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"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"
The Pharisees would prove they are separate from the rest which when taken to excess so their sanctimonious humbug drew condemnation from Jesus. "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." (v.24)
St Paul would annotate this verse in his own manner, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."(1 Co.13:1) Eloquence of the tongue is mere sounding brass without Christ in you putting words to sound. Paying tithe does not sanctify your Maker when your actions are to show you off before others. Paul's discourse on Charity is preached so frequently but with congregants separated into White and ethnic divisions does it sound right? God's word so worked over in order to explain the slavery question is a case in point. "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren."( Ge.9:18-27). The curse was on Canaan but for those who wanted to justify slavery on Biblical grounds, arbitrarily put the curse on Ham instead. Ham was made black, and his descendants were made Africans. If the inerrant word of God could be set as foundational text to perpetuate a myth and an abhorrent doctrine, it speaks volumes of the perversity that the churches have largely turned a blind eye on. St Paul's warning of 'the hireling' has come to pass." For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock./ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."(Ac.20:29-30; John 10:12)
In my last post I discussed what could be described as the lust of the eyes in 1 John 2:16 along with the lust of the flesh. The last part of the verse is involved with the pride of life. That certainly could cover covetousness; greed and materialism. There are two things to watch for here beyond our own hearts; there is the endless routine of daily activities; buying; selling; marrying and given in marriage which are said to characterize a day when the Lord arrives suddenly (see Matthew 24:38). There is nothing wrong with such activities; as we are told to be productive on earth as well as to be fruitful and multiply. But it is making this the whole meaning of our existence which is dangerous; rather than giving thanks for all blessings the Lord has and realizing that He "gives and takes away." ( Job 1:21). Keep in mind that came from Job AFTER his first wave of devastating losses.
The second thing is the spiritual forces in the demonic realm that are constantly seeking to drive us away from our steadfastness in Christ and be rendered ineffective at spiritual warfare. Please understand carefully what I am about to say-a TRUE believer ALWAYS recognizes the Lord's presence (His sheep hear His voice: ( John 10:27). Other spirits can overwhelm us with desire or temptation but they give themselves away because of the cost involved in following; they are found through wisdom as promoting sin and rebellion as we are exhorted in ( Proverbs 5:1-3 and sequential verses).
When we see the end result of demonic persuasion in Revelation 16:13 leading men to Armageddon a few chapters later we realize along with the Mark of the Beast that no one who is a nonbeliever will follow the Lord; all will follow Antichrist ( Revelation 13:8). The enemy if he cannot kill us physically or spiritually can certainly render us ineffective and trap us in sin if we are not careful. He will steal and destroy if he can't kill if God allows.
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?/So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
God is the householder and when we have become the many sons of God we may say we are of his house and our rights and privileges are that conferred by his Son. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."( Luke 12:32). This aspect of kingdom building is what we considered in the earlier posts. We ministered with the Son who showed with his life as to how. "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (20:27) Holiness of God is made manifest because He sent his own Son whose humanity showed what was good.
In the Parable of the Laborers the willing hands were for hire and nothing else they brought into the vineyard. All they had in mind was merely a penny as the day's wages. They were hireling while Jesus as the Good Shepherd is not working for his hire but he seeks to promote the interest of his Father. He knows the sheep by name so his interests and of his Father are in lockstep. "And know my sheep, and am known of mine./ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ( John 10:14-15) Kingdom building cannot be left to the hirelings because they are not trustworthy if left to themselves. An hireling "seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep./The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."(vv.12-13). For this reason the Householder calls their eye is evil. Their heart is not right since they are in the vineyard for the penny they agreed upon. Salvation is likened to a day's wages.
v.14 Hierarchy on the basis of hours is a lie if the contract stipulated day's wages only. Similarly the Pope and the sexton can only be paid what is agreed before hand.
"And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray."
Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. God sent his Son so the lost sheep may be found. Bringing them back into one fold means reconciling both worlds of the Spirit and of the body into one sheepfold. ( John 10:1)
We shall begin with v.11" For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost."(v.11).
