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regarding your comment..."Jew and Gentile could only be accepted by God by turning away (repentance) and faith (in Christ alone & nothing else) for their salvation"
I believe this to be partly true... 2 examples are...
Peter and James,
Key apostles to the circumcision, emphasized faith but also included works in their message. In Acts 2:38, Peter calls for repentance and baptism for remission of sins. James 2:17-26 stresses that faith without works is dead, using Abraham and Rahab as examples. Their message aligns with the Jewish Kingdom gospel, where obedience and works were expressions of living faith, distinct from Paul's gospel of grace through faith alone.
My friend, anything that adds to GRACE ALONE is a WORK and is directly associated with the KINGDOM GOSPEL.
Whew. Enough on my situation. There were things I could have done differently but once it was over; and anger was dealt with in good Christian counselling then I was on my own. I doubt even if I had learned these lessons earlier if my wife was determined to rebel it would have changed anything; but I can't do anything about it now. I did leave an avenue of communication but discouraged friendship which she seemed to want; but there has been no answer for at least 5 years to any of my e mail which only represents what was promised as to news of a relative passing; a new phone number or address on my end; etc. We didn't have kids so that kept me from further grief.
Part of an issue here I want to emphasize again focusing on women is that there needs to be a demonstration of what is a normal; functional relationship around to avoid surrounding ourselves with those in errant ones. My wife's best friends were one who had been with an abusive husband and they divorced and her second husband was a marijuana smoking individual.
It is ironic because her other friend after losing her first husband (who was physically and in other ways abusive) actually mocked her remarriage to a guy who had been married several times because he was such a jerk. At any rate my wife's third close friend also had been divorced twice. None of these people as far as I can tell knew the Lord although there is evidence for at least one of them starting to change when I last heard about the situation. This and other people; no doubt encouraged divorce and remarriage and a general rebellious attitude. Her one friend; for instance was dating multiple men when her husband was busy out of state and she came to visit while she was married. It is strange; I forgot about that. Not exactly great influences.
Satan's schemes went from subtle to grandiose here; and it started with our departure from Christian friends.
Continuing from my last post I basically was "dismembered" from the church due to lack of commitment fellowshipping once I moved and for some reason I didn't put any thought to it or in particular a Reformed Denomination. It was apparently a means to an end for both of us; and would come back to haunt us later. Thankfully God used the situation here in the Philly area to be near my parents; have one last visit to my Grandmom before she passed; etc. All in all the stay was brief and after another brief stint in Harrisburg my ex wife and I moved back to Pittsburgh at the end of 1990; spending many years in the apartment life.
For many years I didn't adhere to consistent church attendance and the ones I did go to were liberal and now down right heretical in their teachings. It was a balance of trying to do what God intended and pacifying my wife who clearly was a control freak. In the end her dependance on me was cut short once there was greener grass in the other pasture; so to speak.
In reality I can't tell all the subtle hints that there were; surely in regard to a guy she was hanging out with at work for over 10 years as far as I know before the affair happened she was for a long time trying to deny her feelings. The sanctity of the covenant we had was tested with what ended up being years of her mother; sister; friend and cats coming into our newly bought house. All in all the enemy as one of our counselors at the time who attempted to Psychoanalyze at time came in like the proverbial camel in the tent. That is one statement I am totally in agreement with. Before you know it you are overtaken by that camel stretching himself out in the whole tent and you're out the door.
My own anger issues; eschatological obsession at the exclusion of rational balanced relationships of respect for other believers and most of all lack of real respect for her contributed to this.
In my case it was the reverse but I realize many characteristics are the same; and of course if one spouse cheats it is more likely the other will at some point. From the get go here I must say this is a painful subject but needs in my viewpoint to be addressed as no doubt many here have either dealt with it or may be in an ongoing plight of this magnitude. I have discussed this from a personal experience as I already pointed out; and that was in the doctrines specifically regarding scriptures on the subject of divorce and heavily studying the concept of remarriage. How things start and evolve really is not a pleasant thing for me to consider but I would be amiss not getting into this.
