" Then said Iesus, Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
(Sorry 1611 version copied-you get the point)
Acts 7:59-60
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
There is a similar event here regarding the death of Stephen and Jesus as to their asking for God to forgive their enemies.
Could we say in some sense Jesus was not only invoking in prayer for the forgiveness of those actually present but all of those whose sin He was going to take on? Food for thought...
We are reminded in this of past times when God in His wrath would destroy nations through great signs; or destroyed the sons of Korah for another example. Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal is yet another incident where those who continued in pagan practices even though they acknowledged He was God were killed; this warning certainly is pertinent to those in the Revelation 6 conundrum largely of their own making who hide from God's wrath which they no doubt were largely responsible for in the death of the martyrs of the 5th Seal worldwide and continuing to attempt to find solace in the governments and system of this world.
Christ died for His enemies; and as there is not room for middle ground here we all have to decide what to do with this fact.
Unbelief dictates that we aren't broken over this act of sacrificial love beyond comprehension; but we find some substitution; some attempt to save face as it were to make ourselves acceptable to God some other way. The reason why God sometimes destroys someone for acknowledgment that He is God can be seen with Judas Iscariot; He could only see a righteous man in Christ not that He was God the Son. Not accepting God's free gift because it offends our sensibilities is a way o whitewashing our own sin.
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.
13There is a generation-how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances-
14there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.
Pretty fair summation of today; I would say.
I have spent a fair amount of time recently in discussing judgment in the house of God; not so much in general of those who are unbelievers. OF couse we have to stop and think about behaviors that are uncomely to God's people. James 3:10 states:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. The world holds the church up to the standard it professes; while the world is expected; more or less to behave badly. Such an assumption is naive at best; and can keep us from reaching very kind individuals assuming they aren't in spiritual danger and focus on opposition with this logic.
More precisely; it is the master who is the conductor of our lives and as Jesus stated we cannot serve two masters. Jesus Himself said "forgive them because they know not what they're doing" in Luke 23:34 as well as Acts 7:60 when Stephen was being stoned after his heavenly vision of Christ standing on the throne. It may well have been a reminder from Christ Himself as his spirit departed to do the same. At any rate; the world is under bondage from the enemy but a truly saved individual isn't. Despite this; of course the enemy will try to accuse and convince someone that they are useless for the Lord and indeed if there is a stronghold of sin it is sufficient for him to maintain; with glee no doubt whatever power the particular minion has over a person.
So unconditional love helps us to overcome evil with good ( Romans 12:21). Otherwise we're toast.
This question isn't about life after resurrection but about what happens after our bodies die. Many beliefs and ideas exist about what occurs when we die physically. Is there a part of us that is immortal and will never cease to exist? If so, what is the meaning of death? Is death metaphorical?
Some say that when a Christian dies, they are immediately taken to heaven, where they live forever in God's presence. Some believe that when people die, they go to Hades, the realm of the dead, which has two sections: one called paradise or Abraham's bosom for the saved, and another place of torment for the lost.
Some also believe in purgatory, and many other religions believe in an afterlife where the spirit or soul is immortal and never ceases to exist. By saying our spirit or soul is immortal, does that go against the resurrection of the dead?
If, when we die, we go to paradise or a fiery torment, where we have a body and are fully conscious of our surroundings, as in the parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31, or Luke 23:43, some interpret that Jesus and the thief were in paradise that same day. This supports the idea that Jesus went into Hades, emptied Paradise, and carried them to heaven.
If that happened, why would He leave David in his tomb? Peter says at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus resurrected, Acts 2:29, Acts 2:30-35. We see what Jesus said in John 5:25-26, and this happens in Matthew 27:50-53, when Jesus cried out, people came out of their graves and appeared to many. The word resurrection in vs 53 warrants study. In John 5:26-29, this has not happened yet, but they are resurrected from their graves.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The rest of this chapter relates to God actually designing this for the redemption of men; even wicked men like you and I. In fact He even said forgive them for they know not what they are doing when He was cricified. ( Luke 23:34).
It is a sobering thought to consider here; how a member of the Godhead would suffer and die in our place; the righteous for the unrighteous; or even more profound this was even possible. Islam says this is blasphemous as God wouldn't do something like that; they certainly have a point that demonstrates that Christ is an offence to those who do not believe; and a stumbling Block as well. When the world honors physical strength and earthly success to their definition of having authority; as well as their own expectations as to how He should rule; no wonder they all fell away so quickly on a mass scale.
I just finished praying for you, so Jesus Christ is present (For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them Matthew 18:20). I want to know that it's not your nephew's father causing problems, it's the unclean spirit in him and/or attached to him that's causing problems ( Ephesians 6:12). I do know that since you seek God for help, God Almighty will not only hear your prayer request, but will also answer.
Also you and your nephew and the rest of your family pray for your nephew's father for God to forgive him, as you and your family forgive him (Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34). Unforgiveness will hinder God/Christ to help in time of need.
Keep the faith and endure to the end...Christ's return is almost here.
Peace and blessings to you and to your entire family!
Scripture shows us that Jesus spent 3 days preaching to those in the underworld; and taking captive those held captive ( Eph. 4:8; 1 Peter 3:19; and Matthew 27:52-53 for further study on this and those who came out of their graves after the Resurrection.
The thief on the cross would be with Him that day in Paradise ( Luke 23:43) which made him unique in several ways; he would be the last or one of the last going there at death; as for now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:8).
He would have been one who would spend the shortest time in Abraham's bosom or the "pleasant" side of Sheol and his soul at least would have been in heaven after He rose from the dead.
