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Monday, August 31, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Death-Never See

Bible Questions Answered:
Bro. A fellow that I listen to, says that believers will never see death, but this doesn't seem right.
Kody/ Rochester, United Kingdom

Bible Answers:

John 8:51 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

As in all Biblical cases, we cannot interpret this verse without knowing it's proper context.

John 8:31-58 NLT
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in Him, “You are truly My disciples if you remain faithful to My teachings.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.”
33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill Me because there’s no room in your hearts for My message.
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with My Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”
39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example.
40 Instead, you are trying to kill Me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God Himself is our true Father.”
42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on My own, but He sent Me.
43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear Me!
44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe Me!
46 Which of you can truthfully accuse Me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe Me?
47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
48 The people retorted, “You Samaritan devil! Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?”
49 “No,” Jesus said, “I have no demon in Me. For I honor My Father—and you dishonor Me.
50 And though I have no wish to glorify Myself, God is going to glorify Me. He is the true judge.

51 I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys My teaching will never die!”

52 The people said, “Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, ‘Anyone who obeys My teaching will never die!’ 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I want glory for Myself, it doesn’t count. But it is My Father who will glorify Me. You say, ‘He is our God,’
55 but you don’t even know Him. I know Him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know Him and obey Him.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to My coming. He saw it and was glad.”
57 The people said, “You aren’t even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!”
59 At that point they picked up stones to throw at Him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.

Please notice verses 33 and, 34..

33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?”
34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.

The Jews, knew nothing but servitude, presently they were under Roman rule.
Their fathers had come from Egypt and Egyptian rule, not to mention Babylonian and Syrian rule.

Be that as it may, they were not slaves, as such, Christ was speaking, not just metaphorically, but spiritually!
The Jews, being of their father the devil, were “slaves,” to him and to sin.
Of this contextual interpretation, there is no dispute.

And it is exactly again by this spiritual analogy through which Christ wishes to encourage His people!

John 8:51 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Spiritually speaking, His people will never see “spiritual,” death.

The Word of God, concerning “spiritual death.”

Genesis 2:17 KJV
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Proverbs 21:16 KJV
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

Ezekiel 18:20 KJV
"The soul that sinneth, it shall die..."

Matthew 8:22 KJV
But Jesus said unto him, Follow Me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luke 15:32 KJV
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Luke 6:53 KJV (Christ was speaking-metamorphically-spiritually, as He was not even dead yet! How easy it is to misinterpret the Word of God!)
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.
(That is being in communion, spiritually with Him)

Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:6 KJV
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Ephesians 2:1 KJV
And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Ephesians 5:14 KJV
Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Colossians 2:13 KJV
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

I Timothy 5:6 KJV
But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.

James 1:15 KJV
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

James 5:20 KJV
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Revelation 3:1 KJV
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Revelation 21:8 KJV
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

There is no spiritual death for the children of God.

Psalm 23:4 KJV
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.

Proverbs 14:32 KJV
The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

Isaiah 25:8 KJV
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

John 10:17,18 KJV
[17] Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again.
[18] No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.

I Corinthians 15:51-58 KJV
[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.
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

I Thessolonians 4:13-18 NLT
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with Him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet Him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
18 So encourage each other with these words.

II Timothy 1:10 KJV
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Revelation 21:4 KJV
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

John 8:51 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

What encouragement to the children of God, who are not slaves, but sons and daughters!

34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.
36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Do you know the Saviour?

Romans 5:6-9 KJV
[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.
[9] Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

See, The Bible Prayer Line - “View a list of subjects” Bible Lessons: Salvation Prayer

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Childbearing And Salvation

Bible Questions Answered:
I see that Paul says a woman can be saved by childbearing, why does he say that?
Jacob/ Jesup, Georgia

Bible Answers:
The scripture to which you refer is I Timothy chapter two, but we would do well do see the context of this verse.