My first mistake was not availing myself of premarital counseling available at the church I was attending at the time the 2 or so months between my engagement and when we were married. That also corresponded with compromising to some extent living in the same home for a time with her parents who attended my wedding that was basically an elopement. I should have considered the value of my parents perspective in the rush to marry but overall I am focusing on what directly affected the relationship with later repercussions. There is so much more I could say but anyway; before I knew it I was married and shortly thereafter moved across the state where she would begin a job in a State Hospital as a Dietician.
Her disingenuity as to maintaining the covenant she made as a church member was something I should have paid attention to; however I didn't help matters any because I was more concerned about angrily debating eschatology with her church friends than seeking His will for me. This would remove my own ability to weigh in on what could have been further good advice on remaining where I was at the time and being the head of the household; rather than moving; depending on her to provide and later losing church membership.
Continuing on this idea of the "confidante" we have a whole slew of sin and errors that we can embrace when given advice from family or long time friends in which we take to heart rather than searching the Scriptures on such matters. This; sadly had some influence on the demise of my own marriage when certain individuals divorced from their spouse themselves quite often supported my wife's decision to seek what she wanted over God's will for her life. Let us not assume for a moment this will not come from the church; gossip is a serious sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says that bad company corrupts good morals. I can attest this is true.
Women in particular need to grasp this; not to say men don't try to affirm their actions as well but women take to heart life altering decisions it seems more easily. Men usually if they go astray like to boast of their conquests; something no doubt also very repulsive; but they aren't necessarily as influenced; for instance to commit infidelity. That's how I see it anyway; I'm sure it happens though.
This friendship issue between men and women in church of course can lead to inappropriate crossings of boundaries if we aren't careful. Here I am focusing on discussions as something as serious as infidelity doesn't start off suddenly; for in that case if someone has impulsive behavior they may be just as quick as David did to repent. It doesn't excuse it but the focus here is how things start off in the process leading to bigger sins later.
My emphasis here is on the more subtle forms of influence which Satan causes in the Body of Christ. It isn't focusing on gross doctrinal error and obvious deception rife in many churches today. HOWEVER in Genesis 3:1 we read:
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"
Here we see Satan coming as a sort of "confidante" of hidden wisdom as it were to cause the woman to sin; and bring subsequent falling of her husband Adam as well. What we can gather here is that whether doctrinal error or betrayal of a friendship through gossip; etc. destruction results.
I am very careful here to offer sound doctrine with a heavy influx of scriptures to back things up. This isn't enough to stop one from becoming a legalist; no doubt or the error the Ephesian church had of losing their first love (or leaving it) in Revelation 2.
I always get that mixed up someone can correct me on it it seems just looking at the verse isn't enough to retain the proper context.
What I say here is with a caveat; doctrine isn't always necessary to fully understand for someone to have a real heart for God.
Just look at Christ; He wasn't interested in getting into debates with the Pharisees; it seems the only time that may have happened was when he was 12 years old and there was actually back and forth dialogue going on since they actually respected His unique wisdom and authority at the time. As with the danger of being a legalist for those into heavy studies of this or that Institute shall we say; there is the other extreme where someone may not listen to the Lord and consider their own errant beliefs on a particular subject. This happens; sadly enough to those who have compassionate hearts and their emotions override the check in their Spirit about sleeping around; for example. Read the WORD!
Ok this should again be a no brainer moment; we are fools to attempt to outmaneuver the enemy of our souls in our own strength.
Easier said than done.
Our old nature conditions us to react certain ways; and as I put forth in regard to myself yesterday; follow a comfortable routine in our daily lives to attempt to maintain some sanity (not that it has helped me much). I get comfort and joy out of these posts too; but realizing it could be removed at any moment through a grid failure (or if I end up saying something that gets me flagged too many times) let's hope I remained focused on serving the Lord. Seeing the word "I" here so much certainly is disconcerting; let it not be about the trinity of me; myself and...well you can fill in the blank.
Anyhoo; I thought it would be prudent to mention an example of where I have slipped before more than once. As in the last post humor is something that can be abraisive; and being sarcastic joking around about anyone no matter how innocent it seems is a no no. There is a time and a place for us to kid around about things if it can be constructive as iron sharpens iron but this is my own cleverness; as perceived on my end and then the other person isn't finding it amusing; let's say. At that point; hopefully things are rectified quickly as I am appalled that I would so easily dismiss what the book of James warns against in regard to the tongue.