Therefore; there was a lot going on even though Christ's body "slept" in the tomb to use Biblical terminology from the KJV. When we consider all the unregenerate that Christ preached about His victory (it was too late obviously for their salvation) along with the multitudes of souls released from under the earth to either go to heaven or be temporarily appearing with new bodies on earth before that it is no small feat. This isn't even including all those fallen beings or offspring of giants mentioned in Genesis 6 that no doubt got wind of what was happening. We are reminded of the transfiguration just a short time before all of this where no doubt Moses was looking forward to the victory Christ was to attain for him as well as Elijah.
The Resurrection is something that; as I stated the other day the Shroud of Turin seems to indicate; but I don't want to focus on that; if only for the simple logic of Luke 16:31. We have the eyewitnesses of 500 or more people that saw Christ after His Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:6; Paul being the last one to see Him in his journey to Damascus; although we could include John seeing Him again in the visions of Revelation. There is a place for apologetics; but only the Spirit can transform a man (Rom12:2
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18-Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
Mark 10:45 talks about Christ coming not to be served but to serve and giving His life as a ransom for many. This is also quoted in Matthew 20:28 and Mark 10:45. This theme again is played out through His preaching to the masses as we saw in the last posting; or to His Disciples. Service goes beyond Him being a "Cosmic Vending Machine" however ( John 6:26). What people needed was salvation of their souls resulting from forgiveness of sins; and He would emphasize this when performing His miracles even though His own life was threatened. He knew of course that He couldn't be touched until His time had come; and while He was on the earth His 12 Disciples also were protected; which we see when the soldiers came to arrest Him in Gethsemene. He was there to rebuke Peter when necessary and even offered what was considered the choice sop to Judas Iscariot before His betrayal. Unlike us as mortal men Jesus had us on His mind even facing death on a cross the next day; praying for all those who would come to Him eventually being as one; and as I mentioned before for Mary his mother to have John look after her as a mother showing that Joseph was almost certainly deceased at this time. He even reached out to the repentant criminal on the cross next to Him when dying assuring he would be with Him in paradise. Luke 23:34 is the ultimate forgiveness to those who didn't know what they were doing.
Part of service and having others as a priority over our own needs is taking time out for prayer. Jesus prayed all night before picking His 12 Disciples and this wasn't the only time He did this. Communicating with His Father in heaven was a constant ongoing process as He only said what the Father told Him ( John 12:49 etal). Service therefore for the Christian must involve a commitment of time not only for prayer for others but for ourselves; He may have been restricted while on earth to live as one of us but prayed to focus on God how much more should we seek Him?
Matthew 28:1, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
Let's see the grk." Opse(late or after) de Savvaton(the Sabbaths), te epephoskouse(as it begun to light) eis mian Savvaton(towards the first of Sabbaths)..."
Lets write it in English. Late (of after) the Sabbaths as it begun to give light towards the first of Sabbaths..."
Well it seems that we have a contradiction here. Because initially it says that the Sabbath was to be gone or just gone and next it says that as the Sabbath was gone the first of the Sabbaths was or just started to show. Why is this?
Because the first Sabbath is meant to be the day Sabbath and the second Sabbath is meant as a week. So the KJV correctly translated as "the first day of the week"
Compare it with Luke 23:54 and it gets very clear. According to Luke it was late at Friday (Preparation) not long before the Sabbath starts (which means not long before getting dark)
The plural form has to do with how the Jews expressed it in their language. Every language doesn't express meanings in an identical to all languages form.
Let's see the verse in Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week ..."
The greek reads, "Anastas(was risen) de proi(morning) prote(first) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ..."
But here a question comes in. Why did the KJV translate "of the Sabbath" as "the first day of the week"?. The answer is because the Jews, apart from the day of Sabbath, also called the 7 day week as a Sabbath. Example: Luke 18:12, (it is the incident with the Pharisee and the publican), it says in grk "nesteuo (I fast) dis(twice) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ...." It is obvious that the Pharisee doesn't mean that he fasts twice on the day of Sabbath, but twice in a week.
Another example is also in Luke, verse 24:1, "te de mia(in the first) ton Savvaton(of the Sabbaths) orthou batheos(very early in the morning) ..", it obviously means in the first day of the week very early in the morning.
Actually it is known from history books that the Jews at that time fasted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week. So the first day of the Sabbath here is the first day of the week. The Sabbath was the last day of the Jewish week and the next day (the christian Sunday) was the first.
But the verse in Luke 23:54 clarifies the day of the week that Jesus was buried. It says "Kai (and) hemera(day) en(was) paraskeue(preparation), Savvatou (of the Sabbath) epephoske (was coming close)." What does it mean "the day was preparation"? Here we have to look at the names of the week days in Hebrew. The are called: the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the preparation (because the were making all the preparation need for resting on the Sabbaths since they were not allowed to do anything on the Sabbaths) and last of all was the Sabbath. So the right interpretation of that verse (in mod. English) is "and it was Friday and Saturday(Sabbath) was closing in (since the day for Hebrews starts in the evening of the previous day)".
Revelation 21:4 - And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9-13 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Read More...)
1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Revelation 22:1-5 - And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Read More...)
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (Read More...)
Luke 12:33-34 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Read More...)
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (Read More...)
Revelation 21:22-27 - And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Read More...)
Hebrews 11:16 - But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Hello Tdianne. Just to give you two further portions of Scripture to add to brother S. Spencer's reply, please look at Luke 23:42,43 and Luke 16:19-31. The first speaks about the criminal hanging next to Jesus on the Cross, who turned to Jesus for salvation. And Jesus' Word of assurance to him was that upon his death he would join Jesus in Heaven. The criminal's body would lie in a grave or be burned, but his spirit would return to God & an eternity in Heaven because of his faith.