If the sheep lost its way and have not found what it sought is it worth the effort? A sheep is not endowed with foreknowledge as man is. He is a living soul. Satan beguiled Eve through a serpent. How did man get lost even after God gave him the wherewithal? The content of His breath into his nostril sums up the Law that He upholds. It is the word of his power. It explains the Law of the Spirit. The principle of Similitude sets reality of Law of heaven with that of the earth. Thus it is two contrary laws of the Spirit warring the law of sin in our vile bodies nevertheless a matter of life and death. In this existential battle everlasting life is what God promised those who are found.
The Spirit uses symbols for both laws, the tree of life for those who found their way back as we say from the case of Adam life of sin originating from his disobedience. This search for the lost sheep began with the commandment of God who sent forth his word that shall never go back in void.(Is.55:11)
In the parable we have the sheep that is ever by the shepherd. "And the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out./And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice./And a stranger will they not follow" ( John 10:3-5). They are the 99 and are content under the Law of the Spirit to stay close "for they know not the voice of strangers." Their glory they know are in safekeeping and the bright cloud is their testimony.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us."(2:14)
Up Down
This ministry of reconciliation is across while what we considered under 'the other sheep' ( John 10:16). The worlds of the Spirit and the body were reconciled up and down. "The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies". Then the question arises what is 'the rod of thy strength'? "And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations." The Word of God prevails over his enemies. These events are given in Re.19:13-18; Ps.110:2
Here we have even unto the world which is length and breadth of the earth. "and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." All power given unto the risen Christ covers both heaven and the earth. That explains the great army of saints following the Word of white arrayed in white.(Matt.28:18-20)
Across
St Paul refers to the Gospel of peace between the Jews and the Gentiles, "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;/And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross" (vv.15-16) The cross is the focus while the sword is the focus in up and down.
Time of the Gentiles
This occurs on the earth since the time tag of 42 months establish the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. "for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months." Jewish diaspora in waves under Assyria, Babylon and Rome are referred as the time of the Gentiles.(Re.11:2). What occurs in Palestine in our times falls under this heading.
The 144,000 who are sealed in place of 12 tribes are neither Jews nor the Gentiles but martyrs.(Re.7) "is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" (Ze. 3:3)
"Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones"(v.7.b). This prophecy concerns Jesus Christ who declared,"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."( John 10:11)
Having fixed it we shall call for the peripherals, and the chapter is referring to a day, "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David" (13:1)
This day refers to the day decreed for the Son. "I will declare the decree: theLordhath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee."(Ps.2:7) In that day is similar to the expression, unto this day' which refers to the earthly ministry. And this verse tells us that having finished his work he is seated on the right hand of the Most High, ("TheLordsaid unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies "-Ps.110:1-2) that day refers to the latter days and a fountain shall be opened for Israel. In the vision of the Woman Clothed with the Sun indicates Jesus Christ has been taken to the throne so God sends the rod of his strength out of Zion. In short it is part of the unfinished ministry of his Son.
This day decreed for the Son is further subdivided so when Jesus tells his captors "When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness." ( Luke 22:53) we can safely infer that Prophet Zechariah was referring to this moment. God the Father did not spare his own Son for our sakes. Consequently scattering the sheep was very much part of divine Will.
"I will turn my hand upon the little one" in primary sense refers to the nation of Israel. Jesus had foretold, "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate./For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth,"(Matt.23:38-39)
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."
This quote from St Paul shall explain what he means by the word of reconciliation. St Paul explains his ministry is from God,"all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation" so no passage stands alone but it casts its spiritual analogue so it is the fulness of Christ that we look into it. The revelation that the Spirit had set him apart as he confesses,"To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood."(Gal.1:16; Ac.13:2). He was called to be a good soldier for Christ. So his ministry of reconciliation is in lock step with Jesus Christ's ministry of reconciling the other sheep, "and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" into one fold fits with one another.( John 10:16)
Elisha's life presents us with the world of the Spirit which requires eye of faith than the normal faculty of vision. "Behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?/And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them./And Elisha prayed, and said,Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And theLordopened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." ( 2Ki. 6:15-17). Ministry of reconciliation is about fighting by the rules.(2 Ti.2:5) These rules are meant to make every believer fighting fit. So when Jesus told his disciples," and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one."( Luke 22:36) we can put his word in proper perspective. The sword was meant as his badge of office. This is the word of reconciliation, comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
"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."(v.3)
Towards the end of his earthly ministry Jesus in his prayer to his Father refers to ' thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." Whosoever consequently abides in him having no confidence in his flesh has faith and also kept the word." the latter part constitute the works which are impossible without the Savior Lord.( John 15:3) Now Jesus speaks he has finished the work, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."(17:4,6)
From the key verse we know that preparing a place in heaven constitutes as work so as he glorified his Father on earth he has certain unfinished work. Even there we are part of his works so 'that where I am, there ye may be also."