My point in the above admission is; well first off I suppose I should offer forgiveness for anything here which may have caused offense except for the Gospel truths themselves; regardless of my delivery of them. My bigger point is that indeed we should make a concerted effort to follow the Spirit and that avoids obvious sins; but the side effect of that is we can build up such a wall of behavior control over certain issues that we ignore others. Our resolve can only work through the Spirit; sadly until He comes we fail.
In the picture of those in Matthew 25 and the other scriptures I examined of the return of the diaspora in Exodus 20 we must realize that this indicates those physical survivors of the Tribulation and this would NOT be anyone taking the mark of the beast as they are destroyed after attempting to fight Christ in Armageddon. So we can't conclude no one physically survives or the Millennium of course is moot; we also can't assume that if someone doesn't take the mark they are saved. But clearly some are as they live on into the Millennial Kingdom. Some no doubt will run into Petra or surrounding regions who escape from Israel or hide out elsewhere. All nations will be controlled by the Beast in the world but God cuts the days short or no one would survive ( Matt. 24:22). Satan has always sought to take the whole world out and has come very close many times but again falls short of his goals; not apparently even reaching all the lost to worship him through the Antichrist beast.
Just cutting in here for a moment; this prophetic explosion of postings as it were is primarily to be aware of the sign of the times as well as scripture knowledge on the subject. A good chunk of scripture is directly prophesying about the end times to come and all of it at least infers to it or brings the ultimate fulfillment of all His promises as well as the Old Testament covenant ones; that's how I see it. It shows an ancient blueprint of repeated actions of men inspired; again by their masters whether God or Satan pulling the strings. He's still the old dog even if there are new tricks which in reality are old ones that are recycled. The enemy; who uses vulgar humor to entertain the masses is revealed to God's children as possessing the same canned jokes no doubt maniacally laughing at his perceived clever behavior followed by maniacal shouting when he realizes God has outsmarted him again. Let's study and reveal the truth.
verses 31-36
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
The arrival of Christ signals the beginning of the Millenium. Verses 34-36 show the conditions that determine entering the Kingdom for the righteous and following verses not included here for those not entering in who are going straight to eternal fire.
We notice conditions here that surely would NOT occur during the Millennial rule of Christ when at the end heaven and earth flee away after a final worldwide rebellion against Christ and those already in the Holy City as we read at the end of Revelation 21 and continuing into eternity in chapter 22. Those in the passages above are no doubt those 144,000 or people captured and eventually martyred who all suffer deprivation. We read in Revelation 7:16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. God then leads them to water and wipes every tear from their eyes.
Again as my other posts indicate once the sixth seal comes about
And they said to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. ( Rev. 6:16). Therefore actions prove faith or lack of it.
I second Brother Jesse, You doesn't owe me any apology either, especially with this being a worthy topic!
There is so much wrapped around this topic and should be carefully studied and carefully presented!
If one neglect studying it properly one can get tripped up and believe they can sin all they want.
On the other hand we can improperly study and neglect the power, role and significance of the Holyspirit!
The Lord is shepherding us today with his Holy Spirit!
A sheep may leave the flock but he will always come back!
Jesus will go get him!
Christ is our Great Shepherd. When we become his sheep we're his responsibility and he cares for his sheep.
Ronald you have always showed Brotherly love,
That's a sign that you are a Brother.
What makes one a Brother is because he's a son of God not because of our "head knowledge" of the word of God.
You can walk away from a fellowship but you can't change identity even when these bodies die.
I would like to see someone conduct a good study on the Holyspirit.
Blessings
35And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
36Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD.
37And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
38And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
Ezekiel 20:34-38
I was originally quoting Psalm 24 which indicates the characteristic of those worthy to be on His Holy mountain then got wiped out. To avoid what seems to be happening over and over I will let the reader search this Millennial Psalm for themselves where the Messiah arrives to open the gates; meaning the Eastern Gate in Old Jerusalem upon His return. The verses here indicate how God will deal with those dispersed among the nations who call themselves Jews; He will return them to their homeland and those who aren't worshipping idols as surrounding scripture discusses will enter into the Millennial Kingdom; and those who are rebels do not. The more broad "sheep and goat" judgment is mentioned here...