And in Luke 16, Jesus gives a real account of what takes place in the after life, prior to His death on the Cross to pay for our sins. Both the rich man & the beggar Lazarus had died and both ended up in Hell, one in a place of eternal suffering & the other in a place of comfort & rest. Both were very much conscious of their surroundings, their pain & the reason for being where they were sent; with the plea by the rich man to have his five brothers alerted to this awful destiny, that they might repent before it was too late.
So both these accounts, even by the witness of Jesus Himself, shows us that our bodies might lie in the grave, or even not exist over the passage of time, but the real you (your spirit) which was once clothed in an ageing deteriorating body, moves instantly to a destiny appointed by God. If one is 'absent in the body' (i.e. our spirit has left they body), then that spirit, if saved through Jesus' shed Blood, goes immediately into the Lord's Presence. And that is why the Apostle Paul was assured in his spirit that the transition from death to his presence with the Lord was instantaneous ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). And he also told the Philippian believers ( Philippians 1:21-24) that he longed to be with Christ, but his work on Earth had not finished & also his care of the Church. But he was ready to go at any time the Lord called him, so even persecution & resulting death would mean an early entrance into Heaven. A great joy for him - and should be for us who believe.
Luke 23:35 - And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
The rulers derided him, which is the Greek word for "to stick up the nose." They scoffed at Him, a smug mocking at Him, saying He saved others; let Him save himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.
That is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:6-7, and Psalm 22:16-17.
Luke 23:41 - And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
The Greek word for "nothing amiss" means He's done nothing out of place. He has done everything perfectly!
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Many people have discussed where paradise is. First of all, it is a Persian word. That is where the word paradise came from. In the New Testament, not only is it here, but it's also found in 2 Corinthians 12:3, where Paul says that he was caught up in the third heaven into paradise. And again, in Revelation 2:7, where it is the reward for those overcomers, those that overcome the evil.
It is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the Garden of Eden. It is called PARADISO, paradise, same word! But that doesn't answer the question where is it? Well, right before the term "in paradise" you have your answer. You will be with "me" in paradise.
Wherever Jesus is, it is paradise. Where was Jesus that day or that night or the next day? Wherever Jesus was, he was with Him, and that's paradise.
Luke 22:52 - Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
The word "staves" in the Greek means clubs.
Luke 23:3 - And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
The phrase "Thou sayest it" is actually an idiom that means, "You are saying correctly!"
Luke 23:27 - And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
And there followed Him a great company of people, and the word "followed" is what is called an Imperfect Tense in Greek which means they were continuously following, and of women, which also were mourning, that is what bewailed means, and lamenting.
Those also are Imperfect Tenses. This is a group of women that were loyal to, and following Jesus, and believing in Jesus. They were continually following Him. They even followed Him after they took Him down off the cross, as they wanted to see where He was going to be laid, and they were continually morning and continually lamenting, as they were following.
Luke 23:33 - And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Calvary is the Latin term for the Aramaic Golgotha. Golgotha is the Aramaic, and Calvary is the Latin. The Greek word is CRANION. It is where we get our word cranium from, the skull. That is what all these words mean. Calvary, Golgotha, and CRANION mean the skull. So, all three names are making reference to the same place.
Jesus in the key text refers himself to a green tree. We know it is true since he has the dew of youth. The Spirit has laid how we should explain the greenness of the tree on the basis of what the word of God refers to the subject and must conform to the dictum that all things consist of Jesus Christ. Similitude is on the principle ' the like begets like'. In the context of the fruit tree "whose seed was in itself, after his kind" what do we mean by 'after his kind' ? Comparison is in terms of similar quality. Consider this Psalm quote, "In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth"(Ps.110:3). the greenness of the tree refers to his beauty of holiness and not about physical beauty. This is how hermeneutics according to the wisdom of heaven works. Instead Bible Scholars give a different slant. Jesus Christ is the key and not literal meaning from passage that follow or that went before. Carnal wisdom of the Pharisees accused Jesus, "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."(Matt.12:24) This is same as Baptist church in the US would splinter into North and south. One would want to whitewash slavery. What is carnal wisdom? James says, "but is earthly, sensual, devilish./ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." Using Noah's curse on Canaan to justify slavery is to say the least is devilish. (Jas.3:15-16)
"For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
Here we have a saying of Jesus in which he is comparing himself to a green tree. How can a tree be compared to man but God has established the principle of Similitude towards our spiritual instruction. Like the slain Lamb motif existing in the will of the Father we have a similar motif in the tree. It figures in the cov(Col.1:16-17)enant between God and Man marked day Three.
Ge.1:11-12 "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good" is about the Son. God also endorses it as good. So whatever is good is intended towards the blessings man may receive of God. The Spirit of God associate all things for the Man who was before all things. In short the covenant establishes blessings to man through Jesus Christ. "all things were created by him, and for him:/ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."(Col.1:16-17). Principle of Similitude sets heaven and the earth, lower parts included, on a single standard namely Jesus Christ. Thus Lamb of God refers to him. So does the tree of life.
This principle has another aspect: God created man after our image and it refers his body, soul and spirit. Man also is created 'after our likeness' so man cannot be seen without his world as Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. His stewardship over other lifeforms in the covenant applies to him. Brevity of his glory is compared to grass. By the same token James asks "For what is your life? It is even a vapour,"(Jas.4:14) Thus volume of man blessed of God carries the fulness of Christ. The indwelling Spirit is a proof of it.
