Bible Discussion Replies PAGE 3088

Stan; The LORD "takes no pleasure" in a wicked person dying in his sins! The LORD does take pleasure in the wicked turning from his wicked ways and changing his heart to do what's good and right! What kind of false spirituality do you suppose it is, that tells the righteous that God is not pleased with his righteousness? Judge RIGHTEOUS judgment! Jesus died for our sins to take away our UNFITNESS.

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Make it your habit to sit at Jesus' feet and hear his Word, and it is guaranteed that it will stir up someone to find fault and complain about you sitting there idle! But Jesus knows you!

"Which now of these three do you think was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?" Its not hard to see how Jesus turns the man's own words around on himself by God's view of his true character. As we measure others shall we be measured out to; and with the same judgment that we judge; shall we be judged! "Who is my neighbor?" How do you measure up as a neighbor? Not your religion but YOU!

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." Interestingly, someone may know the Scripture Text Chapter and Verse and yet have animosity and defiance in his heart against the Spirit who inspired the Word! The way to overcome this? Have mercy on others!

"But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?" So, while this person was really knowledgeable in the Scriptures, and KNEW FULL WELL just exactly that keeping the Commandments was the Divine Decree and Mandate for "How to inherit everlasting life;" he apparently also KNEW FULL WELL just exactly what the Commandment meant BUT HE DIDN'T AGREE WITH IT! So he debates!

"..Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how read you? And he answering said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. And he said unto him, You have answered right: this do, and you shall live." We are known by our fruits!

Great words to support us to work hard for the Lord!

Personally I don't think the bible teaches a rapture and a second coming. I believe they are one and the same.
Jesus said when "the trumpet sounds he shall gather his elect".
Paul said "at the LAST trumpet he shall gather his elect" and Christians agree Paul was referring to the rapture here.
There won't be another trumpet after the last one.

Verses 16-18: The Lord takes no pleasure in our own righteous ability to be good and to do good and to be obedient. He takes no pleasure in our good works of righteousness. He takes pleasure in those who fear before Him and have a contrite, repentant spirit and who hope in His mercy and forgiveness to save them.

Allelujah !!!

It is rare when a paragraph of doctrine is repeated as was those who trust in riches cannot follow Jesus in the way. Look and see those on the world stage who corruptly seek after riches and how they are diminished spiritually, even given over to the Devil. Have you eyes to see, ears to hear. To follow Jesus in the way requires a single mindedness that does not allow wavering, nor coveting

God's Secret Place keeps us protected and grounded. Faith keeps us going when the world around us seems hopeless.
Faith in God will take you where no person, place or thing can. We are complete in Almighty God.

"behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." Vs 15. Some have said the catholic church meets this verse...They are wrong. It must be the pillar and the ground of the truth, that determines what the church is. It is not for the church, never has been for the church, to determine what constitutes the pillar and ground of the truth.

Vs 5. "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." Where then, is the priest? WE are the priests!! "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an HOLY PRIESTHOOD, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, accept to God by Jesus Christ". 1 Peter2:5, and, "But ye are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an HOLY NATION.." 1 Pet 2:9. What a concept!!!

Note, vs 9, "that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for" a whole range of sinners, of all stripes. The law and the prophets ceased to speak after John the Baptist. Matt 11:13, Luke 16:15, Romans 10:4, Gal 3:23-24, and finally, "And the law is NOT OF FAITH" Gal 3:12, coupled with Romans 14:23, "for whatsoever IS NOT OF FAITH IS SIN". Folks don't like it, but it is veritable truth...

1st, 2nd Timothy, and Titus are popularly called, "The Pastoral Epistles". They aren't...They are letters to apostolic deputies, given specific tasks in particular churches, then to move on, carrying out Paul's vision. Timothy and Titus both are admonished to ordain elders and deacons in the churches they helped establish. Both were members of what should be called, the "work", of the ministry.

"Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:" vs 8. Another example of Paul's refusal to take money, or a salary from the church within which he was working. You might call it, "living by faith", which today is as rare as hen's teeth, although mandated in scripture...

Vs 4. "he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God." God is not worshipped in temples made by hands ( Acts 7:48). Nor is he worshipped with men's hands ( Acts 17:24-25). The church is the temple of the Lord, 1 Cor 3:16-17. 1 Cor 6:19, 2 Cor 6:16. Rev 21:3. The place we worship, is nothing to God. For God will be worshipped only in Spirit, and in truth. John 4:24.

Just scripture..."prove all things; hold fast that which is good." vs.21. And, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." 2 Cor 13:5. "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits.." 1 John 4:1, "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord." Eph 5:10. Also Luke 21:8...and "Take heed that no man deceive you" Matt 24:4. "Take heed, lest any man deceive you." Mark 13:5. Be careful...

"And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." Have you ever known anyone, who actually STUDIED TO BE QUIET? It is though, the commandment of the Lord. 1Cor 15:37. And we know if we love Him, we will keep his commandments. John 14:15.

Vs 16, "Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the WRATH IS COME UPON THEM TO THE UTTERMOST." I believe this to be a direct reference to the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple...which occurred a.d. 67-70, and killed, we're told by historians, over a million people.

Vs 9, "for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God." A modern way to say that would be, "We took jobs, in order that you would not have to pay us"..Such a thing today would be considered blasphemous.. Homework for you...What happened after Jesus got off the donkey and went into the temple? Look it up.

Just scripture, "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away." Job 32:21-22. "Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth, for one is your Father" Matt 23:8-10

Vs10 "even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." I see two possible fulfilments of this prophetic utterance. The destruction of Jerusalem in circa 67-70 a.d. And the final deliverance for those His own, at His return. Regardless, we can thank God for such a deliverance. For to me, being prone to doing stupid things...He is first among all other things, my God of Deliverance.

Vs. 16."The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." We can define the point in time, when the OT stopped speaking to us ( Heb 1:1-2). It was John. Matt 11:13 says, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied UNTIL JOHN". Since John, we have been spoken to by our Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, and the Word.

"And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends". Would to God we had sons like this today. Nor was I a son such as this one. I was the prodigal. How would this world be, if all sons were like this today? The prodigal son returned as well...

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" Let's make a parable with this, after the parable of the sower. "For he that sowed his seed with too little commitment, and with laziness, failed to cultivate, fertilize and care for the freshly planted seed. The plant died..it cost too much to take care of it."

vss. 1-5. All of this may well be one of the greater prophesies to be fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad. For any who were listening to Jesus that day, were saddled with the necessity of being saved, else they would face terrible destruction come that day. After that of course, would then come judgment...It may be one of the finest altar calls I've ever seen...

Vs. 47, servant beaten with many stripes...Vs. 48, servant beaten with few stripes. Differences of punishment, according to behavior. Hebrews 11:35, "and others were tortured, NOT ACCEPT ING DELIVERANCE; that they might OBTAIN A BETTER RESURRECTION:" Differences of reward...All this makes our casual attitude toward spiritual life, something of a concern. Will we be rewarded big, or rewarded small?

Vss 39-41. Jesus said,"Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness." Then went on to say, to the same folks,"But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you." Being saved is being cleaned of all. Having all things clean is not necessarily being saved. But one wonders;