Heaven and earth are part of the everlasting covenant. So everlasting gospel must be seen and understood as pendent to this covenant which is part of the divine Will of the Father and shall not change. The Law is eternal forever settled in heaven,(Ps.119:89) and as such heaven must be set in terms of the Law of the Spirit.
Jesus refers to the sheepfold in John 10:1 and here we are examining what possible works he might do so the nature of heaven may be placed under correct context as fulfillment of the Abstract in seven days. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)
Law of sin applies to the world of the Spirit and the son of perdition, collectively applied to children of wrath or disobedience. "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."( 1 John 3:8) Death is the work of Satan. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
Pride of Satan will not allow him to be one among many." I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High." He would usurp the place of the Son himself. God made angels spirit so technically a son of God. The angelic revolt in heaven to create an alternate narrative to the Salvation Plan as we may surmise from this verse, "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."(Ge.6:2) Without the simplicity of obedience how ludicrous was their plan to create a 'holy' family?. This also throws some light on the separation of light from the darkness. (Ge.1:4)
"Shall go in and out" When Jesus Christ is the door sheep may go in and out. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Going in and out can be understood at two levels. God gave the revelation of his Son "and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.". The angel belongs to the sheepfold in the world of the Spirit. Similarly "And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel."(1 Chr.21:1) Hence this warning from St Paul,(Gal.1:8)
Our struggle is with spiritual wickedness in high places, refers to the world of the Spirit, "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Full armor of God refers the one sheepfold in which we have rested from our own labors and are hid in Christ. So our battles are fought in the world of the Spirit. This also explains why Jesus instructed his disciples, "and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one".( Luke 22:36). "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me" speaks for one world. The sword is badge of an overcomer in the world of the Spirit.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."
Jesus emphasizes here and he refers to the devil explicitly. How did he beguile Eve but through subtility and through the serpent? 2 Co.11:3. In the passage Jesus refers to the sheepfold which has only one door. This discourse is with reference to the world of the Spirit so a natural pastoral setting is also giving its spiritual underpinning. So God has called whosoever shall be adopted into the fellowship of God with Man, and collectively they make up one sheepfold which can be called witnesses. Cloud of witnesses and sheepfold in short refers to the divine Will of God. So Jesus as the Word become flesh refers to them as the sheep entrusted them with him. "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.:(10:29)
From Re.12:4 the red dragon, "And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth." . So when Jesus says "Many are called, but few are chosen we may get an idea as to how subtle the devil is in upsetting the Salvation Plan of God. (Matt.22:14) St Paul's fear was for the saints who were called and given an example in the Son,"so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ," is in particular about the doctrinal purity the church is able to uphold. In their failure it has serious effect upon the world of the Spirit. This is how we ought to view Christian Living.
Conversely we have an event, building of the tower of Babel, which for instance is the replay of the angelic revolt in heaven. "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:"(Is.14:13-15) Purity or simplicity that is in Christ said,"Lo I come to do thy will," On the other hand Satan challenges,"I will."
Mount Zion founded in Zion is a fortress. The sorrows of death compassed the Psalmist yet he could say "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress" and what is our certainty? Is it not that he conquered death and he is the author and finisher of our faith. He refers to the valley of the shadow of death. Before us we have a cloud of witnesses, many martyrs ahead of us,"being destitute, afflicted, tormented;/(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth/ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,"(He.11:37-40) The earth is a vale of tears for those who have no hope beyond this world of shadows. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." It is thus we look at the two worlds of the Spirit and of this body.
" My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:/ And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand./My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."( John 10:27-29)
Christian Living is walking by faith having no confidence in flesh but in our Savior who opened the way for us to follow. "Thy follow me" is his trust. So Living is in capital to distinguish from those Christians who walk after the earthly things.