Isaiah inspired of God refers to Jesus Christ as a tender plant. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground" (Is.53:2). Jesus in the key text refers himself to a green tree. We know it is true since he has the dew of youth.
'Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. '
My Respond: To Verse: Romans 8:27
Luke 23:46-47 KJV 'And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. '
At the time of Jesus death has giving direct access to God through Jesus Christ. My faith in this scripture has giving me access to God through prayer.
Ways you can can have intercession with God is having faith trusting in Jesus death, burial, resurrection.(Gospel)
Romans 10:9-10 KJV
'that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 11 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. '
Well, it says that the garden or paradise was located in Eden (or Edem) which was to the east (of Israel, I suppose). East of Eden was an old movie and usually people have that in mind.
The word paradise does not have the meaning of a walled area in grk. But looking it up on the net I found out that the original word comes from ancient Persian and means "an enclosure". Later on it was used to describe the "walled gardens" of the persian kings. Later on it entered other languages like grk, Hebrew and Aramaic with the meaning of "walled royal park or gardens" and finally it ended up meaning a beautiful place in modern times.
In the OT the Septuagint always uses the word paradise where the Hebrew text says garden. In the NT we see it in 3 cases. It was used by Jesus when He was talking to the thief that was crucified next to him. So here obviously it means a beautiful place in Heaven, Luke 23:43. Also by Paul when he said that the Lord brought him to Paradise, 2 Corinthians 12:4. And by John in Rev 2:7..Paul and John probably used paradise instead of garden as they had in mind the Septuagint text which was the only OT text in use at that time by the christian gentiles and the grk speaking Hebrews.
Was the original garden in Eden an enclosure?. In Genesis 3:23 God sends the Cherubims to guard the garden and prevent Adam and Eve entering. It says, "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.". If it was walled it would mention a gate, a door, something, wouldn't it? But who really knows? GBU
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Luke 23:42 KJV
Remember me, remember me, O' Lord, please remember member us. We need thee O' we need thee, every hour, we need thee, O' bless us now our Saviour, we come to thee...In Jesus Christ Name, we pray. Amen.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;/And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."(vv.9-10)
Here St Matthew refers to a quote from the book of Zechariah. In order to give them its proper context we shall consider the v.10. "And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.' This covenant with Israel refers to the Law of Moses. Beauty symbolic sign for Jesus ("For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"- Luke 23:31) In cutting off the Son they were repudiating the covenant and God. Jeremiah then smashing the potter's vessel at the east gate in Je.19 was a public event. Now the crucifixion was going to be a public event.
The inspired writing of the Evangelist did not err, an example of which we have seen in the preceding chapter. The verse"that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" referred both Isaiah and Zechariah.(26:56) The Spirit presented the potter's vessel as a sign for the Son and where Prophet Jeremiah had begun we have Prophet Zechariah leading to the field, which in general sense signifies the whole land. "The land is mine" and the divine potter "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."(Je.18:6)
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
Hello D.E.S. I agree that there isn't much given to us in the Bible to give clear teaching - it comes down to how one understands what is given. BTW, the John 3:13 reference you gave, is actually Jesus' response to Nicodemus, when he queried Jesus' Knowledge of these strange things he was hearing. Jesus told him that He was telling him things that only one from God's Presence could do; and that was of this new birth/new heart to be born again, that God required. No man has ever entered Heaven to learn such things & bring this news down to Earth, only Jesus could, He Who came down from Heaven.
That aside, I would ask you to give thought to these Scriptures: Luke 16:19-31 and Luke 23:39-43. In the Luke 16 account, Jesus gave us a glimpse of life after death (the locations of those were prior to Jesus' Own Resurrection). Here, we read that there was consciousness beyond the grave; their bodies were buried, but they were aware of their situation, of joy or pain, even of concerns.
Then the Luke 23 reference. Jesus gave the repentant thief (hanging on the Cross beside Him), the assurance that at his death, he would join Jesus in Paradise - the place of no pain & real comfort. If people today die & just remain in the grave awaiting the resurrection, then most certainly, those of Jesus' day knew that their spirits would live on in the place of God's appointment for them, while their earthly remains awaited resurrection & final judgement. Sending this for your reading & consideration & for God's Comfort & Assurance to be your daily experience.
In the previous post "Single Measurement" the quote "Saints redeemed from the earth are interchangeable because new earth knows no John or Andrew but is under the generic name an angel." explains this phenomenon. God has decreed the day for his Son and it pleased him that all his fulness should in him dwell. Who was Elijah but a double for the Son? As a Tishbite he shall show certain characteristics before his death. Elijah the Tishbite came from Gilead. Before giving charge to Elisha he goes through Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan, signifying from his cradle to 'crossing the Jordan' euphemism for death. Elisha sticks close to him all the while. As his associate he was his double through the word of God and ministry for the other. By principle of Association all are co-heirs with Christ the firstborn of all creation." But Jesus is associated with Nazareth but as the Son he reveals his own signature to the body of evidence as the Word become flesh. On the cross, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."( Luke 23:46)
This every one who is called has his own characteristics, of his place and time but in terms of the will of the Father he had adopted them all without exception on the basis each one has become part of the single measure which is his Son, the Man component.
I have been wiped out on my computer TWICE trying to get this posting out. Seems the enemy doesn't want me to do this.
Or I had too many windows up at the same time. UGH.
Whenever I go to get scripture references I take a chance on wiping out the page; although my computer for some reason stalled out last run..
I will post this as an argument and rebuttal format just to do something different....
