines and you continue to not stand
up for the truth of God's Word, REGARDLESS of how you may be received, then like Jesus said to
the Pharisees in Matthew, A house divided shall not stand. Please do not let our churches
get any worse, stand up for God's Word and stand by it, no matter the cost.
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
When I was in Berlin a few years ago, I was traveling on the underground commuter train with American missionary Paul Hooper who was my host. I was startled and grieved as we entered and exited various trains to see little shops by the tracks with gross pornography being displayed. Some of this was full frontal nudity prominently positioned to catch the eye of every traveler.
As social mores change more and more toward Hedonism and moral degradation, we ought not be surprised to see more and more nakedness. Pornography has now made it to the world-wide web. Sales of x-rated materials and movies are exceedingly popular. Purveyors of filth sell millions of their so-called magazines to an insatiable public with a voracious appetite for more. One wonders what shocking sights lie ahead in a world that seems to be in a moral free fall.
Regardless of how the world undresses and exhibits flesh, a committed believer must be aware of the shame of nakedness, and seek to dress modestly. Our dress, demeanor, and deportment must be holy and different from our world.
Our Appearance Sends A Message
Even as a member of the armed forces is immediately recognized by his distinctive uniform, anyone is sending a message or making a statement about who they are by how they wear clothing. Even in the days of the Old Testament, a harlot was known by her distinctive dress which set her apart from women who dressed modestly."...there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot..." (Prov.7:10). When Tamar conspired to lie with her father-in-law Judah, she put her widow's garments off from her. (Gen.38:14) Because of her distinctive dress and actions, Judah took her to be a harlot and treated her accordingly.
In the above instance, Scripture presents a woman whose flesh was covered, but was distinctively seductive, and whose attire told the world around her she was of wrong moral character. On this basis, how can we condone our wives and daughters wearing clothing that may well cover their bodies, but by its fashion, cut or material used, the outline of portions of the body are so highlighted and accentuated as to cause a seductive, alluring appearance.
Ignorance Or Deliberate Actions?
Tamar knew what she was doing when she appeared in such a distinctive way. She intended to tempt and allure Judah to compromise his morals.
Because men and young men are tempted through what they see (Prov.27:20; Job 31:1), Tamar's plan was eminently successful. If you do not believe men are drawn to look at seductive and alluring women, start watching their eyes in the presence of such women.
A question that begs to be asked is, "Why would any woman who professes to know Christ as her Saviour dress in such a way as to be seductive and alluring? She may protest her clothing covers her body and the hem is below her knee; but does it highlight or accentuate parts of her body that only ought to be seen by her husband? Slit skirts are specifically designed to tease a man's eyes and appeal to his lower nature; tight, form-fitting designs shamelessly publicize body parts and contours that ought to be private; clinging or translucent materials also are specifically designed to be provocative and revealing. If a sister is honestly unaware of how her dress is defrauding every man who views her, she ought to listen to a godly, older woman (Titus 2:3) in the flock, or the Pastor's wife concerning her dress. But from what most women tell me, this type of seductive fashion is usually not accidental or ignorant. How tragic! Many, like Tamar, set out to deliberately catch the carnal eyes of men and tempt them to wrong desires even though they could technically say their bodies are "covered."
An Overwhelming Temptation
A godly David was compromised by viewing a young woman in a state of nakedness (2 Sam.12:2). The powerful impact of nakedness on a man's libido and carnal nature is so compelling, wise men will take steps to avoid such sights if at all possible. Our Lord categorically told Satan it was unlawful to tempt God (Luke 4:12); that is, put Him to the test. Any man purposely viewing pornography, x-rated materials, racy novels, or looking on wrongly-dressed women to lust after them is tempting the Lord. He is putting himself deliberately in the pathway of temptation. No man can lightly face this temptation. As the Scripture says, "many strong men have been slain by her" (Prov.7:27), wherein does this leave ordinary and weak men?
Covering: A Symbol of Righteousness
For fallen man, nakedness is a moral problem, and God provided coats of skins to cover his nakedness (Gen.3:21). This act necessitated the shedding of blood of an innocent victim, and provided "robes of righteousness" for man. Note, what God provided was a "coat," not a bikini or skimpy dress. According to Genesis 37:3, a "coat" is just what the name implies: a large outer covering for the whole body.
It seems plain that God wants most of our flesh covered! Leviticus abounds with warnings against uncovering "nakedness" of people (Lev.18), because this sign of intimacy was only for legitimate, law ful marriage partners.
With What Is Nakedness Associated?
Habakkuk 2:15 implies that drunkenness and nakedness are associated. When under control of a wrong spirit (intoxicating liquors), one will do shameful things that the Holy Spirit would never prompt us to do (Eph.5:18). Noah did the same (Gen.9).
It is also of note that the Gadarene demoniac was naked ("wore no clothes" Lk.8:27). When however, he was delivered of evil spirits he was "clothed and in his right mind" (Lk.8:35).
Nakedness was also a sign of degradation and debauchery the people of God learned from the world (Egypt). While Moses was communing with the Lord, several fell to idolatry and evil actions which included various stages of undress: "Moses saw that the people were naked" (Ex.32:25), and this nakedness was a shame, "...for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame" (Ex.32:25).
Such shame concerning nakedness is of great concern to God if not to us. It was important enough for Ham to be cursed over seeing his father's nakedness (Gen.9:22).
As if to add to their humiliation, prisoners in the Biblical world were sometimes marched away naked so their "shame would be public and magnified" (Isa.20:4). Again and again, the Scripture portrays nakedness as a shame: Rev.3:18; 16:15. Note, it was the Laodiceans who were naked (perhaps in both the spiritual and physical sense), and did not realize how shameful they were (Rev.3:18). It was obvious to God, but not to them. Carnal, lukewarm professors are capable of various stages of nakedness! It is no compliment to a person's spirituality that they wear revealing fashions, go mixed swimming, or in other ways flaunt their nakedness. Modesty is always in style (1 Tim.2:9).
Cover The Outer Man Develop The Inner Man
Godly, modest clothing, that covers a person's body sends a message about godly inner character (1 Pet.3:4). "The King's daughter is all gracious within" (Ps.45:13). Conversely, form-fitting clothing, and various forms of nakedness as "swim suits," shorts, sun suits, bare chests, slit skirts, mini skirts, unbuttoned shirts and blouses, etc., send a message about wrong inner character. Why would anyone professing Christ appear in a state of dress that Scripture associates with: a fallen nature, drunkenness, demon possession, debauchery, degradation, idolatry, loose morals, being a prisoner, being carnal and shameful?