I Timothy 2:8-15 KJV (The Apostle Paul)
[8] I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
[9] In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
[10] But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
[11] Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
[12] But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
[13] For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
[14] And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
[15] Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

I Timothy 2:8-15 NLT
8 In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy.
9 And I want women to be modest in their appearance.
They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes.
10 For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.
11 Women should learn quietly and submissively.
12 I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly.
13 For God made Adam first, and afterward He made Eve.
14 And it was not Adam who was deceived by Satan. The woman was deceived, and sin was the result.
15 But women will be saved through childbearing, assuming they continue to live in faith, love, holiness, and modesty

Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” KJV

Translators, have since said that the preposition “in,” should be the word “through,” and thus reading...
Notwithstanding she shall be saved “through” childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

Women, though they will have much sorrow in conception and bringing forth children, they they will go on to be saved, if they continue if faith.

Bringing children into the world, doesn't save, only the blood of Christ can save anyone.

Romans 5:9 KJV
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.


Just as Adam, and all men after him will be saved through thorns and thistles, if they continue in faith.

The curse of sin:

Genesis 3:13-19 KJV
[13] And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
[14] And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

[15] And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

[16] Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

[17] And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
[18] Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
[19] In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.


There is another explanation of I Timothy 2:15, and it is as follows.
"Notwithstanding she shall be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety."

This may well be an allusion by the Apostle, to an early Genesis prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

Genesis 3:15 KVJ
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.

Genesis 3:15 NET
And I will put hostility between you (The serpent) and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring(Christ, the seed of the woman-Mary.); her offspring will attack your head,and you will attack her offspring’s heel.

We have often said that the way to kill a snake, is to smash it's head.
The day is coming when the head of Satan, and all his evil entourage, will meet their end in the lake of fire and brimstone.

Revelation 21:7,8 KJV
[7] He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be His God, and he shall be My son.
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Satan, struck at Christ, (the seed of the woman), but He arose, victorious the King of Salvation.

Isaiah 53:1-12 KJV
[1] Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?
[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.
[9] And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.
[10] Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand.
[11] He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied: by His knowledge shall My Righteous Servant justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities.
[12] Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out His soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Romans 8:11 KJV
But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.

I Timothy 2:15 KJV
Notwithstanding she shall be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Through the birth of a child, the world has a way of salvation.

Isaiah 9:6 KJV
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, Counseller, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (What kind of Father?-An Everlasting one, no beginning and no end!)

Matthew 1:20,21 KJV
[20] But while he(Joseph)thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
[21] And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for he shall save His people from their sins.

Luke 2:11 KJV
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Galatians 4:4 KJV
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I Corinthians 3:11 KJV
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-The Wheat And The Tares

Bible Lessons: Parable “The Wheat And The Tares.”

Matthew 13:24-30 KJV
[24] Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
[25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.
[26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.
[27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Christ's explanation:

Matthew 13:36-43 KJV
[36] Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and His disciples came unto Him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.
[37] He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;
[38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
[39] The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world*; and the reapers are the angels.
[40] As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.
[41] The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;
[42] And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
[43] Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

* World: Greek-Aion (Ahee-ohn): Age.

The enemy, is Satan, the devil (sower of the tares.)

Ephesians 6:11 KJV
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles* of the devil.

*Wiles-Greek-Methodeia (Meth-od-i-ah):Trickery, to lie in wait.

The sower is the Lord Jesus Christ.
The good seed, are the children of the kingdom
The tares, are the children of the wicked one, His enemy.
The field is the world.
The harvest is the end of the world.
The reapers, are the angels.
The fire, is the everlasting, lake of fire.

Some one might remark, I thought according to I Thessalonians 4:15-18, the church was to be removed first!
This is true for the end of the age of “Grace,” but this parable is not about the age of grace, but about the “Kingdom age.”
The Kingdom age, is that group that exists from the rapture of the church to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with His Bride, the church.

When this time ends, with Armageddon, Christ returns and judges the nations, separating between the sheep and the goats. The tares are gathered out first.

Matthew 25:31-46 KJV
[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.

Matthew 13:28-30 KJV
[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
[29] But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
[30] Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Some may say, this is reason for letting evil, exist side by side with believers.
NEVER!

First again, to repeat, this is not concerning the age of grace, but the Kingdom age.
But no matter for the answer is the same!

Satan's work and ambition from the very beginning has been to thwart, that is, to hinder or to obstruct, the work or plans of God.
That he is alive and well, trying his best to send the world to hell, while trying his best to corrupt the very house of God, should come as no surprise!
After the church is gone, the children of the kingdom, during the time of the Anti-Christ, will more than ever beset by Satan, and his evil tares.