First assumption (as best I understand it). Christ didn't appear any other time in a bodily form except while here on earth.
It should be clear that Christ rose with scars remaining from His body which He had on earth that was resurrected. This is clear from "doubting Thomas" in John 20:28. There are numerous instances when Christ was indeed in a preincarnate form; such as with the incident with Abraham in Genesis 18:18 (where it also appears the discussion in the previous verses is between the Godhead as to whether these things should remain hidden). There is also the incident with the angel of the Lord in Hosea 11:4 cross referencing Jacob wrestling with God in the account of Genesis 32:22-32. For worship to occur these saints of God were indeed only to worship God. Since 1 John states that no one can see God and live; and Genesis 32:30 says that no one has seen God at any time; it seems clear that Christ was appearing in these cases. Numerous other verses could be cited.
The "us" verses.
We see in the original creation story in Genesis 1; as well as the narrative of the Tower of Babel ( Genesis 11:7) where "our image" and "us" is referred to in the creation of man; and the determination to confuse the language of men.
Argument Two: Main premise that God is one appearing in different "modes" or forms. To ignore that God is in distinct persons seems absurd in light of verses such as Luke 23:46 (where Jesus commended His spirit to God at death); and all other verses which showed Christ praying to the Father.
True Christ Followers will be obedient to all of God's 10 Commandments as taught by Jesus in the New Testament."
Well, God's 10 Commandments are identical to Christ's Commandments. Christ didn't change, minimize or abbreviate them in any way. Christ is the Creator of all things and He created the Commandments - there would be no reason for Him to change or rescind any of them.
Christ speaks of obeying the Law, the 10 Commandments, just as they are taught by the scribes and Pharisees in Matt. 23:1-3. He says to "do as they say, but not as they do" because the teachers of the Law at that time were all hypocrites. They taught the 10 Commandments, but kept none of them. That passage proves that Jesus taught the literal keeping of the 10 Commandments, not just the essence, or spirit, of them in our hearts, etc.
Jesus stated, as you pointed out, that He kept all of the Father's 10 Commandments physically when He declared it in John 15:10.
We see that 1 John makes clear that we are to live as Jesus lived, obeying what He obeyed, in 1 John 2:6. That does not support the modern popular teaching that we are only to obey them in spirit. And if Jesus had any intention of teaching that Christians did not need to keep them literally, we would not have the record of the disciples keeping the Saturday Sabbath immediately after Christ's death on the Cross in Luke 23:54-56. We also would not see Paul being labeled by the elders as a "Keeper of the Law" in Acts 21:24.
"IF a Christian is filled with God's Holy Spirit they will naturally be following all of God's/Jesus Commandments."
I would agree with this, but that just means that the vast majority of professed Christians today are not filled with the Holy Spirit because most Christians do not obey the 10 Commandments.
Jesus says that it is the keeping of the 10 Commandments that is pre-requisite for receiving 'HIM' as the Holy Spirit in John 14:21.
" Then said Iesus, Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe: And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."
(Sorry 1611 version copied-you get the point)
Acts 7:59-60
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
There is a similar event here regarding the death of Stephen and Jesus as to their asking for God to forgive their enemies.
Could we say in some sense Jesus was not only invoking in prayer for the forgiveness of those actually present but all of those whose sin He was going to take on? Food for thought...
We are reminded in this of past times when God in His wrath would destroy nations through great signs; or destroyed the sons of Korah for another example. Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal is yet another incident where those who continued in pagan practices even though they acknowledged He was God were killed; this warning certainly is pertinent to those in the Revelation 6 conundrum largely of their own making who hide from God's wrath which they no doubt were largely responsible for in the death of the martyrs of the 5th Seal worldwide and continuing to attempt to find solace in the governments and system of this world.
Christ died for His enemies; and as there is not room for middle ground here we all have to decide what to do with this fact.
Unbelief dictates that we aren't broken over this act of sacrificial love beyond comprehension; but we find some substitution; some attempt to save face as it were to make ourselves acceptable to God some other way. The reason why God sometimes destroys someone for acknowledgment that He is God can be seen with Judas Iscariot; He could only see a righteous man in Christ not that He was God the Son. Not accepting God's free gift because it offends our sensibilities is a way o whitewashing our own sin.
11There is a generation of those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers.
12There is a generation of those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet unwashed of their filth.
13There is a generation-how haughty are their eyes
and pretentious are their glances-
14there is a generation whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the earth
and the needy from among men.
Pretty fair summation of today; I would say.
I have spent a fair amount of time recently in discussing judgment in the house of God; not so much in general of those who are unbelievers. OF couse we have to stop and think about behaviors that are uncomely to God's people. James 3:10 states:
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. The world holds the church up to the standard it professes; while the world is expected; more or less to behave badly. Such an assumption is naive at best; and can keep us from reaching very kind individuals assuming they aren't in spiritual danger and focus on opposition with this logic.
More precisely; it is the master who is the conductor of our lives and as Jesus stated we cannot serve two masters. Jesus Himself said "forgive them because they know not what they're doing" in Luke 23:34 as well as Acts 7:60 when Stephen was being stoned after his heavenly vision of Christ standing on the throne. It may well have been a reminder from Christ Himself as his spirit departed to do the same. At any rate; the world is under bondage from the enemy but a truly saved individual isn't. Despite this; of course the enemy will try to accuse and convince someone that they are useless for the Lord and indeed if there is a stronghold of sin it is sufficient for him to maintain; with glee no doubt whatever power the particular minion has over a person.
So unconditional love helps us to overcome evil with good ( Romans 12:21). Otherwise we're toast.