Popularity vs. Holiness
My friend, you may be fashionable, but you are not spiritual in your nakedness. You may be in the majority, but you are not a part of the remnant. You may have the world's smile of approval, but you are not holy. You may get many to see your thigh (hip to knee: Isa.47:2-3), but God's Word calls it nakedness and shameful!
The Lord Jesus has counsel for those in various stages of nakedness: "That thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear...be zealous therefore and repent" (Rev.3:18-19).--Maranatha Baptist Watchman
Many confusions and misunderstandings of God's Word stems from not properly dividing God's Word.
II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is important to know that if something is not the same, THEN it is different. There are too many people that are not aware of or understand the differences that are within The Bible. Without properly dividing as God's tells us to ( II TIM 2:15 ), confusion and misunderstanding is expected within the church, and outright unbelief by some of those outside when confronted by what appears to be conflicts within God's Word. It is our duty to study and search out truths of God's Word, so whenever faced with questions we are able to answer those questions promptly and accurately accordingly to God's Word.
I will only be going over real quickly some of the differences in this article, to show how God has divisions that need to be separated. Later I will post more on the various differences that are within God's Word. You need to always ask who is writing and to whom, whenever faced with verses of scripture, for example when Moses wrote the first five books of The Bible to the nation of Israel ( the Jews ) and Paul the Apostle wrote Romans through Philemon for the Gentiles.
Meat? What does The Bible say we can eat?
Genesis 1:29,30 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.
So here in the beginning All creatures, including us ( humans ) were vegetarians.
Genesis 9:1-3 1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.
After the Flood God now tells mankind the new rules for eating ( for meat )that we can now eat any creature along with the green herbs that was stated in Gen 1:29,30. After the flood creatures stopped being vegetarians as well, and only one thing was not allowed to eat. Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
Leviticus 11 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth. 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you: 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;
22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. 29 These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.31 These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even. 32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it. 34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean and shall be unclean unto you. 36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. 39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. 40 And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten..
Here Moses told the nation of Israel what God permits and what God does not permit in regards to eating ( meat )as part of the Law that was given to Israel ( The Jews ) and again God is making a difference in allowed eating habits.
I Timothy 4:4,5 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Here God is using Paul to write to the Church ( Body of Christ ) under Grace NOT law, that all food is now permissible when one says grace prior to eating.
Now it is very clear that God has dealt with us in regard to eating ( meat ), with differences throughout The Bible.
It is not possible to grow in understanding until we are able to ascertain what doctrines go in what age, God never changes but God does indeed deal with us differently. I Corinthians 12:5,6 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
Another quick example of not properly dividing is in the different Gospels, YES there are more than one and you cannot mix them.
Remember in the old testament when Moses was given The Law to be given to the Jews ( ISRAEL ), well that is how the Gospel of the Kingdom was preached, to the JEWS ONLY. Matthew 3:1,2 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17,23 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 10:5-7 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
These verses are very Clear, Jesus's Earthly ministry was to the Jews, and the Gospel was the Kingdom Gospel. Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
See here Paul makes it clear when he wrote to the church at Galatia that The Gospel of Grace ( He referred to it here as the gospel of the uncircumcision, which was committed to him, Paul )and the Gospel of the Kingdom ( referred to here as the gospel of the circumcision, because of the covenant to Abraham that all his family ( Jews ) to be circumcised )was committed to Peter. Genesis 17:10,11 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
Now the Gospel of Grace which all today are saved and the dispensation to which we all today are under is told to us through Paul's writings, and Paul spoke of them that tried to mix, or change the Gospel to something other that what God gave to Paul. Galatians 1:6-9 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: I Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
Ephesians 3:3-5 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; II Corinthians 11:1-4 1 Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. Romans 16:25,26 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Some think that people got saved the same way throughout The Bible, but Romans 16:25 makes it clear that it was kept secret that being The Gospel of Grace given to Paul ( The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ ) and was not known to us until Paul taught it. We are under Grace NOT Law.
Galatians 3:22-26 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
II Timothy 4:1-4 1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. Titus 2:11-15 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. I Cor. 5:6-13 6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: 10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. I Timothy 5:19-21 19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
No one ( pastors, elders, etc ) is above rebuke, if someone is living or speaking contrary to God's Word, we are responsible to correct and rebuke. I Cor. 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Let God's Word be the FINAL AUTHORITY in All Things. In Ecclesiastes it shows us how to please God. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Though we are not under the requirement to follow the commandments, it is pleasing to God and profitable to others as well as to ourselves when we do that which is right in God's sight.
Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Titus 3:7,8 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Many people have misunderstood this verse, Hebrews 10:25, and uses it to mean something other than what it was intended. Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Hebrews, the title tells you to whom it is addressed, so this book is written to the Jews, Jews that are in fact believers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, but they are still under the law and not under the Gospel of Grace, but under the Gospel of the Kingdom.
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Who are the fathers being spoken of? Let us let God's Word define and show us.
Hebrews 8:7-13 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
The fathers spoken of in Hebrews 1:1 are the Nation of Israel referred to in greater explanation in Hebrews 8:9, the Jews under Law with a covenant with God, and God will honor that covenant even though The Nation of Israel failed to keep up their side, so after The Body of Christ is caught up into the air ( Rapture of the Church : I Thess 4:17 ), God will go back to dealing with the world through the Nation of Israel and return to the Gospel of the Kingdom, for The Gospel of Grace will end at the Rapture.
Hebrews 9:24 to Hebrews 10:26 Hebrews 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. 8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; 9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant ( refers to Hebrews 8:9-13 ) that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
The chapters 9 and 10 of Hebrews is mostly talking about Jesus Christ having made One sacrifice, and NO MORE will ever be made, so accept Jesus' Sacrifice for there will not be another.
Hebrews 3:12-19 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Remember to always read more than just one verse to understand what it is talking about to avoid taking doctrine or truths out of context and appointing them to the wrong situation or the wrong people ( The Jews under Law or the Believers under Grace, called the Church or The Body of Christ), and also see to whom that book of the Bible is addressed to, to be able to properly divide God's Word ( II Timothy 2:15 ).
The meaning of Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together in Hebrews 10:25 means this the Jews need to always exhort themselves and others that Jesus already made One Sacrifice and Died for their sins and Will Not be making another ever! Chapter 3:12-19 is a parallel of meaning to Hebrews 10, The Jews need to exhort each other that Jesus made the One and Only sacrifice for their sins or face not entering into God's Rest.
The word gospel can mean various things if looked up in a dictionary: history, narration, speech, a good or joyful message are among them. The Gospel, A Good and Joyful Message, is exactly what you will find in The Bible to show how God has made a way for us to live forever with Him. Which Gospel do we use today? The Bible contains more than one Gospel, but this study will focus on only two of them, The Gospel of the Kingdom and The Gospel of Grace.