Matthew 25:31
31 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. This clearly shows a Millennial period fits in; I will discuss this in the next section as it requires a detailed exegesis. The consequences here are eternal; however.
When Christ was taken all the disciples turned away. The Holyspirit have not been given yet.
Peter is mostly noted because he said he would never do it!
No one wanted to risk death and witness nor was they equipped to do so.
In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus tells Peter, "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus reminds them of what he told them in Luke 24:49.
"But YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Afterwards Peter taught and preached boldly the rest of his life while knowing his fate.
John 21:18-19.
Blessings!
This approach doesn't diminish the Bible-it exalts it. It honors God's design, His dispensations, and His distinct messages to different people at different times.
The result? A clearer view of the gospel, a deeper walk with Christ, and a greater appreciation for the rich tapestry of God's revealed Word.
My apologies for being so long winded.
Many struggle with this, asking: Is this how Christians today are supposed to live? But by asking who Jesus was speaking to (Israel, under the law) and the purpose of His message (to reveal the heart of the law and the need for a Savior), we can appreciate this passage without misapplying it to the Church.
Water Baptism vs. Spiritual Baptism
Denominations often argue over the mode and necessity of water baptism. But Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:17, "Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel." He also teaches in 1 Corinthians 12:13 that believers are baptized spiritually by the Holy Spirit into one body.
By taking Scripture slowly and comparing passages, we see a distinction: Israel's program included ceremonial water baptism, while the Body of Christ is identified by a spiritual baptism that unites believers with Christ.
Spiritual Growth Through Personal Bible Study
Removing denominational blinders doesn't mean rejecting all church teaching-it means testing all things by Scripture ( Acts 17:11). It means valuing God's Word above tradition. When believers study independently, prayerfully, and slowly, they grow in spiritual maturity, discernment, and unity in the faith ( Ephesians 4:13-14).
Rather than being tossed around by conflicting doctrines, they become rooted and grounded in truth.
Conclusion: Letting Scripture Interpret Scripture
The Word of God is not contradictory-it is consistent, powerful, and alive. Apparent contradictions often arise when Scripture is taken out of context or forced to fit a denominational mold.
When we remove these blinders and let the Bible say what it says-word by word, verse by verse-we discover clarity that religion often clouds. The confusion created by mixing Israel's law-based program with the Church's grace-based calling is resolved by rightly dividing the word of truth and taking time to let the Scriptures speak for themselves.
2. The Gospel Messages: Same or Different?
Matthew 4:23 - Jesus preached "the gospel of the kingdom."
Acts 20:24 - Paul speaks of "the gospel of the grace of God."
Galatians 1:11-12 - Paul received his gospel by direct revelation from Christ.
Many assume the Bible presents one unified gospel throughout. But a closer reading reveals distinctions between the gospel of the kingdom (offered to Israel) and the gospel of grace (offered to the Gentiles and the Body of Christ).
Denominational tradition may attempt to blend these messages, creating theological confusion. But by removing those filters and taking Scripture slowly, we see that Paul's message of grace was a new revelation-a "mystery" ( Ephesians 3:1-6), hidden from past ages but revealed through him.
The Role of "Right Division" in Clarity
Paul commands believers to "rightly divide the word of truth" ( 2 Timothy 2:15). This doesn't mean dividing truth from error-it means dividing truth from truth, identifying what applies to Israel and what applies to the Church, the Body of Christ.
Right division isn't about rejecting parts of the Bible-it's about placing them in their proper context, understanding that God has dealt with humanity in different ways throughout time ( Hebrews 1:1-2). It honors the integrity of each passage and avoids blending programs that God intended to remain distinct.
When rightly divided, the Scriptures form a cohesive whole. God's dealings with Israel under the law (Exodus through Malachi) differ from His dealings with the Body of Christ under grace (Romans through Philemon). When we respect those distinctions, confusion clears.