This question isn't about life after resurrection but about what happens after our bodies die. Many beliefs and ideas exist about what occurs when we die physically. Is there a part of us that is immortal and will never cease to exist? If so, what is the meaning of death? Is death metaphorical?
Some say that when a Christian dies, they are immediately taken to heaven, where they live forever in God's presence. Some believe that when people die, they go to Hades, the realm of the dead, which has two sections: one called paradise or Abraham's bosom for the saved, and another place of torment for the lost.
Some also believe in purgatory, and many other religions believe in an afterlife where the spirit or soul is immortal and never ceases to exist. By saying our spirit or soul is immortal, does that go against the resurrection of the dead?
If, when we die, we go to paradise or a fiery torment, where we have a body and are fully conscious of our surroundings, as in the parable Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31, or Luke 23:43, some interpret that Jesus and the thief were in paradise that same day. This supports the idea that Jesus went into Hades, emptied Paradise, and carried them to heaven.
If that happened, why would He leave David in his tomb? Peter says at Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus resurrected, Acts 2:29, Acts 2:30-35. We see what Jesus said in John 5:25-26, and this happens in Matthew 27:50-53, when Jesus cried out, people came out of their graves and appeared to many. The word resurrection in vs 53 warrants study. In John 5:26-29, this has not happened yet, but they are resurrected from their graves.
1 Corinthians 15:52-55.
Just a few thoughts.
God bless,
RLW
3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
The rest of this chapter relates to God actually designing this for the redemption of men; even wicked men like you and I. In fact He even said forgive them for they know not what they are doing when He was cricified. ( Luke 23:34).
It is a sobering thought to consider here; how a member of the Godhead would suffer and die in our place; the righteous for the unrighteous; or even more profound this was even possible. Islam says this is blasphemous as God wouldn't do something like that; they certainly have a point that demonstrates that Christ is an offence to those who do not believe; and a stumbling Block as well. When the world honors physical strength and earthly success to their definition of having authority; as well as their own expectations as to how He should rule; no wonder they all fell away so quickly on a mass scale.
"And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment."
Acts 18:4
"And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks."
Galatians 3:28
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 4:9
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"
Luke 23:43
"And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Blessings
I just finished praying for you, so Jesus Christ is present (For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them Matthew 18:20). I want to know that it's not your nephew's father causing problems, it's the unclean spirit in him and/or attached to him that's causing problems ( Ephesians 6:12). I do know that since you seek God for help, God Almighty will not only hear your prayer request, but will also answer.
Also you and your nephew and the rest of your family pray for your nephew's father for God to forgive him, as you and your family forgive him (Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34). Unforgiveness will hinder God/Christ to help in time of need.
Keep the faith and endure to the end...Christ's return is almost here.
Peace and blessings to you and to your entire family!
Scripture shows us that Jesus spent 3 days preaching to those in the underworld; and taking captive those held captive ( Eph. 4:8; 1 Peter 3:19; and Matthew 27:52-53 for further study on this and those who came out of their graves after the Resurrection.
The thief on the cross would be with Him that day in Paradise ( Luke 23:43) which made him unique in several ways; he would be the last or one of the last going there at death; as for now to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord ( 2 Cor. 5:8).
He would have been one who would spend the shortest time in Abraham's bosom or the "pleasant" side of Sheol and his soul at least would have been in heaven after He rose from the dead.
Therefore; there was a lot going on even though Christ's body "slept" in the tomb to use Biblical terminology from the KJV. When we consider all the unregenerate that Christ preached about His victory (it was too late obviously for their salvation) along with the multitudes of souls released from under the earth to either go to heaven or be temporarily appearing with new bodies on earth before that it is no small feat. This isn't even including all those fallen beings or offspring of giants mentioned in Genesis 6 that no doubt got wind of what was happening. We are reminded of the transfiguration just a short time before all of this where no doubt Moses was looking forward to the victory Christ was to attain for him as well as Elijah.
The Resurrection is something that; as I stated the other day the Shroud of Turin seems to indicate; but I don't want to focus on that; if only for the simple logic of Luke 16:31. We have the eyewitnesses of 500 or more people that saw Christ after His Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:6; Paul being the last one to see Him in his journey to Damascus; although we could include John seeing Him again in the visions of Revelation. There is a place for apologetics; but only the Spirit can transform a man (Rom12:2
Many traditions are followed, but do they line up with Scripture? The week Jesus was crucified, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the first day of the week, which would have been the 10th of Nisan. This would be the same day the people were to put up the lamb that would be sacrificed on Passover Day, the 14th of Nisan, Exodus 12:3. The money changers were selling animals for the Passover and other sacrifices. They were also exchanging money for the temple tax or tribute; it had to be a half-shekel.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56, Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41, Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49, and John 12:1 through John 19:37.
John 12:1 John states it was six days before Passover when they arrived in Bethany, and the next day Jesus rode into Jerusalem, which was five days until Passover. Today, this day is referred to as Palm Sunday, the first day of the week.
Day one, 10th of Nisan, Jesus rides into Jerusalem, casts out the money changers and returns to Bethany, and lodges there, Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:1 through Luke 23:49. Luke does not cover the back and forth to Bethany, and John 12:1-50, John then picks up at the Last Supper.
Day two, 11th of Nisan, shows Jesus going back to Jerusalem, the fig tree, casting out the money changers again, just like the first Passover He attended in His three and a half years' ministry, John 2:14-16. The plot started with how to kill Jesus, Matthew 21:18- Matthew 25:46, Mark 11:12 through Mark 13:37, Luke 22:38. Matthew, Mark, and Luke cover Jesus' teachings in the temple, parables, and the Olivet discourse.