A Little background is now needed. Exodus 19:3-8 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; 4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
God made a covenant with Israel and in verse 5 said "if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests". The nation of Israel was to be a light unto the gentiles to show the world ( everyone not Jewish are gentiles ) of the One True God. At this time God dealt with Israel only and to get to God you went through Israel, and more precise through the priests of the house of Levi to be made right with God. Exodus 20 starts with the giving of Law of God given unto Moses to give to Israel, who in Ex. 19:8 said they would do all that God asked them to do. God has given to Israel promises and made covenants with Israel that are for Israel Only, and one of them is A Redeemer in the future and A Kingdom with a King. Jesus Christ was the King spoken of in scripture and The Gospel of the Kingdom was to prepare Israel for that Kingdom.
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. Matthew 10:1-7 1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;
4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus asked a question and what was the answer that he was pleased with in Matt 16?
Matthew 16:13-17 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
The forerunner spoken of in Malachi, is John The Baptist. Malachi 3:1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
Matthew 3:1-11 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
John The Baptist preached the Kingdom was at hand, and 1) you need to confess your sins, 2) Repent, 3) Be Baptized, 4) The Messiah is coming. Once Jesus Christ started His ministry to Israel, The Gospel of the Kingdom changed only a little from what John the Baptist taught in Matthew 3, that you had to believe that He, Jesus Christ is The Messiah, The Son of God. The Gospel of the Kingdom comprises 1) Confess your sins, 2) Repent, 3) Be Baptized, 4) Believe that Jesus Christ is The Son of God.
Acts 2:36-38 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter and the other apostles are speaking to Israel at Pentecost, and the question in vers 37 when they ( Isreal ) realized that Jesus Christ is The Son of God, Their Messiah, asked what are they to do? In Verse 38, Peter said to repent which implies confession of sins, and be baptized, all 4 parts of the Kingdom Gospel.
Acts 8:26-38 26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, 28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
The four parts of the Kingdom Gospel is not all written here in Acts 8, but two of them are, 1 )be baptized and 2 )realize Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There is No Cross spoken of, No Jesus Christ Died for the eunuch's sins, and No Resurrection of Jesus Christ three days later.
Acts 11:1-19 1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. 19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Again Peter and other apostles of Israel went Only to the Jews in verse 19 even thought they now realized that gentiles are now being included in hearing God's Word, why? Jesus Christ said so, in Matthew 10:5,6. The Gospel that saves gentiles was going to be revealed in Paul.
The Gospel of Grace.
Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
Romans 1:1-3 1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Galatians 1:6-12 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2:7-9 7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Timothy 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Romans 16:25,26 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Peter and the 12 did not know understand or know of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was going to happen. Luke 18:31-34 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
John 20:1-9 1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. 5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. 6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. 9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
The Gospel of Grace: 1) Realize you are a sinner 2) Jesus Christ Died for your sins, and arose from the dead three days later 3) Sincere, you must truly believe in points 1 and 2 and not just say it. 4) Accept the Free Gift.
You can believe that you are a sinner, but that in it self will not save you. You can believe that Jesus Christ Died for Your sins and arose three days later after realizing you are a sinner, but that will not save you, until you accept The Free Gift, take it from His hand ( figure of speech ).
When I say Accept The Free Gift of Salvation I mean: A) To know and believe that you are a sinner B) Jesus Christ Died for my Sin Debt C) Jesus Christ Arose up three days later { His proof that He is God } D) Letting God pay for your Sin Debt and choosing to not pay the Sin Debt yourself, { Believe With Sincerity on these points, if you say it without meaning it, then you are believing in vain }.Now if you did all 4 points, then you are saved from eternal separation from God. God Bless and may all find peace and truth in Jesus Christ!
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Granted I have not lived as many years as some, but even I have noticed a great deal of change from my teenage years to now ( 20 year gap ). I have noticed that many people are not thankful for what they have and for that matter do not even realize they have it so good compared to over 90% of the world's population. Technology is getting better every day, and improvements in our living condition ( in the U.S at least ) is always better than years ago. I am writing some of the things I am thankful of and I want you to think on some of the things your are thankful of.
God's Gift of Salvation
The Mercy / Blessings of God
Currently a country that allows freedom to express / witness my beliefs in God
My wife that I love very much
Indoor Plumbing
Electricity
Grocery stores
My health
A job, to support my family
Family / Friends / Church
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Have you noticed people, or yourself striving so hard for things that you do not need? We should be thankful and content to have an opportunity to witness of Jesus Christ and be happy that we have food on our tables and a roof over our heads, everything else is extra and not needed ( nice to have, I grant you BUT NOT NEEDED ). There are churches in foreign countries that have nothing, the people have nothing, yet we have so many riches, that we are not even aware of them. We have money to buy boats, motorcycles, extra cars, two houses, luxurious trips, big screen tv's, etc and etc. We have been given everything from God and we need to be content in whatever state we are in and be thankful for all the things that God has given to us, without be unhappy if we do not have something, that someone you know has. Be Content, Be Thankful. God has been Very Good to us!
I Timothy 6:6-11 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Hebrews 13:5,6 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Jesus Christ is always with us and will never leave us, we need nothing else to make us happy.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Ephesians 2:4-9 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 10:9-13 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 3:10-25 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:15-19 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:45-57 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Whom did Jesus Christ Die For ?
Answer = Jesus Christ Died for Everyone
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Hebrews 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
I John 2:1,2 1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Jesus Christ's Earthly Ministry
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Galatians 4:4,5 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Jesus Christ's Life, or Earthly Ministry was to the Nation of Israel ( The Jews )but, Jesus Christ Died for Everyone.
Matthew 1:21-23 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
The Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah was spoken towards the Jews Only, and Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of that sign for the Jews. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Luke 1:13-17 13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
Luke 1:31-33 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 2:21-27 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Jesus Christ was born under the Law, and did not in His Earthly Ministry remove the Law, God dealt with the Nation of Israel ( The Jews ) differently than He is Today with us in The Church Age. Two Gospels, One under Law, one not under the Law. Rightly Divide to find truth and all becomes clear, without contradictions. Jesus Christ Taught under the Law and preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, the 12 disciples were told not to go into the way of the Gentiles, but rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Preaching The Gospel of the Kingdom, not the Gospel of Grace. Matthew 10:5-7 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
People who do not study God’s Word and do not go to a church that teaches complete truth do not know this, but it is there for anyone to read, Jesus Christ's Earthly ministry was primary, not exclusively to Israel, not the whole world, meaning gentiles which comprises most of today’s believers. Israel was to preach the truth of God unto the world, but they failed, but Jesus Christ decided to reach out to the world directly, without going through the nation of Israel in this new ( different ) dispensation we call the Church Age with a different Gospel, the Gospel of Grace that Paul taught us in I Corinthians 15:1-4.