Examples of Clarity Through Slow, Careful Study
The Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew 5-7)
Jesus' teaching here emphasizes law-based living, including commands like "cut off your hand" if it causes you to sin and a strict standard of righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees.
The Importance of Slowing Down
In contrast to quick or superficial Bible reading, a slow and careful study focuses on the context, grammar, historical background, and authorial intent of each passage. This method pays attention to words like "but," "therefore," "now," and "mystery," recognizing that each word was inspired by God ( 2 Timothy 3:16).
By slowing down, we allow the Bible to interpret itself. Instead of forcing a passage to fit a preconceived theology, we ask: What does the text actually say? What does the context reveal? Who is being addressed-Israel, the Gentiles, or the Church, the Body of Christ? What covenant or dispensation is in view?
A rushed reading can lead to confusion, especially when Scriptures appear to contradict one another. But when taken slowly and rightly divided, these "contradictions" often vanish, and the harmony of Scripture becomes evident.
Apparent Contradictions in Scripture: Real or Resolved?
Let's explore some commonly cited examples of biblical "contradictions" that, when studied slowly and without denominational bias, reveal deeper understanding:
1. Faith vs. Works for Salvation
James 2:24 - "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Romans 4:5 - "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
At first glance, these verses seem to contradict each other. One speaks of justification by works, the other by faith without works.
But when we consider audience and context, the contradiction disappears.
James was writing to "the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad" ( James 1:1)-believing Jews under the kingdom program, where works demonstrated living faith (see Matthew 5-7).
Paul was writing to Gentiles in the body of Christ, saved under the gospel of grace, where faith alone justifies apart from the law.
Different programs, different audiences, different purposes-but no contradiction.
Letting the Bible Speak: The Power of Removing Denominational Blinders and Studying Scripture Slowly
The Bible is often regarded as a complex book-rich in history, theology, prophecy, and moral instruction. Throughout the centuries, countless interpretations have emerged from various denominations, sects, and traditions, each claiming a unique understanding of God's truth. However, while many of these interpretations provide valuable insights, they can also create a filter-a set of "denominational blinders"-that may limit or distort our view of Scripture. When we study the Bible through these filters, we may unknowingly force meanings onto the text that were never intended, leading to confusion, contradiction, or division.
But when we make a conscious decision to set aside these man-made frameworks and take the Bible slowly, word by word, something powerful happens: clarity replaces confusion, unity replaces contradiction, and the living Word of God begins to speak for itself.
What Are Denominational Blinders?
Denominational blinders are preconceived beliefs and traditions inherited from religious systems, churches, or theological institutions. These beliefs, while often well-intentioned, can cause readers to interpret Scripture through a lens shaped by human doctrines instead of divine revelation.
For example, some denominations may emphasize water baptism as essential for salvation, while others see it as a symbol of an already completed spiritual reality. One group might teach the necessity of works for salvation, while another teaches grace alone by faith. These differences often arise not because the Bible is unclear, but because of the frameworks imposed upon it.
These blinders can be subtle. Often, they are not questioned because they are passed down through trusted spiritual leaders, family, or tradition. However, truth must not be measured by tradition-it must be measured by Scripture rightly divided ( 2 Timothy 2:15).
These traditions, though well-meaning, can act as blinders-limiting our understanding and sometimes causing confusion when scriptures appear to contradict one another. However, when we remove these filters and approach the Bible slowly, word by word, we begin to see the harmony and clarity within God's Word.
Taking the Bible slowly means paying close attention to context, audience, and key words. It allows the Scriptures to interpret themselves without forcing preconceived doctrines onto the text. For example, while James 2:24 and Romans 4:5 seem to disagree on faith and works, rightly dividing the Word reveals that James was addressing believing Jews under the law, while Paul was teaching salvation by grace to the Gentile church.
Paul emphasized "rightly dividing the word of truth" ( 2 Tim. 2:15), meaning we must distinguish between God's dealings with Israel and the Church. The gospel of the kingdom, preached by Jesus and the Twelve, differs from the gospel of grace revealed to Paul. Recognizing this prevents confusion and helps us understand God's unfolding plan across different dispensations.
Studying slowly and without denominational bias allows believers to grasp deep truths and spiritual unity, avoiding the contradictions that arise when different programs/dispensations in Scripture are blended. God's Word becomes clearer, not by changing it, but by letting it speak for itself.