What is the answer for the people of God in any age?

The Apostle Paul's answer would be, …
I Corinthians 5:13 KJV
But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

I Corinthians 10:21 KJV
Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
[14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Ephesians 5:1-14 NLT
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children.
2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God.
5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey Him.
7 Don’t participate in the things these people do.
8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!
9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.
10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.
12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.
13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them,
14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,
“Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”

II Thessalonians 3:6 KJV
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

I John 1:6 KJV
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

Isaiah 52:11 KJV
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

Will the church, will the Kingdom age, ever be free from evil, only after the Lord Jesus Christ comes and burns the tares in the furnace of fire.
That we should do our best, through the power of the Spirit of the Living God, is our mandate, and may every one that names the name of Christ be faithful to that calling.

Revelation 2:10 KJV
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Animals In Heaven

Bible Questions Answered:
I recently lost my best friend, my dog Tedels. Will we ever see our dearly loved pets again?
Helen/ Aurora, Colorado

Bible Answers:

I Corinthians 3:21-23 NLT
21 So don’t boast about following a particular human leader. For everything belongs to you—
22 whether Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life and death, or the present and the future. Everything belongs to you,
23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

At His second coming, the Lord Jesus, and His bride, will be riding on white horses. (Have you named yours yet?)

Revelation 19:11-14 KJV
[11] And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.
[12] His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself.
[13] And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.
[14] And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

During the Millennium, earth will become heaven like, because of the ruling and reigning of Christ.

Isaiah 11:6-9 KJV
[6] The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
[7] And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
[8] And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.
[9] They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My Holy Mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:6-9 NLT
6 In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion,
and a little child will lead them all.
7 The cow will graze near the bear. The cub and the calf will lie down together. The lion will eat hay like a cow.
8 The baby will play safely near the hole of a cobra. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes without harm.
9 Nothing will hurt or destroy in all My Holy Mountain, for as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord.

The Holy Spirit, assumed the appearance of a dove...

Matthew 3:16,17 (Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32) KJV
[16] And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a Dove, and lighting upon Him:
[17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Genesis 1:2 KJV
[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
[2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved* upon the face of the waters.

Moved* Rachap: Hebrew-(Raw-Khaf)
To brood/ flutter.

Without any doubt, the dear Holy Spirit, is not Himself a dove, but He did choose that “peace-full” appearance, and by so doing ever honored the creation of animals.

Genesis 1:20-25 KJV
[20] And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.
[21] And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind:
and God saw that it was good.

[22] And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.
[23] And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
[24] And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.
[25] And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind:
and God saw that it was good.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Pharisees

Bible Questions Answered:
What kind of these people are the pharisees, enemies of Jesus?
Phalgun/ Howrah, (Calcutta) India

Bible Answers:

The word “Pharisee: The Separated ones, separatists,” also called “Chasidim: Loyal to God.”
Historian Josephus, states that at one time their numbers were some six thousand strong.

Once temple worship had ceased, attention was paid mostly to the law, and the synagogue.

Pharisee's became the leaders in copying, interpreting and, teaching the law.
The Pharisee's began the office of the scribe: learned men who studied the law, also called lawyers.

The laws began to be a burden when they embraced the “customs of men.”
There became a multiplicity of laws regarding every facet of life.
Scribes, in disputes, became judges.

Pharisee's Believed:
In tithing, fasting, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, the existence of angels and spirit beings.
Jesus said, they were even good at predicting the weather!

Were the Pharisee's the enemies of Christ? Yes!
They were the enemies of Christ, because their piety, was merely a legalistic outward show to men.

Matthew 23:1-39 KJV
[1] Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to His disciples,
[2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;
but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

[4] For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
[6] And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
[7] And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
[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.
[13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
[14] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
[15] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
[16] Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
[17] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
[18] And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
[19] Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
[20] Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
[21] And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
[22] And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
[23] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
[24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
[25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
[27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
[28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
[29] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
[30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
[31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
[32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
[34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
[35] That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
[36] Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
[37] O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
[38] Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
[39] For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Religious Piety, merely an outward show.

Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18 KJV
[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.
[5] And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[6] But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
[7] But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
[8] Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.

[16] Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
[17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
[18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 15:7,8 KJV
[7] Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
[8] This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me.