Exodus 19:5-8 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.
8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
John 1:1-14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
In the Old Testament, there are many places that allude to Jesus Christ, for Jesus Christ was ALWAYS GOD and Is The Word of God ( The Communicator ) to us from The Triune Godhead. The Bible is Our Final Authority and comes directly from God and All that God says is Righteous and is a Light to bring us out of darkness and to keep us from straying into darkness.
II Samuel 22:29 For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.
John 12:35,36 35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Ephesians 5:1-8 1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
We are to Live for Jesus Christ and allow The Light of God that is sealed within us with the Holy Spirit when we accept Jesus Christ, to shine out of us with godly behaviour. We are to be an example to the Lost , and allow the Light of Our Salvation to bring others to Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5:14-16 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Too many do not know what The Scripture says about tithing and too many preachers uses wrong Scripture verses to support their message that you are to tithe and the amount your are to give. I am posting the most common verses that mistaken preachers use to sway you into giving as well as explaing why those verses are not for today.
Malachi 3:8-10 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse,that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The mistaken use of the verses includes: 1) will a man rob God in tithes and offerings, and 2) bring your tithe to the storehouse and claiming that for today that the storehouse is the local church you are attending. Now, go back to the verses and pay attention to the bold text in the above's Malachi 3:8-10,and let us first go to Leviticus 1 to explain part of it. Leviticus 1:1-7 1 And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 6 And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
Here we see that offerings spoken of in chapter three of Malachi are animal sacrifices for Israel's atonement for Sin when failing to live up to the Law's Requirements.
Since Malachi 3 speaks of tithes and offerings, that would mean we are required today ( If God wanted us to follow Malachi for Doctrine), to bring our money (tithe) and our animals (offerings) to church to be sacrificed for our atonement for Sin. I do hope all of you reading this knows better than that, for we are not to do that any longer, because Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself for Our Sins and we are not in need to make any additional atonement payment for our Sin Debt. That alone would and should tell you that that those verses are taken out of context to support tithing for today. Added to that, we have the: Malachi 3:10b that states :there may be meat in mine house,.
What does that mean? It is simply that The House of Levi are to be given their support from the other tribes of Israel for thier living, since they did not get an inheritance of Land when they arrived in Canaan due to The Lord being their inheritance, and meat ( food ) was one of the ways they ( The Levites ) were supported and the reason the tithe was given to Israel to follow.
Nehemiah also rebuked Judah, for not all the tribes were assembled at that time, to not forsake the share (tithe) to the Levites that was theirs by right. Nehemiah 13:10-12 10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
Malachi 1:1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.
Yes, and by the way the opening verse in Malachi, states to whom the book of Malachi was writen to, and it was not written to you ( Today's Church Age Saints under Grace ), but was written to Israel under Law.
I will now post verses that are valid for Doctrine today.
I Corinthians 9:7-14 7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
I Corinthians 16:1,2 1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
II Corinthians 8:9-15 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
II Corinthians 9:6,7 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
I believe that for today, we are to give 100% to The Service of The Lord Jesus Christ and that includes, by Love and without misgivings to provide for our Pastor, the Ministry, and for our fellow believers ( brothers and sisters in Christ )and that includes more that just money, but our time and abilities. I will also provide more verses that have bearings on tithing. I will also add that I personally will not use my tithe for a tax deduction ( Matthew 6:1-4 ) and I do not believe a tray should be passed around to gather in the tithe, but I believe that a box should be placed openly, where we can place our support without anyone being put on the spot or placed in a position of feeling guilty or pressed to give, remember God wants A Cheerful Giver.
The reason I do not use my tithe for a tax deduction is that I feel that I am not to benefit when I support to God's Ministry ( through the local church, or through another worthy Ministry ) is clearly indicated in Matthew 6:4. I also feel that no one should see or even be able to guess what one gives to the Ministry in fear of getting prideful or someone in The Ministry feeling that they need to keep that huge giver happy when possibly facing a church issue between church members. Romans 2:11 For there is no RESPECT of persons with God.
Genesis 14:18-20 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Hebrews 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
Abram ( since he was not known as Abraham until Genesis 17 ) gave unto Melchizedek, before any Tithe was required of Israel.
Proverbs 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
We are to help the poor that are lost, not just poor believers. Galatians 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
Matthew 6:1-4 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Ok, now some might question why I started out in what appears to be My disagreement in tithing over what some preachers teach on this subject. I believe that whenever anyone teaches anything concerning God's Word, they need to support it with the proper Scripture in Context, or they should keep their mouth shut, for they will answer to God on everything they claim God said. I do hope I did not offend it, is not my intention, but Being a teacher/preacher of God's Word is not something one should take lightly.
I will also say that I support the giving to the Ministry as part of our cheerful duty. Why preachers do not give the proper verses to support tithing is a big question mark, perhaps they lack faith by not allowing God to provide, perhaps some just want your money and uses verses out of context to make you feel guilty to give them more money for their own selfish desires. There is no doubt many of both of these examples are plentiful, but there are also some that do not understand God's Word well enough to teach you properly, that is why you need to always go to The Scripture for yourself and see what God's Will is for you in this and all matters.
I Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
What is wisdom? Depending on your belief in The Bible and God, your answer will vary, since Man’s Wisdom varies a great deal from actual Truth revealed from God. Wisdom is also gained by being a Believer for you will have The Holy Spirit to teach you Scripture, for God said that most of His Word ( and His Word is Truth ), is beyond the understanding of unbelievers due to being spiritually discerned.
Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
I Corinthians 2:10-14 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The natural man of verse 14 is refering to all mankind that is spiritually dead ( all that have yet to accept Jesus Christ's Death for their Sin Debt ). Man is composed of spirit, flesh, and soul and at birth our spirit is dead and is quickened ( made alive ) at our acceptance of Jesus Christ's payment for Our Sins when He died on The Cross and Arose on the third day.
Too often I have heard that Mankind has achieved so much knowledge ( science ) and anything that contradicts that science must be wrong, for example evolution and the age of the earth in billions of years are just a couple of the examples. I am posting verses that will show you what God has written to us on the matter of wisdom and how it may be gained, and why God has kept wisdom from mankind who have turned away from Him.
Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:1-6 1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-7 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
I Corinthians 1:18-31 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
I Corinthians 3:18-20 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Ephesians 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Proverbs 3:11-13 11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Happiness is from The Lord, and God gives us wisdom and understanding that goes far beyond what we ( mankind ) can understand on our own merit. We must submit to God's will and follow His will for us to achieve wisdom and to accept our knowledge over God's is pure foolishness.
Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Romans 3:3,4 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? 4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
II Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
I Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
The word rapture is not found in The Bible, but practically everyone has heard of that word, even unbelievers. The phrase caught up in The Bible is based on the greek word harpazo, to which it can mean: to catch, steal, carry off, take by force, pluck, etc. The word Rapture as we know it, came from the Latin word raptare ( rapio rapui ratum : to seize, snatch, carry away ).
The Rapture is basically at some time ( unknown ) in the future, Jesus Christ will return, not on the ground as spoken in Acts 1:11 and Daniel 7:13,14, but in the air to receive The Church Age Saints unto Himself. The Church ( believers Today )will not go through The Tribulation spoken of in the Old Testament, and I will give verses to support this fact.
I Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
I Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Holy Spirit, that indwells all believers today, will be removed, and must be removed according to Scripture, for the next phase ( Time Frame for mankind )which is the last week of the 70 weeks spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27.
II Thessalonians 2:1-7 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The he in verse 7 of II Thessalonians 2, refers to The Holy Spirit, and since we are sealed with The Holy Spirit, if The Holy Spirit needs to be removed then we too must me removed. In John, it shows us actions that The Holy Spirit ( The Comforter )does on earth, in additon to teaching and guiding believers.
John 16:7-11 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
Romans 11:1-26 1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, 3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Romans chapter 11 teaches us that 1) God is not done with Israel 2) the reasons why God is now dealing directly with Gentiles, while before Gentiles had to go through Israel to get to God 3) that Israel will not remain blind forever, and The Whole Nation of Israel will become saved one day. That one day for Israel will happen after the fulness of the gentiles be come in spoken of in Romans 11:25,26a.
Matthew 24:3-14 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
So in Matthew 24, Jesus Christ told his disciples ( who were told to go to only to the lost house of Israel, not unto the gentiles. Matthew 10:5,6 ) when He will return and of the end of the world. Jesus Christ's replied of many things, but one in verse 14 tells us today, that we will be gone before that time. Why you ask?, it is simple, we do not teach the Gospel of the Kingdom today, but the Gospel of Grace.
When the Church ( Body of Christ = all those that accept they are sinners and cannot in any way save themselves or pay off their Sin Debt on their Own, and accepts Jesus Christ's death for payment and believes that Jesus Christ Arose on the third day, which proclaims that He was indeed God )is raptured they will meet Jesus Christ in the air and be given thier new bodies of flesh and bone and forever be with God, at this time The Holy Spirit is removed from earth as we are removed and the Gospel of Grace will stop, the Church Age will be over, and God will return to His dealings with Israel and the rest of the World with the same Gospel of the Kingdom that was taught during Jesus Christ's Earthly Ministry. Paul told us to not teach/preach any other Gospel, than the one he preached or let him be accursed. Remember that we must rightly divide doctrines as God commanded us to and without doing so will confuse you on a great many things, but once you properly place doctrines in their proper place, everything becomes clear. II Timothy 2:15, Galatians 1:8,9 and Galatians 2:7,8.
I Corinthians 15:51-57 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation, what does that word imply or mean? It is something that was hidden, NOT KNOWN until the time something is unveiled or uncovered by whom ever did the hiding or the covering. In this instance God was The One that hid something, and If God wanted something hid, then you can bet it was unknown until He was ready for us to know it, and it was only to be revealed when God was ready for us to understand. God does that with understanding of His Word in general, so when a new believer starts to read and study God’s Word that individual does not fully comprehend all that they read the first time around, for it usually takes many readings and prayer to God for the understanding of what scripture means, and how it is applied, for if you remember God keeps His Precious Word and gives it to us, Believers in God ( THE TRIUNE GODHEAD ) and keeps most of His Word out of the hands of unbelievers.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
God kept alot of His Word from non-believers, and wanted those that accept Him ( Jesus Christ ) to study His Word and Meditate on it daily to learn all that God would have us to know.
Matthew 13:10,13,35 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.
Matthew 7:6 6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
I Corinthians 2:10-14 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Now, we must be aware of what was hidden and when, and at what time it has been revealed and to whom. I will be showing scripture that shows that some things were hidden during the Earthly Ministry of Jesus Christ and that includes the 12 disciples ( Even Peter ). Luke 18:31-34 31 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
John 20:1-9 1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the LORD out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
Matthew 16:21-23 21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
In Matthew 16, Jesus Christ Himself rebuked Peter for saying that which is against God's Will and God's Word. Peter did not understand ( what we call OUR GOSPEL : of where Jesus Christ Died for Our Sins and Arose three days later, for it was Hidden from all mankind at this time), but Peter, even without understanding, tried to say something contrary to God's Word and God ( Jesus Christ ) Rebuked Peter.
More and more I get too many not understanding and not willing to see what God’s Word tells us about this particular topic. The topic of The Gospel is too important to just not understand fully and completely. Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of Jewish Prophecy that was promised to The Nation of Israel, A Redeemer, a King that will save them from their enemies and place Israel into a place of Glory that was not seen even under King David or King Solomon. Scripture show us why Jesus Christ came, and to whom.
Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Galatians 4:4,5 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Was Jesus Christ a minister to the Gentiles? NO Jesus Christ was a minister to the JEWS!!!! ( The Circumcision )to confirm the promises made unto the fathers ( the fathers = Israel, the Jews )
Luke 1:30-33 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:57-74 57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Luke 2:21-27 21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; 23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) 24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Philip, one of the twelve tells Nathanael that they found the one whom Moses and the prophets wrote about ( remember all old testament prophets wrote concerning Israel, and were under the Law. Like John the Baptist, Jesus Christ was under law. Jesus Christ preached to the Jews under law, and never in His Earthly Ministry removed the Law.
Matthew 8:2-4 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
What did Jesus Christ say and tell His disciples to do?
Mark 1:14,15 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 1 5And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What gospel did Jesus Christ mean? It was not the life, death, burial, and resurrection three days later that Paul taught, because Jesus Christ did not Die yet, nor did Jesus Christ Teach it in His Earthly Ministry.
Matthew 10:5-7 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
It is clear, that Jesus Christ's Earthly Ministry was the The Jews ( Israel ) and the Gospel that was taught was not the One that Paul taught, The Gospel we are saved by, for there are two Gospels and they are far different and they were directed to different groups. Kingdom Gospel to Israel under Law, and Grace Gospel to the Gentiles, which includes Israel, not under Law. Galatians 4:5, shows what God was going to do through Israel, had Israel accepted Jesus Christ as their King, but we all know that their last chance to accept Jesus Christ as King was in Acts 7. Israel rejected their King and God decided to place the entire Jewish Dispensation ( Which includes the Age of Law and the Kingdom Gospel ) on Hold and go to the Gentiles directly using Paul and The Gospel of Grace ( That Jesus Christ Died for us, and Arose three days later ). I am posting scripture that shows the conditional side of the promises that God made with Israel, and unfortunately though God is Always true to His Word, we ( Humans ) have tendencies to fail and fall short of what we promise.