A wise deacon in our church has stated that we are in enemy territory currently on earth. Our state prior to salvation was an enemy of God as we were blinded by the god of this world to do his bidding ( 2 Cor. 4:4). Despite what may be assumed by some; there are numerous descriptions of hell in the Old Testament. There are also references to heaven and the Millennial reign of saints ( Psalm 61 seems to be a veiled reference to David in that capacity; for instance). We see also in the famous passage in Job 19:27 which alludes to a bodily resurrection where he will see God. Psalm 63:9 is another reference to hell; in sending enemies to the "lowest parts of the earth." As much as we may not comprehend these eternal truths; Proverbs 8:36 states that "all who hate me love death." (see also John 3:19-21 and 1 John 2:11).
Jesus makes it clear that He is the only way to salvation in John 10:9 and many other passages state the same thing; often in parables. Those who are not enlightened to this truth often have some scripture knowledge, but they can only see general statements about living a righteous life or see descriptions of God and only see God from afar; much as the Israelites did when wandering through the wilderness. Somehow man's myopic perspective focuses on characters in the Bible and considers those who were a prophet; or a "good teacher" and not understanding who is truly good; that is God alone ( Mark 10:18). This is why the man called Christ good in that passage; he was only seeing Him through human lenses rather than His true position as God in the flesh which only God Himself can reveal to someone ( Matt. 16:17).
These truths explain why man underplays his spiritual condition; he sees outer works and judges himself on them; and that based on his own set of scales weighing in his heart the "good vs. the bad"; ignoring God's perfect Holy standard. Worse still; he is blind to his sin NATURE which can only be changed God's way
Bennymkje
You are giving a great highlight about JESUS's work, and quoted John 10:16, that says: Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold (the Gentiles): them also I MUST bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. In my vision, JESUS was speaking of His Universal work bringing the Gentile people to salvation according the plan of GOD the Father in to create one Universal fold and one Universal Shepherd.
There is an wonderful and wise interpretation of Paul Apostle, saying to the Church of Ephesians 2:12-18
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without GOD in the world:
13 But NOW in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For He is our peace, who hath MADE BOTH ONE, and hath BROKEN DOWN the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that He might reconcile both unto GOD in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (the Gentiles), and to them that were nigh(the Jews).
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. - Hallelujaaaah!!!
This psalm is set from two standpoints. "The Lord said unto my Lord," refers to the Father Son relationship which is how we ought to approach this reverential psalm so God a Spirit represents the world of the Spirit. (Ps.110:1) In the night vision of Daniel the Ancient of days fit that part and the one like unto the Son of man (he came with the clouds of heaven-Dan.7:13)presented before him has this cloud in attendance. (He.12:1)
These witnesses are called by God before the worlds began and given to the Son. "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." ( John 10:28). This cloud refers to a flock and it is to which David refers. The Ancient of days works from his fiery throne (7:9)so the Psalm 110 can be now put in proper perspective. "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool./TheLordshall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (vv.1-2) When he sent his only begotten Son to the world the fiery wheels of his throne of flaming fire did not stop turning. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work."( John 5:17) explains a continual action. The word of God is in control.
The fiery wheels of God ever turn slowly so the Son may ever rule in the midst of thine enemies. In this context the message to the church of Philadelphia promises them an open door."behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." While the churches are persecuted,- there were broadly ten persecutions, Jesus Christ assures them deliverance so they could every one of them say, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."(23:1) Before we study the doors in heaven vis a vis heart as a door this psalm shall fit our purpose to study two worlds of the spiritual bodies and of our vile bodies subject to evil of our times.
In transition we shall study this psalm verse by verse. (To ne continued)
"My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." If Jesus says he has to finish his work we can be certain how he does it shall be to perfection to which we are in full agreement. This is what faith with works would mean.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." ( John 14:12) We know that Jesus ascended to his Father for a reason and His promise of a helper was to enable us to do much more by abiding in him. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."(10:16)
Jesus sets an open door before the church of Philadelphia. Similarly he is seated on the right hand of God so what he says is as,"he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"(3:7). It evokes his promise as the Son of man, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."(Matt.18:18). This is how we ought to view of our authority as abiding in our Savior Lord. Our Faith with works is to say Amen to His sovereignty over our bodies, both spiritual bodies as well as mortal bodies So what Jesus meant by finishing his works is it not feeding our spiritual bodies as well? Only when Christ seated on the throne says, "It is done" his works shall be finished.(Re.21:6a)
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(v.22). All his promises are for saints called to be overcomers. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."( John 10:16) This is also part of his work.
