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Marriage, Weddings, Family
Genesis 1 'in the beginning,' God....
Proverbs 30:18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:
30:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman.
This mystery might begin with the manner of obtaining the love of the young woman, but focuses on the most intimate part of human relationships. And all of this was amazing to the sage. All of it is part of God’s creative plan and therefore can be enjoyed and appreciated without fully comprehending it. God's Plan?? Genesis 2:18–25: “Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' ... So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man." (and again) Genesis 1:27-28: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' "
The several imperatives addressed to both males and females together actually form two commands: reproduce and rule. God’s word is not merely a form of blessing, but is now addressed to them personally; this is a distinct emphasis with the creation of human beings. But with the blessing comes the ability to be fruitful and to rule. In procreation they will share in the divine work of creating human life and passing on the divine image (see 5:1-3); in ruling they will serve as God’s vice-regents on earth. They together, the human race collectively, have the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of that which is put under them and the privilege of using it for their benefit.
Genesis 2:22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 2:23 Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family. “and they become one flesh.” The Hebrew word refers to more than just a sexual union. When they unite in marriage, the man and woman bring into being a new family unit. The phrase “one flesh” occurs only here and must be interpreted in light of v. 23. There the man declares that the woman is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. To be one’s “bone and flesh” is to be related by blood to someone.The expression “one flesh” seems to indicate that they become, as it were, “kin,” at least legally (a new family unit is created) or metaphorically. In this first marriage in human history, the woman was literally formed from the man’s bone and flesh. Even though later marriages do not involve such a divine surgical operation, the first marriage sets the pattern for how later marriages are understood and explains why marriage supersedes the parent-child relationship.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. 5:24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 5:26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 5:28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 5:30 for we are members of his body. 5:31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 5:32 This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 5:33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I find it thought provoking that husbands are commanded to love and wives to respect.... Is it proper to say that man must leave his father and mother to live with the wife's family?? I use to think so but in light of further study it more properly shows God's plan is for the new family (husband + wife) create a new family unit (be fruitful and multiply). The husband is the standard for the family's motis operandi; To Love even to death...
Four unique forms of love are found in the Bible. They are communicated through four Greek words: Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape. W Characterized by romantic love, family love, brotherly love, and God's divine love (while we were sinners, Jesus died for us)
Song of Solomon 8:6 The Beloved to Her Lover:
Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death,
passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame.
8:7 Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love,
the offer would be utterly despised.
The Beloved wanted to be as safe and secure as a cylinder seal worn on the arm or around the neck, hanging down over the heart. She also wanted to be placed on his heart (emotions), like the impression of a cylinder seal is written on a document. She wanted to be “written” on his heart like the impression of a cylinder seal, and kept secure in his love as a signet ring is worn around his arm/hand to keep it safe.
We are here to witness the love a man and woman have for us, Godly yearning for complete fulfillment as was the earliest desire of God's plan and was expressed by Adam when he first saw Eve and said "Whoa, Woman!" (he may have exclaimed 'yowzer' for lack of words to express how he felt...
Genesis 1 'in the beginning,' God....
Proverbs 30:18 There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:
30:19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship in the sea, and the way of a man with a woman.
This mystery might begin with the manner of obtaining the love of the young woman, but focuses on the most intimate part of human relationships. And all of this was amazing to the sage. All of it is part of God’s creative plan and therefore can be enjoyed and appreciated without fully comprehending it. God's Plan?? Genesis 2:18–25: “Then the LORD God said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' ... So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man." (and again) Genesis 1:27-28: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.' "
The several imperatives addressed to both males and females together actually form two commands: reproduce and rule. God’s word is not merely a form of blessing, but is now addressed to them personally; this is a distinct emphasis with the creation of human beings. But with the blessing comes the ability to be fruitful and to rule. In procreation they will share in the divine work of creating human life and passing on the divine image (see 5:1-3); in ruling they will serve as God’s vice-regents on earth. They together, the human race collectively, have the responsibility of seeing to the welfare of that which is put under them and the privilege of using it for their benefit.