Exodus 19:5,6 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Isaiah 1:1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
Isaiah 7:13,14 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Isaiah 42:5-7 5 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Isaiah 49:6-8 6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. 7 Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. 8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
God wanted Israel to be a light unto the Gentiles to show them of The One True God, but when Israel rejected Him, their King, God changed the way He dealt with the world by going to a new Dispensation and God reached out to the Gentile World ( The Jews today are saved the same way we are, under the Gospel of Grace ) directly and not through the Nation of Israel. Later, when The king ( Jesus Christ ) sits on the Throne of David, and all of Israel will be made right with Him, then they will fulfill the promise of their being a Kingdom of Priests.
Again where did Peter and the Twelve go?
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
James who is leader of the Jewish Church, ( This is Jesus Christ's half brother, not the James who was one of the 12 )Cephas, ( who is Peter John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. , and John stated they would go unto the circumcision, and Paul and Barnabas ( who helped Paul )would go unto the heathen ( A not so nice name for us Gentiles { Everyone not Jewish }.
Acts 11:1-19 1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:
6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. 8 But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.
9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.
11 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.
12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:
13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?
18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
In Acts 11:19, Peter and those scattered abroad ( which are Jewish Kingdom Believers persecuted in Acts 8:1 )even with Peter's vision that God will be and started to deal with Gentiles, was not enough for them to go anywhere but to who? THE JEWS ONLY.
What did Peter teach? What did John teach?
Acts 2:36-38 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Peter was speaking to Israel in Acts 2, and taught a Gospel other than Our Gospel of Grace, There is NO Jesus Christ Died for your sins, NO Burial of Jesus Christ, and most importantly NO Resurrection from the Dead three days later. If you can find Our Gospelof Grace in Acts 2 , then you wrote it in yourself, for it is not there. I John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
I John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
No Where in I John or John can you find The Life, death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and John even said in I John 4:15 and I John 5:1 something different than our Gospel of Grace. I am not saying that we should not read the whole Bible, but God purposely dealt with us ( mankind ) differently at different times and told us to read/study His Word to be able to properly Divide it according to how God dealt with us differently. Remember God hid the understanding of His Death, Burial, and Resurrection from the twelve and told them Not to go to Gentiles.
Revelation was Given to Paul
Ephesians 3:5-9 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ
Paul the writer of Ephesians, clearly states that the mystery to which he teaches ( which Includes Our Gospel of Grace and other doctrines given to us through Paul ) were hid in God until God Revealed them to Paul.
Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
Two Gospels in Galatians chapter two, which one is for us gentiles? Paul said The Gospel he taught was to us, The Gentiles and Peter taught the Gospel to the Jews, and they are different, so which one taught the Life, Burial, and resurrection three days later? Paul did and God confirmed it with II Timothy 2:8, Romans 16:25,26.
II Timothy 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
Romans 16:25,26 25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Hard to Understand
At the end of Peter's Life, he wrote to those Jews he had a Ministry with, that God used Paul and that Paul taught that which is hard to understand, because all that God revealed to Paul to tell the Gentile World is contrary to how God had dealt with Israel ( under Law, with Gentiles having to go through Them {Israel} and become Jewish in practice )and Peter confirmed that what Paul wrote ( The Epistles {Romans through Philemon} )
was indeed scripture.
II Peter 3:15,16 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Witnessing = Sharing the truth of God’s Words to those that do not live for God, this includes sharing The Gospel, and living a Life, that hopefully reflects how God would like us to live.
Believer’s Responsibilities =
1) knowing how to respond to questions asked about God, and His Word.
2) Living a life that would have others ask, why are you different, this allows us to share The Truth about Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:20a Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, II Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
Here are verses that will better equip believers, so they can answer questions to how someone is saved, why we are forever saved, and our condition when we accept Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Salvation Verses
I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Romans 5:6-8 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 3:10-23 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Jesus Christ Saves us, not any works that we can do
Ephesians 2:5-9 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Forever Saved / Sealed with The Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Ephesians 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. II Corinthians 1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
Our New Nature after Salvation
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Romans 7:18-23 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Our Future Bodies
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: I Corinthians 15:42-50 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Why we Must be Saved
God hates sin, and since at birth we are sinners, that sin that is with in us must be dealt with either by choosing to pay off the debt ourselves in Hell, or to allow Jesus Christ to pay our Sin debt. Psalm 5:4,5 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. II Thessalonians 1:8,9 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Old Testament Prophecies Alluding to Jesus Christ ( The Messiah )
These Old Testament verses are especially good when witnessing to Jews, who have not yet seen that Jesus Christ is The Messiah that was promised to them in numerous Old Testament passages.
Israel was to be The Light to the Gentiles
Exodus 19:5,6 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Isaiah 42:6-8 6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. 8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Old Testament descriptions of The Messiah seems to indicate that there will be two messiahs, when in fact there is only one, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ already fulfilled one description ( The Messiah that Suffers ), but will one day also fulfill the second description, ( The Messiah that Reigns / Delivers ).
Messiah that Suffers
Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 53:2-8 2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken Isaiah 52:14,15 14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.
Messiah that Reigns ( Delivers Israel from her Enemies )
Isaiah 9:6,7 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
New Testament Prophecy Luke 1:31-33 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
One Day Israel will see Jesus Christ as their Messiah
Israel always required signs, and God will again use a sign to prove Himself to Israel as He did to Thomas in The Book of John. Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. Zechariah 13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. John 20:24-29 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Today
Romans 11:7-11 7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. 8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. 9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them: 10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway. 11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Romans 11:25-30 25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes. 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Today Our Gospel is for everyone, and we need not go through anyone to get to God. God in the past, did choose Israel to be The priests of God, so other nations had to go through The System God created in where you went through Israel to get to Him. God will one day return to that system, when Jesus Christ returns to Reign.
I was once told in an e-mail that I preach hatred…ignorance… intolerance among other things due to my stand that The Word of God will be my One and Only Standard of how to live. One of the main reasons that I received that remark was that I wrote about Hell and if someone does not accept the Gift from Jesus Christ, then one accepts to pay their sin debt themselves in Hell forever. This article will address that God indeed wrote many times in Scripture that if someone does not accept God on God’s terms, then there is punishment from God in a place that is called Hell ( currently ) and will one day finally end up in The Lake of Fire.