Day three, 12th of Nisan, is two days until Passover, Matthew 26:2-13, Mark 14:1-2. The plot to kill Jesus got more intense.
See part 2
Part of service and having others as a priority over our own needs is taking time out for prayer. Jesus prayed all night before picking His 12 Disciples and this wasn't the only time He did this. Communicating with His Father in heaven was a constant ongoing process as He only said what the Father told Him ( John 12:49 etal). Service therefore for the Christian must involve a commitment of time not only for prayer for others but for ourselves; He may have been restricted while on earth to live as one of us but prayed to focus on God how much more should we seek Him?
Matthew 28:1, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
Let's see the grk." Opse(late or after) de Savvaton(the Sabbaths), te epephoskouse(as it begun to light) eis mian Savvaton(towards the first of Sabbaths)..."
Lets write it in English. Late (of after) the Sabbaths as it begun to give light towards the first of Sabbaths..."
Well it seems that we have a contradiction here. Because initially it says that the Sabbath was to be gone or just gone and next it says that as the Sabbath was gone the first of the Sabbaths was or just started to show. Why is this?
Because the first Sabbath is meant to be the day Sabbath and the second Sabbath is meant as a week. So the KJV correctly translated as "the first day of the week"
Compare it with Luke 23:54 and it gets very clear. According to Luke it was late at Friday (Preparation) not long before the Sabbath starts (which means not long before getting dark)
The plural form has to do with how the Jews expressed it in their language. Every language doesn't express meanings in an identical to all languages form.
Let's see the verse in Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week ..."
The greek reads, "Anastas(was risen) de proi(morning) prote(first) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ..."
But here a question comes in. Why did the KJV translate "of the Sabbath" as "the first day of the week"?. The answer is because the Jews, apart from the day of Sabbath, also called the 7 day week as a Sabbath. Example: Luke 18:12, (it is the incident with the Pharisee and the publican), it says in grk "nesteuo (I fast) dis(twice) Savvatou(of the Sabbath) ...." It is obvious that the Pharisee doesn't mean that he fasts twice on the day of Sabbath, but twice in a week.
Another example is also in Luke, verse 24:1, "te de mia(in the first) ton Savvaton(of the Sabbaths) orthou batheos(very early in the morning) ..", it obviously means in the first day of the week very early in the morning.
Actually it is known from history books that the Jews at that time fasted on Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week. So the first day of the Sabbath here is the first day of the week. The Sabbath was the last day of the Jewish week and the next day (the christian Sunday) was the first.
But the verse in Luke 23:54 clarifies the day of the week that Jesus was buried. It says "Kai (and) hemera(day) en(was) paraskeue(preparation), Savvatou (of the Sabbath) epephoske (was coming close)." What does it mean "the day was preparation"? Here we have to look at the names of the week days in Hebrew. The are called: the first, the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth, the preparation (because the were making all the preparation need for resting on the Sabbaths since they were not allowed to do anything on the Sabbaths) and last of all was the Sabbath. So the right interpretation of that verse (in mod. English) is "and it was Friday and Saturday(Sabbath) was closing in (since the day for Hebrews starts in the evening of the previous day)".
John 14:2 - In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 10:9-13 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Read More...)
1 Corinthians 2:9 - But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Revelation 22:1-5 - And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Read More...)
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (Read More...)
Luke 12:33-34 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Read More...)
1 Timothy 6:17-19 - Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (Read More...)
Revelation 21:22-27 - And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. (Read More...)
Hebrews 11:16 - But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
And in Luke 16, Jesus gives a real account of what takes place in the after life, prior to His death on the Cross to pay for our sins. Both the rich man & the beggar Lazarus had died and both ended up in Hell, one in a place of eternal suffering & the other in a place of comfort & rest. Both were very much conscious of their surroundings, their pain & the reason for being where they were sent; with the plea by the rich man to have his five brothers alerted to this awful destiny, that they might repent before it was too late.
So both these accounts, even by the witness of Jesus Himself, shows us that our bodies might lie in the grave, or even not exist over the passage of time, but the real you (your spirit) which was once clothed in an ageing deteriorating body, moves instantly to a destiny appointed by God. If one is 'absent in the body' (i.e. our spirit has left they body), then that spirit, if saved through Jesus' shed Blood, goes immediately into the Lord's Presence. And that is why the Apostle Paul was assured in his spirit that the transition from death to his presence with the Lord was instantaneous ( 2 Corinthians 5:6-8). And he also told the Philippian believers ( Philippians 1:21-24) that he longed to be with Christ, but his work on Earth had not finished & also his care of the Church. But he was ready to go at any time the Lord called him, so even persecution & resulting death would mean an early entrance into Heaven. A great joy for him - and should be for us who believe.
Luke 23:35 - And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
The rulers derided him, which is the Greek word for "to stick up the nose." They scoffed at Him, a smug mocking at Him, saying He saved others; let Him save himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God.
That is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:6-7, and Psalm 22:16-17.
Luke 23:41 - And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
The Greek word for "nothing amiss" means He's done nothing out of place. He has done everything perfectly!
Luke 23:43 - And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Many people have discussed where paradise is. First of all, it is a Persian word. That is where the word paradise came from. In the New Testament, not only is it here, but it's also found in 2 Corinthians 12:3, where Paul says that he was caught up in the third heaven into paradise. And again, in Revelation 2:7, where it is the reward for those overcomers, those that overcome the evil.