Jesus gave this serious warning:

Matthew 5:20 KJV
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
[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 2:8,9 NLT
8 God saved you by His Grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.

Matthew 7:13-27 KJV
[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
[14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
[21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
[22] Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
[23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
[24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
[25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
[26] And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
[27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Wedding Attendants

Bible Questions Answered:
We know that the church is the bride of Jesus Christ, but what about all others, who then or what are they?
Henry/ Bakersville, North Carolina

Bible Answers:

Christ and the Church, His bride.

Ephesians 5:21-33 NLT
21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.
23 For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of His body, the church.
24 As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.
25 For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her
26 to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.
27 He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.
28 In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.
29 No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.
30 And we are members of His body.
31 As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”
32 This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
33 So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Christ the Bridegroom:

Matthew 9:15 KJV
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride chamber mourn, as long as the Bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the Bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

Matthew 25:1,6 KJV
[1] Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
[6] And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Revelation 21:2 KJV
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Church as the bride:

II Corinthians 11:2 KJV
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.

Revelation 21:2 KJV
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Revelation 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Church married to Christ:

Romans 7:4 KJV
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to Him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

I Corinthians 6:15 KJV
“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?...”

II Corinthians 11:2 KJV
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.

Ephesians 5:30 KJV
For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.

I John 2:24 KJV
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

The Church is the bride of Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the Bridegroom, this group comprises all believers through today, since Calvary.
Yet the question exists, who then are all others, all believers in God, before Christ?

Who is it that will be glad and rejoicing?
An answer is found in John's gospel.

John 3:27-30 KJV
[27] John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
[28] Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him.
[29] He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom:
but the friend of the Bridegroom, which standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice:
this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
[30] He must increase, but I must decrease.

John 3:27-30 NLT
27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him.’
29 It is the Bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with Him and hear His vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success.
30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

John (John the baptist) says that a great rejoicing host, that is not the bride of Christ, is the “Friend of the Bridegroom.”
These are all Godly believers from Adam up to Calvary.
They are the “Attendants (The witness of the marriage of Christ and His church, bride.), The Friends of the Bridegroom.”

Luke 15:7 KJV (The completion of the church.)
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth,..."

Revelation 19:6,7,9 KJV
[6] And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
[7] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
[8] And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
[9] And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Bible Lesson: Cults Defined

Bible Lessons: Cults Defined:

What is a way to tell if some one is involved in a cult?

The acid test is what do they think of Jesus Christ?

The Word of God:

John the Baptist:
John 1:34 KJV
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Peter:
Matthew 16:16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

II Peter 1:1 KJV
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

Apostle Paul:
Romans 1:4
And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Romans 5:4-5 NLT
4 They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God’s adopted children. God revealed His glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them His law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping Him and receiving His wonderful promises.
5 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are their ancestors, and Christ Himself was an Israelite as far as His human nature is concerned. And He is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

Colossians 2:9 KJV
For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

I Timothy 3:16 KJV
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.

Hebrews 1:1-14 KJV
[1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
[2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds;
[3] Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
[4] Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
[5] For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?
[6] And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.
[7] And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
[8] But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
[9] Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
[10] And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
[11] They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
[12] And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
[13] But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
[14] Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

The Father/the Word:
John 5:36-39 KJV
[36] But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me.
[37] And the Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me.
Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape.
[38] And ye have not His word abiding in you: for whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not.
[39] Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me.

Matthew 3:17 (At baptism)
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5 KJV (Mount of Transfiguration)
While he (Peter) yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.

Jesus Christ:
John 1:1,2 KJV
[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.

John 8:14 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of Myself, yet My record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.

John 8:18 KJV
I am one that bear witness of Myself, and the Father that sent Me beareth witness of Me.

John 10:30,37,38 KJV
[30] I and My Father are one.
[37] If I do not the works of My Father, believe Me not.
[38] But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.

John 14:10 KJV
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.

John 17:11; 21,22 KJV
[11] And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are.
[21] That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent Me.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Revelation 1:8 KJV
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.

The Holy Spirit:
John 15:26,27 KJV
[26] But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me:
[27] And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with Me from the beginning.

Doubting Thomas:
John 20:26-31 KJV
[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.
[30] And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book:
[31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.

Cults, “do-not,” believe that Jesus Christ, is the eternal Son of God.