Peace be with you. How are you feeling? Are you getting better?
I've been keeping you in constant prayer - truly.
And believe me when I say: it has also been something that's deeply blessed me, even though I'm praying for someone I haven't met in person yet.
The Bible encourages us to pray for everyone - not only for friends, family, or people we know.
It speaks about praying for all men ( 1 Timothy 2:1), for those who suffer ( Hebrews 13:3), for those who persecute us ( Matthew 5:44), and also for the whole church - even if we've never seen each person ( Ephesians 6:18).
So, even without knowing you personally, I keep praying.
There is a purpose in this.
When something changes, don't forget to share.
Knowing that helps me feel that this time of intercession is not in vain - not at all.
The Apostle Paul labored with many faithful co-workers to spread the gospel of the grace of God ( Acts 20:24) during the dispensation committed to him ( Eph 3:1-9; Col 1:25-27). These individuals helped preach, teach, and establish churches among the Gentiles.
Barnabas was Paul's companion on his first missionary journey ( Acts 13-15) and helped him gain acceptance among believers.
Silas traveled with Paul on his second journey ( Acts 15:40), enduring persecution and planting churches in Macedonia and Greece. Timothy, Paul's "dearly beloved son" in the faith ( 1 Tim 1:2), served closely with him and was entrusted with important ministry tasks ( Phil 2:19-22; 1 Cor 4:17).
Titus, a Greek believer, was sent to Corinth and later to Crete to set church leadership in order ( Titus 1:5).
Luke, the physician, was a faithful companion and authored the Gospel of Luke and Acts ( Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11). Apollos, though not directly sent by Paul, was mighty in the Scriptures and preached effectively in line with Paul's message ( Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor 3:6). Priscilla and Aquila, Paul's fellow tentmakers, taught Apollos and hosted churches in their home ( Rom 16:3-5).
Other trusted workers include Tychicus, a faithful messenger ( Eph 6:21), Epaphroditus ( Phil 2:25), Onesimus, a converted runaway slave ( Philemon 10-13), Aristarchus, Erastus, Sopater, and Gaius. Sadly, Demas abandoned Paul, loving this present world ( 2 Tim 4:10).
These men and women formed the core team Paul used to carry the grace message throughout the Gentile world.
With the exception of Luke I find none of the Disciples of Christ preaching faith without works.
5. 1 Peter 3:21
"The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ"
Baptism connected to salvation
Not just symbolic - a required response of a good conscience
6. 2 Peter 1:5-10 - Add to your faith
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue... knowledge... temperance... patience... godliness... brotherly kindness... charity
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall."
Not faith alone - one must add works
Doing these things = assurance of salvation
Summary
Peter preached:
Faith in Jesus as the risen Messiah ( Acts 2:36)
Repentance and water baptism for forgiveness ( Acts 2:38)
Obedience necessary to receive the Holy Ghost ( Acts 5:32)
Sanctification through obedience ( 1 Peter 1:2)
Salvation tied to baptism and holy living ( 1 Peter 3:21, 2 Peter 1:10)
This is in contrast with Paul's message of justification by grace through faith alone ( Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5), not by works.
Peter's Kingdom Gospel - Repentance, Faith, and Works
1. Acts 2:36-38 - Pentecost sermon
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Repentance
Water baptism required for remission of sins
Holy Spirit as a result of obedience
2. Acts 3:19-21 - Second temple sermon to Israel
"Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord"
Repentance = condition for forgiveness
Tied to future kingdom blessings
3. Acts 5:32
"And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
Obedience (works) as a condition to receive the Holy Ghost
4. 1 Peter 1:2
"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ..."
Election tied to obedience
Sprinkling of blood = cleansing, yet connected with obedient response
see page 2
When God instructed Adam as to what was good to eat and what was in effect evil to eat God revealed His eternal will to Man that man should live and not die.
For God said of that tree " in the day ye eat of it ye shall surely die" and by that word that came out if Gods mouth they lived .
But the serpent first casting a slur on Gods character then led Eve to accept and believe his lie ." You shall not surely die"
Changing the truth " ye shall surely die" into a lie " you shall not surely die " simply by adding N O T. To what God had said .