A quick description of Hell from Scripture.
Matthew 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Luke 16: 19-26 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
It is apparent that God allows us to see beyond the borders of Hell, but God also allows us to know that we have no escape, for the rich man did not even plead for his own release, just accepting that his fate is eternal. Hell is the current place that people go when they reject God on God’s terms, but one day, Hell will be removed and all that are in it will be tossed into the Lake of Fire, which will be the continuance of Eternal Torments.
Revelation 20:11-15 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Scripture even tells us that we become Hell by being there.
Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Many times over, in both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament God tells us that a punishment ( judgment ) will occur if we choose to live life our own way, one without God ( Our Creator ).
Psalm 5:4,5 4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. 5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Isaiah 66:15,16 15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Matthew 25:31-46 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Psalm 1:6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. II Thessalonians 1:8,9 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
It is not too late, if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ, then do so now! God wants you to be with Him, and even though we are wicked and evil at heart, God loves us and died for us. Jesus Christ has offered a Gift to you that is without price, for we could never make enough or do enough to pay it ourselves. Jesus Christ Loves you and Died for you.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 10:9-13 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1) Know that everyone is a sinner Romans 3:10 and 3:23
2) The cost of sin Romans 5:12 and 6:23
3) Jesus paid the price for OUR sins Romans 5:8
4) Believe and Accept that Jesus Christ Died for you and arose from the dead, all can be saved Romans 10:9-13
The Free Gift of Salvation means: 1) To know and believe that you are a sinner 2) Jesus Christ Died for Your Sins 3) Jesus Christ Arose up three days later { His proof that He is God } 4) Letting God pay for Your sins and choosing to not pay them yourself, { With Sincerity on these beliefs, do not just speak it without Believing it }
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain . 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
It is clear from Scripture that Satan has one agenda in regards to dealing with mankind, and that is to attack us by using deception and to tempt us into doing that which is contrary to what God would have us to do.
Satan is very real, and has great power and resources at his disposal ( multitude of unclean spirits, fallen angels ), so not fully comprehending this would be a grave mistake in any sense, but more so if you are a believer of Jesus Christ, for it is hard enough on our own to try to live godly, but when we have a very, real and powerful being out there doing all they can to not only trip us up, but is also constantly accusing us every day before God.
Ezekiel 28:14-17 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God ; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God : and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Isaiah 14:12 -14 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Revelation 12: 3,4 & 7-10 3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
I Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Matthew 4:1-10 1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Ephesians 6:10 -18 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Remember, Satan as powerful as he is, AND he is indeed powerful so remember to Always place your trust and strength in God to protect you from The Devil, and know this, that his days are numbered.
Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Revelation 20:2,7,10 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
One of the many things Satan has done, is to convince much of mankind that he does not exist, or if you believe in him, then you think of him as always being a dark, and obviously evil,looking creature that you can clearly point out in a crowd. Truth be told, he is very real, and he or any of his agents ( unclean spirits or men that do not follow God )can appear righteous, even as though God sent them, so knowing how to rightly divide scripture and relying on God is our only defense. Remember something that is 99% true, is still a Lie!!!
II Corinthians 11:13-15 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
First off, we will use a verse from The Old Testament to see a bit of wisdom God taught us. Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
This is good wisdom, God told us in II Timothy 2:15 to rightly divide the Word of God, to be a workman that is not ashamed, and though the time when works was required in addition to Faith of God, is past, not for today, it allows us to study and find out what purpose works have for us today, in this current Dispensation of time.
I Corinthians 3:11-15 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
II Timothy 2:19-21 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
In I Corinthians 13, it speaks of works that if builded upon a certain foundation, would either remain or be burnt up, and That Foundation spoken of is this, JESUS CHRIST. If you are saved, then you will either have your works remain or you will lose them, according to whether they are works you did for God, or yourself.
In II Timothy 2, it talks of works in a different light, if your works are godly, otherwise you do them not as a means for salvation, not as means to promote yourself as to how righteous you are, but simply doing works that you know will please God, you will be a vessel of gold or silver, to which you will be given rewards, and you being that vessel that did godly works, would be of honour in the The Great House of OUR Lord.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Let us look at Scripture to show us what benefits of works are to us today on earth, for we already saw what benefits it would do for us in Heaven. Today our works are good for testimony to others, as well as you will hopefully remember is pleasant in the sight of God, our Saviour.
Titus 3:8,14 8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 14 And let our's also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Romans 12:1,2 1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
A reasonable service, it says for us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, doing that which pleases God, and Jesus Christ Himself, spoke of how accepting Jesus Christ’s yoke is easy, and the burden is light. Jesus Christ will give you rest, and peace in Him. Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Ok, we have seen how we will be given rewards, for our godly works on earth today that remains if they are of the gold, silver, or precious stone variety. We saw that living for God and not ourselves is a reasonable service, and Jesus Christ spoke of His yoke being easy and the burden light. If we are to present our bodies ( vessels ) the day we enter The Lord’s House ( HEAVEN ) then we are able to decide how we are to offer ourselves to God, as vessels of honour or of dishonour, but the time we have is limited.
II Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
More on what God did for us, that are reasons for us to do works that would please Him, and not ourselves.
I Corinthians 6:15-20 15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. 16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Romans 8:15-19 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
God bought us out of Hell, for Jesus Christ paid a debt, we are not able to pay, and allowed us to become sons of God, YES God adopts us into His Family, we are no longer in the family of Adam, once we accept Jesus Christ’s Gift of Salvation. That is news almost as good as Salvation itself, to be accepted as family to God, WOW!!! That is reasons to want to please God by our godly works, but even more so, we should allow our Gift, to be seen by others, as in Titus 3, we should allow God to be seen in our actions, to allow others to see what God can do for them.
II Corinthians 4:5-11 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
II Corinthians 5:17-21 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Our old man is dead, that is what Romans 6:6 states. What exactly is our old man? It is our born given nature, being born into the family of Adam, we are sinners. Did you get that, we are sinners, before we do anything, because we inherited it from Adam, and that nature is our old man or our old nature.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Ephesians 4:22-24 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
What does talking got to do with anything? This is a major reason we need to study, conversation can mean more than talking as we know it today, it can mean a course of manners, behaviour, keeping company with others ( citizenship ) sharing same beliefs, etc. Using the Webster’s 1828 dictionary will help you a great deal while studying God’s Word, for English meanings have changed some since 1611, and the 1828 Webster’s dictionary is much better than using today’s dictionaries.
Colossians 3:9,10 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
II Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Ephesians 2:2-6 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
In times past, our old nature brought us what_____???