Lastly in v.21 we have two thrones mentioned referring to the throne of God and of the Lamb.(Re.22:1)
The knock mentioned here is different from this verse."Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:"(Matt.7-8) Jesus here mentions the door to salvation. " and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." The next verse sets this in context. "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?" Jesus is referring to his Father who is in heaven while what Jesus refers in the key verse is the door to the heart of a believer who is saved but is yet to be counted as an overcomer.
The Lord is my shepherd (Ps.23:1) In the Gospel of John we see the same idea put in context of the Father Son relationship. Jesus as the Word become flesh is the Good Shepherd so when he claimed, "I am the way" it explains why his Father sent him to the world. "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep."( John 10:2). So his authority is as that of the legitimate, the only one whose actions are taken in truth."I am the truth" explains this aspect As the faithful witness and true he promises to all seven churches, where he stands. He demands his rightful place in their heart, a spiritual space, representing the face upon which the Spirit moved before the commencement of the creation. "And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.(Ge.1:2b)
"if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (3:20)
In the Matthew quote, salvation dealt with ask, seek and knock. The door accordingly opened a straight and narrow path for the seeker to find his pasture. Here Jesus Christ in his majesty offers a supper set in an intimate one to one basis."I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This pasture is doing the will of God so meat and drink refers a life in heavenly places. "My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."
Many of these themes are interchangeable with the verses quoted. The terminology isn't the greatest; as people can indeed grieve the Spirit as scripture indicates. I believe limited atonement is also the hardest thing to prove; I would say that "Effectual grace" is a much better term.
I wrote what I did in the first posting on purpose as many tend to have a sort of pride about which Reformer is their favorite or obsess on the subject making a doctrine be above the author and finisher of our faith Christ Himself. We can't fit our theological premise neatly with all scriptures in human understanding. I take; for example the politically incorrect stance that free will doesn't intimidate God with His predestination plans. There are distinct advantages to understanding these doctrines however.
1. It explains why those in our families and others we are close to and hear the Gospel for years never become believers.
2. It shows how God draws His elect from before a confession of faith (preserves our lives until coming to salvation) for believers.
3. It allows us to "test ourselves to see if we are in the faith" ( 2 Cor. 13:5) so that we can indeed claim His promises as something we actually possess because of a saving faith rather than "decisional regeneration" a term where people make a confession but their hearts are not in it.
I mentioned on an old posting how a small group split because God grants repentance ( 2 Tim. 2:25; etal). Some didn't want to preach the need to repent; although God grants the desire we must bear fruit and change our ways
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I LAY MY LIFE DOWN for the sheep.
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold (the Gentiles peoples): them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
17 Therefore doth MY FATHER LOVES 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.
Your reply reminds me of Saul encounter with the Lord on his way to Damascus in Acts 9:5.
"And he said, WHO ART THOU, LORD?
There seems to be a lot here in this question!
For one, Saul believe in God in the way he's presented in the OT as you said Brother Chris.
But yet he asked "WHO ART THOU, LORD" as he responds to the Lord's question. " Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
It seems immediately it came to Saul's mind the accusations against Jesus in John 10:33.
( Jesus answers Saul's question knowing position and beliefs in the only God Saul knew of)
"AND THE LORD SAID, I AM JESUS" whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks."
God bless
Answer:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 KJV
You will life!
The LORD shall and if you have faith you will hear according to scripture Psalms 10:17
After creating man God blessed them:" And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Ge.1:28)", "Be fruitful" was a divine command.
(See under A-Abstract)
In the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree "Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?"( Luke 13:7). The Spirit refers to the Son with the number Three. The parable therefore is about believers, which are unproductive. The fig tree unable to produce fruits of the Spirit represents them.
In the Parable of the Sower birds eat up some seeds falling on the wayside, and some are unfruitful owing to the condition of the ground. The evil one is the destroyer that can prevent the word of God from becoming fruitful. The same destroyer is the enemy who scatters tares in a field while men slept. Deceitful riches can choke the heart, which is compared to a field. Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.( 1 John 3:8)
Satan is the destroyer, whose deceit upset the order that God had created for Adam. He is also a thief who dares not come by the door. For this reason he beguiled Eve through a serpent. "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."( John 10:10,1)
11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb,and by the word of their TESTIMONY;and they loved not their lives unto the death.