I John 2:18 KJV
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

I John 2:22 KJV
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

I John 4:1-3 KJV
[1] Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
[3] And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

II John 7 KJV
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

Matthew 10:33 KJV
But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.

Mark 8:38 KJV
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

II Timothy 2:12 KJV
If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us:

II Peter 2:1 KJV
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Things Not Found In Heaven

Bible Questions Answered:
What things won't we have any more when we are in heaven?
Dalinda/ Galesburg, Illinois

Bible Answers:
Things we “won't,” have in heaven.

1) Sin and the curse and judgment of sin
Revelation 21:27 KJV
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 22:3 KJV
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:

2) Spiritual Oppression, and fear.
Isaiah 58:6 KJV
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free..."

II Timothy 1:7 KJV
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

3)Sickness, Suffering, Pain and Death.
Revelation 22:2 KJV
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 21:4 KJV
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Isaiah 25:8 KJV
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

I Corinthians 15:26 KJV
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

4) Tears.
Revelation 7:17; 21:4 KJV
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5) Hunger and Thirst.
Revelation 7:16,17 KJV
[16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
[17] For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

6) Separation from God, and loneliness.
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
"...for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Revelation 22:4 KJV
And they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.

7) Night.
Revelation 21:25; 22:5 KJV
And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

8) Light of the Sun or Moon.
Revelation 21:23 KJV
And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

9) Oceans of water.
Revelation 21:1 KJV
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

10) Temples of worship.
Revelation 21:22 KJV
And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

11) Body with limitations.
John 20:21 KJV
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Mark 16:19 KJV
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

12) Homelessness.
John 14:1-6 KJV
[1] Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me.
[2] In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
[4] And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
[5] Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
[6] Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.

Bible Questions Answered: Things Not

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Bible Questions Answered: Godly Separation

Bible Questions Answered:
What did Paul mean by his words “you cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils?”
Paula/ Colombo, Sri Lanka

Bible Answers:
The scripture to which you refer, and one should know the whole chapter, is....

I Corinthians 10:1-33 NLT
1 I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.
2 In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 3 All of them ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all of them drank the same spiritual water. For they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with them, and that rock was Christ.
5 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
6 These things happened as a warning to us, so that we would not crave evil things as they did,
7 or worship idols as some of them did. As the Scriptures say, “The people celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry.”
8 And we must not engage in sexual immorality as some of them did, causing 23,000 of them to die in one day.
9 Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites.
10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.
11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.
12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.
14 So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.
15 You are reasonable people. Decide for yourselves if what I am saying is true.
16 When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 17 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body.
18 Think about the people of Israel. Weren’t they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar?
19 What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods?
20 No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.
21 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.
22 What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than He is?
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial.
24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
25 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience.
26 For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
27 If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience.
28 (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you.
29 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks?
30 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?
31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God.
33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.

Romans 14:7 KJV
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

Whatever we do as Christians, influences some one else, so let us be very careful, that our influence of ours is for the good and for God!

At the Lord's Supper, we come together as followers, as believers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we are called to be a “separated people.”

II Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV
[14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Amos 3:3 KJV
Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

21 “You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too...”

“The cup of,” a phrase that speaks of fellowship.
Who is “our-fellowship,” with?
Is it with the Lord, or with the works of idolatry, and demonic allegiance?

Matthew 7:15-20 KJV (Jesus said that....)
[15] Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
[16] Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

What is the “cup of your fellowship?”
If it is with the Lord Jesus, then it cannot be with any one, or anything else!

Exodus 20:1-6 KJV
[1] And God spake all these words, saying,
[2] I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
[3] Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
[4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
[5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them:
for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me;

[6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments.

The “cup of the Lord,” speaks of spiritual life through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
The “cup of devils,” speaks of all the spiritual things that bring about spiritual death, and separation from God.

21 “...You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.”

The Lord's Table, speaks of the Eucharist/ The Lord's Supper/ Holy Communion.
This is where the consecrated, bread, and wine represent, the sacrificially broken body and, blood of our Lord.
As Christian people, we are a part of His body, the church, the bride of Christ, through His perfect, once for all, sacrifice.

The Table of Demons, represents heathen feasts of idolatry, and their fellowship, their oneness with the powers of darkness.

Joshua 24:15 KJV
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.