If you mix or breed a donkey with a horse you will get a mule . But that mule has no life in it to reproduce itself and if you want another mule you need another horse and another mule .
You can indeed mix the truth with something else and you will get something but it has no life in it .
For a seed had this property . It is not the tree or fruit but has everything that is needed and nothing that is not needed to reproduce itself .
In Johns gospel he wrote that if everything that Jesus said and did had been written down ,thecworkd couid not contain the books needed to do so . Thus not everything that Jesus said or did is written in the gosoel of John but everything that is written is do written that we " might know"and understand that "Jesus is the Christ ".
It is a terrible fact that the church has accepted so many 'versions' of the Holy Bible that have added and omitted to the scriptures as well as changed words to others of completely different meanings and concepts .
Nd they all have become commonplace accepted and held up as Holy writ .
And while all of them pretty much are held in high regard for " their better understanding" The KJV proven tried and tested and superior in every respect is by many discarded and often despised .
There are many goid books on the subject of translations and should be read not just one but two or three for a better grasp on the subject
And in effect said who His true mother and brethren were pointing to those in the room but " they who do the will of God".
Now it might seem easy to understand how I can be His brother . For what is a brother if not one of the same household and of the same father and are we if His BORN again by the will of the Father?
And what then is a neighbour ? If not of another household and of another father .
And did He not teach us who are His to pray unto God as " Our Father"?
But it is perhaps not so easy to think we are His true mother .
Save in this respect . Mary was not the mother of God as some foolishly assert . But the mother of His flesh . For Gecwas not born of Joseph and thus the seed of Adam but if God " The seed which is the Word of God" . She received the promise and believed and the child was conceived and in due time the Holy child Jesus was born .
Is not the seed of the Word of God sown in our hearts? which in due time brings forth its fruit?
For Jesus speaking of Himself said " Unless a seed or corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone but if it does it brings forth much fruit " What sort of fruit? After its own kind .
Communism is one so too it's daughter socialism .
There are many others . Put a wrong idea in yiyr mind and it will blind you to the truth though it be staring you in the face .
Which is why people "have eyes but see not " and ears but hear not ".
Rome has its own . One of long standing and deeply rooted but no less false for all that that has " blinded the eyes of many " so that they see or understand not and be saved .
Did not Jesus come " to restore sight to the blind" ?
Is that not also the true church of God also to do?
But the church also prayed Paul needs to " have the eyes of our understanding opened " that we might see and comprehend what is the exceeding power thatbis towards us who believe."
Satan can't stop us being saved by the grace of God ,but will endeavour to blind us as to what is towards us as much as in what we stand .
We have but scratched the surface we are BORN again and got out of Egypt and the dominion of Pharoah by the power of God the Word of zGod and the blood of The Lamb . But have made the wandering in the wilderness for 40 years as the Christian norm . Heaven being the promised land and Jordon death .
Not so .
There are no giants or cities to conquer in heaven .
The church Jesus is building will have the gates of hell in trouble .
And is it not written of the Bride of Christ she will " come out of the wilderness terrible as an army with banners "? Leaning not upin her own understanding but " upon the arm of her beloved" .
And will be " more than conqueror through Him that loved us."
Q: what is more than a conqueror ?
The wilderness was but meant to be boot camp . Where civilians are turned into soldiers ,
It only took them not much over two years to go from Egypt to the banks of the promised land .
NOT 40!
"I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.". During my stint on this forum I have not been working on my own but in the presence of the great congregation. I would not be complete otherwise. Abiding in Christ this great congregation, to which time and space holds no relevance, was presents, So Paul or Abraham are all my heritage; What happened to Israel was for my warning, "Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come."(1 Cor.10.11) As a personal testimony, I would have taken a vacation but when God has led me thus far opening my mind to wondrous treasure contained in the Word, doing His ministry supplies all the oxygen I would require. Do I worry that I shall have no readers? The great congregation serves as my reading pulic. Jesus referred to it. "Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." (Lk.12.3) The present world and imposter churches are ready for judgment and according to grace given to me I have tried to serve the Lord. The rest is not for me to be concerned. I know whomI have believed. I have also found the truth of "For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath."(Mt.13.12)
This growth I notice is from above, heavenly blessing. So God opened my earls sealing instruction on a daily basis. "I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation."(40.10)
I have been learning and if I have offended my brethren in this forum, there was nothing personal but lack of proper knowledge. Forgive me .