Genesis 2:22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the part he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. 2:23 Then the man said, “This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one will be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” 2:24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family. “and they become one flesh.” The Hebrew word refers to more than just a sexual union. When they unite in marriage, the man and woman bring into being a new family unit. The phrase “one flesh” occurs only here and must be interpreted in light of v. 23. There the man declares that the woman is bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. To be one’s “bone and flesh” is to be related by blood to someone.The expression “one flesh” seems to indicate that they become, as it were, “kin,” at least legally (a new family unit is created) or metaphorically. In this first marriage in human history, the woman was literally formed from the man’s bone and flesh. Even though later marriages do not involve such a divine surgical operation, the first marriage sets the pattern for how later marriages are understood and explains why marriage supersedes the parent-child relationship.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, 5:23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church – he himself being the savior of the body. 5:24 But as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her 5:26 to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, 5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious – not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 5:28 In the same way husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 5:29 For no one has ever hated his own body but he feeds it and takes care of it, just as Christ also does the church, 5:30 for we are members of his body. 5:31 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 5:32 This mystery is great – but I am actually speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 5:33 Nevertheless, each one of you must also love his own wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
I find it thought provoking that husbands are commanded to love and wives to respect.... Is it proper to say that man must leave his father and mother to live with the wife's family?? I use to think so but in light of further study it more properly shows God's plan is for the new family (husband + wife) create a new family unit (be fruitful and multiply). The husband is the standard for the family's motis operandi; To Love even to death...
Four unique forms of love are found in the Bible. They are communicated through four Greek words: Eros, Storge, Philia, and Agape. W Characterized by romantic love, family love, brotherly love, and God's divine love (while we were sinners, Jesus died for us)
Song of Solomon 8:6 The Beloved to Her Lover:
Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death,
passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame.
8:7 Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love,
the offer would be utterly despised.
The Beloved wanted to be as safe and secure as a cylinder seal worn on the arm or around the neck, hanging down over the heart. She also wanted to be placed on his heart (emotions), like the impression of a cylinder seal is written on a document. She wanted to be “written” on his heart like the impression of a cylinder seal, and kept secure in his love as a signet ring is worn around his arm/hand to keep it safe.
We are here to witness the love a man and woman have for us, Godly yearning for complete fulfillment as was the earliest desire of God's plan and was expressed by Adam when he first saw Eve and said "Whoa, Woman!" (he may have exclaimed 'yowzer' for lack of words to express how he felt...
Disasterous Declairations by God our Lord!
[Mat 23:8-12 KJV] 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[Mat 13:49-50 KJV] 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[1Ti 4:1-2 NET] 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
To the Church in Laodicea (these letters are also studied as the seven phases of Christ's church history)3:14 “To 51 the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: 52
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 53 the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator 54 of God’s creation: 3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. 55 I wish you were either cold or hot! 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going 56 to vomit 57 you out of my mouth! 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, 58 and neednothing,” but 59 do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, 60 poor, blind, and naked
Precious Promises from God our Lord!
[2Pe 1:4 KJV] 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Psalm 27
[Phl 1:3-6 KJV] 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
[Psa 138:7-8 NASB] 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, He will accomplish what I start... Today Lord help me live by this creed!
When have you heard, 'doesn't matter what religion, because god just wants you to believe (or something to that effect)? Let's examine the validity of that statement, or not as the case may be... First though, what is your belief about God and how He corresponds with us in the present age or covenant??? Is the Bible, the only inspired Word of God that delivers His message of Grace through faith? I continue with the assumption that it is the case, if you don't believe that, stop reading because the foundation for further thought on the question of multiple paths is shaky and will not stand up to the 'slings and arrows of Satan':
So, Why is Sarah listed in the faith chapter? [Heb11:11-12 KJV] 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Was not the actual promise of a deliverer heir made to Abraham and at that time did they both laugh at the thought of the two of the old 'fogeys' having children?
[Gen 17:15-19 KJV] 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall] her name [be]. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? 18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! 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.
So, why was Ishmael, as the firstborn of Abraham, not the chosen one to receive the everlasting covenant? That is answered in the discourse of the woman of the flesh and the woman of the Spirit. Sarah was Abraham's wife, and was to receive God's promise that she would bear Abraham's son of the covenant promise. Nothing against Hagar, she received a blessing of her own for Ishmael. But her child was not the child of the promised covenant blessing to 'bless all the nations'.
[Gen 17:20-21 KJV] 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year..[4:24-26, 28-31 NLT] 24 These two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. ... 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? "Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
We are a new creature created by the Lord, so there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Greek) but a new nation, in Christ; Christian... the promise to Abraham fulfilled. through the Jews of the promised covenent, Jesus Christ was born and what a story that is... but we are the receivers of the greater promise that through Abrahams seed, all nations will be blessed:
[Rom 1:16 KJV] 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. [Rom 10:12 KJV] 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.
[Gal 3:26-29 KJV] 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So, God's new covenant, sealed in the precious, sinless blood of Jesus is that we must believe that He is the only begotten of God and the One who establishes that faith in Him leads to salvation by His death, burial and resurrection; [Rom 5:17, 20-21 NLT] 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. ... 20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Rom 6:5-11 NLT] 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. This is the message of salvation from the One, True, Living God even Jesus Christ; Amen and Amen...