Our old nature brought us death, for our old nature is sinful Psalm 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. and sin separates us from God, but God loves us and gave unto us a Gift, should we choose to allows Jesus Christ to pay our sin debt for us, we can have a new nature, and be raised up to live with Jesus Christ forever. Once we accept Jesus Christ’s payment for our sins, then as Paul stated in Philippians 3:20 Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
II Corinthians 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
It is not easy, but we can fight our old nature by feeding our new nature, but do not fret when you fail to live for God as you want to, for even Paul struggled as he told us in Romans 7. Romans 7:14-25 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 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.
Galatians 5:16,17 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
John 1:1,14 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Colossians 2:6-9 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Jesus Christ is God, The Entire Triune Godhead is complete in Him. One of the attributes of God is that God lives outside of our understanding of time. God is Infinite. Revelation 1:5,8 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
II Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Ephesians 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Jesus Christ loves us that much, not only did He become sin, and then pay the price of sin, going to Hell to which we deserved, for Jesus Christ was without sin, but that is only part of what it cost Jesus Christ. He stepped down from His Glory in Heaven, to become flesh, and walk among us knowing that He would be faced with His creation cursing Him and spitting on Him and finally crucifying Him upon a Cross. That would be a lot in of it self, but that is not the entire cost; God The Father turned His back on Jesus Christ in Mark 15:34. for becoming sin, to pay the price to redeem us from that fate, Jesus Christ became that which is affront, to God. The Father and no doubt The Holy Ghost also turned from Jesus Christ during that time until sin was removed from Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ paid that price while we were unable to do anything for Him, that is Love. Again that is not the entire Cost, for God is infinite remember, so as II Peter 3:8 states, II Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
What does that mean? God lives outside of our concept of time, God is here now, but is also here a thousand years ago, and a million years in the future, He is in all times at once, to understand it for ourselves, that would mean The Price He paid is something He did once, in our understanding of time, but is forever in His time. That is how he was able to pay our sin debt.
We can pay our sin debt ourselves, being an finite being for infinity ( FOREVER ) or we can allow Jesus Christ to pay it and since Jesus Christ is an Infinite Being ( living at all times always ) He paid it for a finite amount of time on earth some two thousand years ago in our time.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Do not forget what Jesus Christ paid for us with His shed blood at Calvary. Colossians 1:13,14 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Ephesians 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Jesus Christ paid it all, please if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ’s payment for your sin debt, do it today. God loves you more than we can understand or even write about, but it is a truth that is as Forever as we are, and it is our choice to either live with God, or away from God for all eternity.
Many people do not understand the meaning or application of this word, but they do not look it up or study how God uses this word before using this word incorrectly, so I am posting the Webster’s 1828 definition.
REPENT'ANCE, n.
1. Sorrow for any thing done or said; the pain or grief which a person experiences in consequence of the injury or inconvenience produced by his own conduct.
2. In theology, the pain, regret or affliction which a person feels on account of his past conduct, because it exposes him to punishment. This sorrow proceeding merely from the fear of punishment, is called legal repentance, as being excited by the terrors of legal penalties, and it may exist without an amendment of life.
3. Real penitence; sorrow or deep contrition for sin, as an offense and dishonor to God, a violation of his holy law, and the basest ingratitude towards a Being of infinite benevolence. This is called evangelical repentance, and is accompanied and followed by amendment of life.
Repentance is a change of mind, or a conversion from sin to God.
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2Cor. 7. Matt. 3.
Repentance is the relinquishment of any practice, from conviction that it has offended God.
Now we must understand that truth is a fact that is directly based on a standard that we know to be correct, without error. Our truth is and should only be based on God’s Word, not by any man or any book that is written by man. God preserved His Word in English in The King James Version, This is our only Standard for what truth is. Also you should remember this fact, God will hold us accountable to The Truth in His Word, not what you think it means or what you heard from someone that is contrary to His Word.
You have read above in other articles that The Gospel of Today, is not the same Gospel that was spoken of in Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and early Acts by Peter and the other disciples. Many people will not see this fact, even though God has clearly shown what was and now what is, in regards to The Gospel.
Matthew 3:1-6 1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Luke 3:2-3 2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. 3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Matthew 4:17-23 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him. 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 10:5-7 5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Jesus Christ’s Ministry, John the Baptist’s Ministry, The Ministry of the 12: all directed to Israel alone, it included repentance, confessing their sins, water baptism and speaking out that The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Now compare that to Paul’s message that God wanted us today to hear, it does not mention repentance, water baptism, or confessing of sins, or asking for forgiveness of their sins.
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Many people today believe that repentance is an ingredient that is required for Salvation from Eternal Separation from God, others say that repentance is a work, and if you include any works to what Jesus Christ did, then you did not accept The Free Gift, for you tried to pay for it and you denied Jesus Christ from paying it all and that attempt to pay for your Salvation hinders your Salvation by not relying entirely on Jesus Christ alone for payment for your Salvation.
I already posted above what Repentance is, now I will state what Repentance is not.
Repentance is not asking for forgiveness of your sins.
Repentance is not God forgiving you of your sins.
Repentance is not speaking or saying a sinner’s prayer.
Repentance is not walking an aisle in your local church building.
In Conclusion:
1) Are you sorry for believing that your works will save you?
2) Are you now aware that only Jesus Christ’s Payment will atone for your sin debt?
Both are examples of repentance, being sorry and later changing you belief to understand that you can not in any way pay for your salvation on you own, that only Jesus Christ can pay for your sin debt.
Now those example will not save you, you must accept the Free Gift, and I will say that you can repent then believe the Gospel and be saved, for repentance in itself does not do anything, but can describe your being sorry and deciding to change what you believe previously to now accepting the Gospel .
I Corinthians 15:1-4 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Added couple of Webpages under Links to other websites 06-03-2008
Edited Article: Bible Overview 07-01-2008
Edited Doctrinal Statement on Water Baptism 10-11-2008
Added Article: Verses for Witnessing 12-10-2008
Updated my Testimony 12-27-2008
Added Article: Does Hell Exist 12-27-2008
Added Article: Satan, The Adversary 02-24-2009
Removed believers should still follow communion from Doctrinal Statement 03-15-2009
Added Article: Works for Today 03-15-2009
Added Article: Our Nature 03-17-2009
Added Grace 101 Bible Studies under Links to other websites 03-17-2009
Added Article: The Price Jesus Christ Paid 03-18-2009
Added Article: Repentance, What does it Mean??? 06-22-2009
These are links to sites that I have run across that have good articles and thought you might like to use for further study of God's Word, I do not agree with everything found on them, but I have found some good articles, so Remember to use them as a guide and always refere back to the KJV bible to verify what you read, God is always right, man does and continue to make mistakes, so do as the Bereans did Acts 17:10-11 10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. as well as what Paul told us I Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