For you have highlighted once again why . You quoted " he was crushed."
The KJV has it rendered " He was bruised" They are two completely different words and have therefore two completely different meanings . The word " bruised" has its link with the account in Genesis . Where the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent and the serpent bruise his heel .
The Bible is always consistent with itself and I wonder if the ESV is?
For by that interpretation of " crushed" it must also have it Genesis .
But that would make it that Satan 'crushed' his heel .
But is it not written "it pleased God to bruise Him " ? God did not allow even his bones to be broken let alone crushed .
And while it might be argued that while Jesus was ground between the millstones of heaven and earth or of Gods wrath
And couid be said to be ' crushed' as corn to make wheat and bread . I cannot change the scriptures into using words that make it inconsistent .and so It is " bruised " not crushed .
Rev 3 has also changed "IN" to "ON"! In His throne to on his throne .
No man can sit ON the Lords throne save the Lord only . Though I can it seems be made to sit IN His throne .
Even as the Son cannot sit ON the Fathers throne save the Father though can be made to sit IN the Fathers throne .
"Every seed brings forth fruit after its own kind "
Of what seed then is this?
For each child of God is also born of the Spirit of God and even as the Minister is led so too the ministered to who by the Spirit understands what is being said .
A lot of the problems in the church today and among many believers is they are blindly following their 'leaders' .
But is it not written that if the Holy Spirit dwelleth in you you have no need for any to teach you"? But then why give " teachers" to the church? It means we have by the Spirit of Truth no one to teach us truth from error or good from evil and we bybHim then are led as they are " till we all come to a unity of the faith" faith comes by understanding the Word of God we by those given to the church for its perfection come to " have the same mind" the same judgement".
We are not all Paul's etc nor does man live by revelations but even as all scripture was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit so by the same measure He is needed to understand what is written .
A true Apostle of God therefore articulates that revelation in a manner that instructs builds up and perfects the saints .
What comes from God leads all men to God . Clearly there are a lot of false apostles and prophets about who do no such thing .
But clearly a lot of Gods people are not being led. Or walking in the Spirit either who are so easily misled by them for reasons given above .
While there are great " mysteries" that did not mean Paul did not desire and pray for Gods people to have the eyes of their understanding opened" and by his letters sought to convey what he had been taught by Him the great Teacher.
The last church age the Laodocian church was in her own eyes " rich increased with goods and in need of notning" ThecLords perception of it was quite different ( Rev 3)
Yet the Philadelphian churches perception of itself was they " were poor"The Lords perception was quite different .
"He who was rich became poor that we through His poverty might become rich"
It cost God everything to give us something for nothing . It will cost us everything to keep it .
Was not Paul by his own words poor " but making " many rich?
There is no virtue in poverty nor I are riches in themselves wicked .
It's the love of money thatbis the root of all evil . Not the money itself .
But as with drinking the scriptures do not ban anyone from drinking it per se but it gives many warnings about drinking in access . Indeed it says " be not drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit ".
A far better 'stimulant ' that " addeth no sorrow" or gives no regrets .
Do we not need enough and a bit more to give to those in need?
There is coming a day when the 'wealth' of this world will be given to others . But Rome made that mistake and like the prodigal son asked for his inheritance before the time and like him has been feeding with the swine in a " far country" ever since .
The balance is a fine one as others have pointed out " you cannot serve God and mammon"
And many a ministry who have " made merchandise of Gods people" have filled their own pockets with filthy money ,it shows .
The widow eho gave two mites gave far more than all the 'rich' who on the face of it gave out " of their abundance" The Lord measured by what was left .she gave all she had .
Lay up your treasure in heaven ,not in the bank comes to mind .
In the world many still believe in the fable that at the end of every rainbow lies a pot of gold!
And many a 'worker' has been chasing that particular dream since the 1920)s .