[Mat 23:8-12 KJV] 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, [even] Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, [even] Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
[Mat 13:49-50 KJV] 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[1Ti 4:1-2 NET] 1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.
To the Church in Laodicea (these letters are also studied as the seven phases of Christ's church history)3:14 “To 51 the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: 52
“This is the solemn pronouncement of 53 the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator 54 of God’s creation: 3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. 55 I wish you were either cold or hot! 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going 56 to vomit 57 you out of my mouth! 3:17 Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, 58 and neednothing,” but 59 do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, 60 poor, blind, and naked
Precious Promises from God our Lord!
[2Pe 1:4 KJV] 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Psalm 27
[Phl 1:3-6 KJV] 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:
[Psa 138:7-8 NASB] 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Praise God from whom all blessings flow, He will accomplish what I start... Today Lord help me live by this creed!
When have you heard, 'doesn't matter what religion, because god just wants you to believe (or something to that effect)? Let's examine the validity of that statement, or not as the case may be... First though, what is your belief about God and how He corresponds with us in the present age or covenant??? Is the Bible, the only inspired Word of God that delivers His message of Grace through faith? I continue with the assumption that it is the case, if you don't believe that, stop reading because the foundation for further thought on the question of multiple paths is shaky and will not stand up to the 'slings and arrows of Satan':
So, Why is Sarah listed in the faith chapter? [Heb11:11-12 KJV] 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Was not the actual promise of a deliverer heir made to Abraham and at that time did they both laugh at the thought of the two of the old 'fogeys' having children?
[Gen 17:15-19 KJV] 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall] her name [be]. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear? 18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee! 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.
So, why was Ishmael, as the firstborn of Abraham, not the chosen one to receive the everlasting covenant? That is answered in the discourse of the woman of the flesh and the woman of the Spirit. Sarah was Abraham's wife, and was to receive God's promise that she would bear Abraham's son of the covenant promise. Nothing against Hagar, she received a blessing of her own for Ishmael. But her child was not the child of the promised covenant blessing to 'bless all the nations'.
[Gen 17:20-21 KJV] 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year..[4:24-26, 28-31 NLT] 24 These two women serve as an illustration of God's two covenants. The first woman, Hagar, represents Mount Sinai where people received the law that enslaved them. 25 And now Jerusalem is just like Mount Sinai in Arabia, because she and her children live in slavery to the law. 26 But the other woman, Sarah, represents the heavenly Jerusalem. She is the free woman, and she is our mother. ... 28 And you, dear brothers and sisters, are children of the promise, just like Isaac. 29 But you are now being persecuted by those who want you to keep the law, just as Ishmael, the child born by human effort, persecuted Isaac, the child born by the power of the Spirit. 30 But what do the Scriptures say about that? "Get rid of the slave and her son, for the son of the slave woman will not share the inheritance with the free woman's son." 31 So, dear brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman; we are children of the free woman.
We are a new creature created by the Lord, so there is neither Jew nor Gentile (Greek) but a new nation, in Christ; Christian... the promise to Abraham fulfilled. through the Jews of the promised covenent, Jesus Christ was born and what a story that is... but we are the receivers of the greater promise that through Abrahams seed, all nations will be blessed:
[Rom 1:16 KJV] 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. [Rom 10:12 KJV] 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.
[Gal 3:26-29 KJV] 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye [be] Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
So, God's new covenant, sealed in the precious, sinless blood of Jesus is that we must believe that He is the only begotten of God and the One who establishes that faith in Him leads to salvation by His death, burial and resurrection; [Rom 5:17, 20-21 NLT] 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. ... 20 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Rom 6:5-11 NLT] 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. This is the message of salvation from the One, True, Living God even Jesus Christ; Amen and Amen...
[Psa 13:1-6 NASB] 1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? 2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [Having] sorrow in my heart all the day? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 3 Consider [and] answer me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the [sleep of] death, 4 And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," [And] my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Nebuchadnezzar Invades Jerusalem!
[Jhn 19:10-11 RSV] 10 Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" 11 Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin."
[Isa 44:24, 28 NASB] 24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, "I, the LORD, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone, ... 28 "[It is I] who says of Cyrus, '[He is] My shepherd! And he will perform all My desire.' And he declares of Jerusalem, 'She will be built,' And of the temple, 'Your foundation will be laid.'"