12Therefore rejoice,ye heavens(heavenly places in Christ JESUS-i.e. the celestial environments of the Old and New Testaments),and ye that dwell in them-the believers-.Woe to the inhabiters of the earth(Israel)and of the sea!(sea/waters=peoples,and NATIONS,and multitudes of all tongues-Gentile peoples-which were deceived by that old serpent that deceives the whole world)for the Devil is come down unto you,having great wrath,because he knows that he has but a short time.13And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth(from the heaven- Isaiah 14:12-15),he persecuted the woman...
14And to the woman were given TWO WINGS of a great eagle(the Old Testament and New Testament-two witnesses of GOD- Revelation 11:3-4.Take a kook),that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place,where she is nourished(by the Old and New Testaments-the Word of GOD,the Scriptures)for a time,and times, and half a time,from the face of the serpent.
15And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman(be careful,don't drink of that water),that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
16And the earth(144K of Israel- Revelation 7:1-10 and 14:1-5.Take a look)helped the woman(the Lord's Church- John 10:15-16),and the earth opened her mouth,and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman,and went to make war with the remnant of her seed,which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. -The testimony of Christ is the Spirit of prophecy-Re.19:10 combined with Ro.8:9-11.GET READY
Achan
Achan
At the fall of Jericho Achan secretly appropriated some of the spoils of war to himself, disregarding that these were dedicated to the Lord. Joshua had before the battle declared " And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing,.., and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it."(Josh.6:18). Because of his sin Israel lost the following battle of Ai, and the reason was revealed to Joshua from the Lord. Achan and his family were stoned to death and their bodies along with possessions were burned in the valley of Achor. (See entry below-Achor)
(Is.65:10). What does the Spirit aim at with the example of Achan? A disciple' forsaking all for the kingdom of heaven' is to treat appropriating other man's riches as foolhardy as that of Achan. Foolish ministers of our times who espouse prosperity belong to who St Paul would classify as 'reprobate concerning the faith'. (2 Ti.3:7-8)
Achor, the valley of
"A place for the herds to lie down in." (Is.65:10,9) The valley of despair becomes a place for the shepherds to take ease. For Israel it also points a door of hope. (Hos.2:15) Jesus Christ is that door. " I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."( John 10:9)
"What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" In the parable of Jesus the merchant man seeking goodly pearls found one pearl. "When he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."(13:45-46). The one pearl is Jesus Christ who gave himself as the man who found it in the Son who gave himself for him. A merchant trades thus giving up certain advantages and it applies both parties. The transaction is also fair since the soul of man is the 'inner man' or man child'. Since God breathed into Adam and made him a living soul his fallen state allowed the law of sin into the bloodstream of the world. Conversely when we received Jesus Christ as our Savior we came under the Law of the Spirit. There is no more condemnation applies to our soul. When Jesus the Good Shepherd speaks"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."( John 10:28).
Faith in Jesus Christ connects every believer so our soul is in his safekeeping. This is what faith with works mean. The Abiding life brings the Father also into the equation. I and my Father are one.( John 10:27-30)When we put on spiritual bodies our individual souls are represented by Trinity.While we groaned 'earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, ' our souls were being strengthened in our inner man by the indwelling Spirit. "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life./Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit." (2 Co.5:1-5)
Serving God and mammon is what the heathens do. They will have to account for what they did to the soul. "the heart of the wicked is little worth."(Pr.10:20) Choose life as did the merchant in the parable, "And whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."
The word sent forth by God shall prosper in the very thing it was sent.(Is.55:11). The Spirit is narrating events from the perspective of the Gospel of God that we need conclude the quality of the disciples that Jesus sent out to preach "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."(10:7). God the Sower has sown into the field and with the expression the kingdom 'is at hand' the Spirit is referring to the gathering of sheaves." This kingdom does not come with observation but it is within the heart which is knowable. The Pharisees wanted to know 'when' and Jesus replied ( Luke 17:20-21) Truth written in the heart is a witness and shall condemn those who go by appearances and those who walk by sight.