[Jer 27:1, 5-7 NASB] 1 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying-- ... 5 "I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. 6 "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have given him also the wild animals of the field to serve him. 7 "All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.
How could God through Jeremiah possibly say Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant? As a matter of fact this was similar to another prophecy made by Isaiah about Cyrus the Great which called the conqueror, My servant, His anointed. (Isaiah 44:28, 45:1) Both of these rulers had vast power over huge territories in the ancient Middle East. And their decisions determined much of the course of known world history during that time.
From the human perspective, Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus were the world's greatest despots and greatly to be feared and resisted.
But the prophecies of Jeremiah and Isaiah, as well as history, bear out that ultimately these rulers were not in control of the final outcomes. God was. (Remember God turned Nebuchadnezzar into a wild animal that lived in the wild for seven years, before turning him back into a man who praised God ?)
Whether these kings admitted it or not, they were put in positions of authority by the Hand of God. As such they were God's servants, God's agents. And through their decisions they knowingly or unknowingly, ended up serving God's purposes in history.
I am puzzled by the following verse, nevertheless, until I am shown God's real intention, I take it at face value, as I try to take all the Scripture we call the Holy Bible...
[Rom 13:1-5 RSV] 1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.:
Since God is the King of all kings and rulers in the modern world, what does that say about today's motley and scary group of leaders? Ultimately God is in control---in spite of our fierce oppostion and apprehension. Our Lord God will use them and us to fulfill His ends, move history forward. And He will bring many to Him in the process.
Putin, has control, like a king, of vast areas North of Israel... He is recognized as a leader with enough military to reduce US to a pile of burning rubble. It is my prayer that God will use President Trump to control the Bear, like one hooks the nose of a bull and leads him around like a petulant child. But no matter what I want, future history is already written, Our Lord's way will be, will be!
Study the Word, it's God's history of the Earth He created.
[[Gal 3:22-29 NASB] 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor [to lead us] to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise.
[Gal 1:1-2, 6-9 NASB] "Paul, an apostle (not [sent] from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: ... I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is [really] not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" (goto Cogitations)
)06/29/18 What Must I Do To Be Saved?
Some help to over come "End Time Weariness" (click link for article)
[2Th 2:1-17 NKJV] 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
Acts 16:29 And the jailer6 called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ufell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be wsaved?” 31 And they said, x“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savved, (emphasis mine) you yand your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them zthe same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he awas baptized at once, he and all his family.
Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that jGod has made him kboth Lord and Christ, this Jesus lwhom you crucified.”
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith rapart from your works, and I will show you my faith sby my works. 19 tYou believe that God is one; you do well. Even uthe demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 vWas not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that wfaith was active along with his works, and faith was completed xby his works
Acts 2:37 Now when mthey heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, nwhat shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, o“Repent and pbe baptized every one of you qin the name of Jesus Christ rfor the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive sthe gift of the Holy Spirit... [above copied from ESV (english standard version) of Holy Bible.]
So, I am asked, 'what must I do to be saved?' One can see there seems to be two answers found in God's Word; 'believe and be baptized' or just believe'. Which is the truth? (and what about the thief on the cross?) looks to me, based on my fair assumption that "all scripture is inspired by God" that James answers the question about belief and works very succiently; "faith is/was completed by works"...
If I were to meet a man who was on the verge of starving to death, and said to him "do you believe this sandwich will keep you from starving to death?" and then left without giving him even a bite of the sandwich; what good is his belief that the sandwich would save him. The belief isn't fulfulled by the idea of the sandwich, rather by the action of eating the sandwich is what saves.
I have a sandwich (metaphor) 'Jesus Christ shed blood can save you'; that is established in all cases of people being saved from the Gospel (including the thief on the cross). Peter was given authority by our Lord; [Mat 16:18-19 ESV] 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Because I believe that God has left us His inspired Word, given to the Jewish fathers, prophets and writers in what we call the Old Testament, and further revealed His Messiah and Son by the Apostles and other writers of The Good News, what we call the New Testament; I submit that all we need to know to be saved is found in the Bible, specifically the New Testament, and we need to know all that is written and codified as the inspired Word of God...
[2Ti 3:14-17 ESV] 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, He gave his only Son (to a cruel death, crucifiction) that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but obtain everlasting life
Some help to over come "End Time Weariness" (click link for article)
[2Th 2:1-17 NKJV] 1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. 5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains [will do so] until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the [lawless one] is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, 14 to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.
Acts 16:29 And the jailer6 called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he ufell down before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be wsaved?” 31 And they said, x“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be savved, (emphasis mine) you yand your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them zthe same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he awas baptized at once, he and all his family.
Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that jGod has made him kboth Lord and Christ, this Jesus lwhom you crucified.”
James 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith rapart from your works, and I will show you my faith sby my works. 19 tYou believe that God is one; you do well. Even uthe demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 vWas not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that wfaith was active along with his works, and faith was completed xby his works
Acts 2:37 Now when mthey heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, nwhat shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, o“Repent and pbe baptized every one of you qin the name of Jesus Christ rfor the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive sthe gift of the Holy Spirit... [above copied from ESV (english standard version) of Holy Bible.]
So, I am asked, 'what must I do to be saved?' One can see there seems to be two answers found in God's Word; 'believe and be baptized' or just believe'. Which is the truth? (and what about the thief on the cross?) looks to me, based on my fair assumption that "all scripture is inspired by God" that James answers the question about belief and works very succiently; "faith is/was completed by works"...
If I were to meet a man who was on the verge of starving to death, and said to him "do you believe this sandwich will keep you from starving to death?" and then left without giving him even a bite of the sandwich; what good is his belief that the sandwich would save him. The belief isn't fulfulled by the idea of the sandwich, rather by the action of eating the sandwich is what saves.
I have a sandwich (metaphor) 'Jesus Christ shed blood can save you'; that is established in all cases of people being saved from the Gospel (including the thief on the cross). Peter was given authority by our Lord; [Mat 16:18-19 ESV] 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Because I believe that God has left us His inspired Word, given to the Jewish fathers, prophets and writers in what we call the Old Testament, and further revealed His Messiah and Son by the Apostles and other writers of The Good News, what we call the New Testament; I submit that all we need to know to be saved is found in the Bible, specifically the New Testament, and we need to know all that is written and codified as the inspired Word of God...
[2Ti 3:14-17 ESV] 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, He gave his only Son (to a cruel death, crucifiction) that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but obtain everlasting life
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[Pro 10:25 NLT] 25 When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11 I am coming quickly. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. Somewhere I heard an adage that went something like this; "if you lie down with dogs, you wake up with fleas" [Gal 5:18-21 KJV] 18" But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." It is my opinion that while engaged in the 'works of the flesh' that Satan and his minions remain quiet; allowing the sinner to be dragged further and further into the morass that leads to eternal damnation. For those who strive to live by the works of the Holy Spirit, Satan is like a roaring lion' seeking those whom he can devour... Ø Satan roars in the workplace! Ø He roars in the marketplace! Ø He roars in your own home! Ø He roars in your ear as you drive down the highway! Ø He roars in your ear in the doctor’s office! Ø He roars in your ear even as you sit in the church! HE NEVER QUITS ROARING! (except maybe when you indulge in riotous living as in this story; Satan probably left the young son alone as he was 'living it up' ;[Luk 15:13, 30 NASB] 13 "And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. ...) 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' [[Job 2:1-2 NASB] 1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it."
(1Pe 5:8 KJV] 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:) [Job 2:3-7 NASB] 3 The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause." 4 Satan answered the LORD and said, "Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 "However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face." 6 So the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life." 7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. [Psa 18:1-3 NASB] 1 For the choir director. A [Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
And he said, "I love You, O LORD, my strength." 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. [Heb 12:9-10 NLT] 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.
Sometime I will relate how I felt about my Dad. He was very humble, 'bull' strong and a great example for a hard-headed, fool-hardy kid who knew better that anyone 'what was what'. Happy Father's day Dad! 1 Corinthians 15:47
"The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven." Adam was formed of the dirt of the earth. Jesus' earthly body (dirt, or clay) was formed like us, natural born of woman... However, He received a Heavenly, glorified body upon His resurrection!! Thank you Lord that I will receive an immortal body a told by the Apostle Paul; Victorious Resurrection1Cor 15:50 Brothers, I tell you this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption. 51Listen! I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 Because this corruptible must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal must be clothed with immortality. 54 Now when this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting? 56 Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord's work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. |
Precious Lord, Take My Hand: Calmed my raging mind last night...
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My recent study has been kind of like that; I read and think I have a good grasp of what I'm reading and try to apply my reading to a deep, intellectual study and find, my brain is a complete blank page... nothing, nada.. I'm more convinced than ever that we should not read to be exaulted, like the Pharisee praying out loud in the market so all could hear, but read with humility, like the poor wretched person who would not even lift his eyes as he prayed, Lord be merciful:
Ezra 9:6
and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
[Jas 1:22-25 NASB] "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
Ezra 9:6
and I said, "O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens.
[Jas 1:22-25 NASB] "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does."