In understanding these chapters we need reorient our observation in terms of faith and the eternal Word. Firstly we shall take up the answer given Jesus to the disciples of John,"Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:/The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Before Jesus we read that Namaan was healed; raising the dead has been done before Jesus. "And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet."(2 Ki.13:21). Before the eternal Word the prophets like Elias, Elisha are interchangeable with Jesus in terms of the Power and Wisdom that Word become flesh signifies. John did no miracle but his testimony was true.( John 10:41-42). Jesus was reminding obliquely that John had missed how he was tied up his own ministry according to the Gospel. " For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee."(11:10)
But wisdom is justified of her children."
Wisdom here figuratively signifies the house built by her and founded on Zion.(Pr.9:1) All her children were born for the Father's mansions and it is his Gospel that justifies them. Their generation covers only their circumstance in the visible world of flesh and blood. John's generation was was one such but John was sanctified at his birth because the eternal Word set him a sign, as the Messenger to the Son. As with John so with his disciples.
Jesus sent his disciples as sheep which is significant. God as the Shepherd of souls is one aspect of the word which is eternal. Jesus applied it to himself. "I am the Good Shepherd." He and his Father are one because it is the Power of God that makes salvation of his associates secure. "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand./I and my Father are one."( John 10:11,28-30). All those who were called thus were in the divine Will even before the foundation of the world. The Spirit places the word 'behold' to indicate that the eternal Word had justified the Son who of God has become wisdom. Consequently Jesus sent them that the Power shall deliver them from all eventualities."Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."(10:16)
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."(Col.2:16-17).
Vv.15-17
The Word makes John interchangeable for Elias as every associate sent by the Gospel is stand in for other. This is what is meant by Wisdom is justified of her children. The v.15 used by the Spirit as a tag tells Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever". The same tag we find after mention of seven churches in Asia Minor.
You are correct, our salvation does not depend on whether we believe in "soul sleep" or "soul death" as opposed to the continuance of the soul as alive after the death of the body. So it is still good to discuss it if we use Scripture as our guide ad rule.
I am encouraged by the words of our Savior and Lord in John 11:25-26
"I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall NEVER die. Believest thou this?"
Jesus knew that people from that time forth would certainly die physically as to their bodies dying, just as those who lived before him died in the body. But here He says that, though the body dies, we still live on. He is speaking of our soul's continued existence after the body dies. Can't be any clearer than this. He asks a good question: Believest thou this? I believe what He says here and look forward to being alive with Him when my body dies and to see those believers who have died before I die and those who die after I die. We will have a great reunion in the life to come. We have eternal life in Jesus as believers and so this means our soul will not die but will be reunited with our bodies when our bodies are resurrected.
Also John 10:27-28
"My sheep hear my voice (in this life), and I know them, and they follow me. And I five unto them eternal life and they shall NEVER perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
So good to know that we have eternal life now, even if we die, we live on, not in our bodies, but in our soul and spirit, until the resurrection when our bodies will join with our soul and spirit once again and then be forever alive.
Christ's argument is: If your law calls judges gods, why should I be held guilty of blasphemy for saying that I am the Son of God?
As per the other argument trying to discredit the word "one" sounds like your argument is that one doesn't really mean one, because Jesus used it to describe believers being one. I don't see how being one in unity as Christ's body somehow means that all the Bible verses about Jesus being God and divine suddenly don't apply? The verse about the Father and Son being one is only one of MANY verses competing the picture. The Bible already says Jesus the Word is God so how can you disregard that?
God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1 KJV
You: Word was "NOT" God?
"Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." John 8:19 KJV
Have you thought about how your belief reconciles with verses like this above?
Isaiah 7:14 -
Yes, Jesus is called Immanuel which means "God with us". People called Jesus "God". He's King of King and Lord of Lords. Alpha and Omega, first and last. Do you believe Jesus is Lord? I believe that is a requirement for even being a Christian. A Christ follower should know who Christ is.
1 John 5:7-8
John 10:30
John 8:19
Genesis 1:26
Genesis 11:6-7 (plural "us" which includes Jesus, as per John 1:1)
Philippians 2:5-8
2 Corinthians 5:19
John 1:3
Matthew 28:19
1 Peter 1:2
2 Corinthians 13:14
Deuteronomy 6:4
John 14:10
John 20:28
1 John 2:22-24
Matthew 1:23-25
Colossians 2:9
Acts 17:29
Romans 1:20
Isaiah 7:14
Hebrews 1:8
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 43:11