It is also used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament for the Garden of Eden. It is called PARADISO, paradise, same word! But that doesn't answer the question where is it? Well, right before the term "in paradise" you have your answer. You will be with "me" in paradise.
Wherever Jesus is, it is paradise. Where was Jesus that day or that night or the next day? Wherever Jesus was, he was with Him, and that's paradise.
Luke 22:52 - Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
The word "staves" in the Greek means clubs.
Luke 23:3 - And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
The phrase "Thou sayest it" is actually an idiom that means, "You are saying correctly!"
Luke 23:27 - And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
And there followed Him a great company of people, and the word "followed" is what is called an Imperfect Tense in Greek which means they were continuously following, and of women, which also were mourning, that is what bewailed means, and lamenting.
Those also are Imperfect Tenses. This is a group of women that were loyal to, and following Jesus, and believing in Jesus. They were continually following Him. They even followed Him after they took Him down off the cross, as they wanted to see where He was going to be laid, and they were continually morning and continually lamenting, as they were following.
Luke 23:33 - And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Calvary is the Latin term for the Aramaic Golgotha. Golgotha is the Aramaic, and Calvary is the Latin. The Greek word is CRANION. It is where we get our word cranium from, the skull. That is what all these words mean. Calvary, Golgotha, and CRANION mean the skull. So, all three names are making reference to the same place.
Jesus in the key text refers himself to a green tree. We know it is true since he has the dew of youth. The Spirit has laid how we should explain the greenness of the tree on the basis of what the word of God refers to the subject and must conform to the dictum that all things consist of Jesus Christ. Similitude is on the principle ' the like begets like'. In the context of the fruit tree "whose seed was in itself, after his kind" what do we mean by 'after his kind' ? Comparison is in terms of similar quality. Consider this Psalm quote, "In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth"(Ps.110:3). the greenness of the tree refers to his beauty of holiness and not about physical beauty. This is how hermeneutics according to the wisdom of heaven works. Instead Bible Scholars give a different slant. Jesus Christ is the key and not literal meaning from passage that follow or that went before. Carnal wisdom of the Pharisees accused Jesus, "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils."(Matt.12:24) This is same as Baptist church in the US would splinter into North and south. One would want to whitewash slavery. What is carnal wisdom? James says, "but is earthly, sensual, devilish./ For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." Using Noah's curse on Canaan to justify slavery is to say the least is devilish. (Jas.3:15-16)
"For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"
Here we have a saying of Jesus in which he is comparing himself to a green tree. How can a tree be compared to man but God has established the principle of Similitude towards our spiritual instruction. Like the slain Lamb motif existing in the will of the Father we have a similar motif in the tree. It figures in the cov(Col.1:16-17)enant between God and Man marked day Three.
Ge.1:11-12 "And the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good" is about the Son. God also endorses it as good. So whatever is good is intended towards the blessings man may receive of God. The Spirit of God associate all things for the Man who was before all things. In short the covenant establishes blessings to man through Jesus Christ. "all things were created by him, and for him:/ And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."(Col.1:16-17). Principle of Similitude sets heaven and the earth, lower parts included, on a single standard namely Jesus Christ. Thus Lamb of God refers to him. So does the tree of life.
This principle has another aspect: God created man after our image and it refers his body, soul and spirit. Man also is created 'after our likeness' so man cannot be seen without his world as Jesus Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. His stewardship over other lifeforms in the covenant applies to him. Brevity of his glory is compared to grass. By the same token James asks "For what is your life? It is even a vapour,"(Jas.4:14) Thus volume of man blessed of God carries the fulness of Christ. The indwelling Spirit is a proof of it.
Isaiah inspired of God refers to Jesus Christ as a tender plant. "For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground" (Is.53:2). Jesus in the key text refers himself to a green tree. We know it is true since he has the dew of youth.
Respond:
Romans 8:26-27KJV
'Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. '
My Respond: To Verse: Romans 8:27
Luke 23:46-47 KJV 'And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. '
At the time of Jesus death has giving direct access to God through Jesus Christ. My faith in this scripture has giving me access to God through prayer.
Ways you can can have intercession with God is having faith trusting in Jesus death, burial, resurrection.(Gospel)
Romans 10:9-10 KJV
'that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 11 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. '
Well, it says that the garden or paradise was located in Eden (or Edem) which was to the east (of Israel, I suppose). East of Eden was an old movie and usually people have that in mind.
The word paradise does not have the meaning of a walled area in grk. But looking it up on the net I found out that the original word comes from ancient Persian and means "an enclosure". Later on it was used to describe the "walled gardens" of the persian kings. Later on it entered other languages like grk, Hebrew and Aramaic with the meaning of "walled royal park or gardens" and finally it ended up meaning a beautiful place in modern times.
In the OT the Septuagint always uses the word paradise where the Hebrew text says garden. In the NT we see it in 3 cases. It was used by Jesus when He was talking to the thief that was crucified next to him. So here obviously it means a beautiful place in Heaven, Luke 23:43. Also by Paul when he said that the Lord brought him to Paradise, 2 Corinthians 12:4. And by John in Rev 2:7..Paul and John probably used paradise instead of garden as they had in mind the Septuagint text which was the only OT text in use at that time by the christian gentiles and the grk speaking Hebrews.
Was the original garden in Eden an enclosure?. In Genesis 3:23 God sends the Cherubims to guard the garden and prevent Adam and Eve entering. It says, "So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.". If it was walled it would mention a gate, a door, something, wouldn't it? But who really knows? GBU
Remember me, remember me, O' Lord, please remember member us. We need thee O' we need thee, every hour, we need thee, O' bless us now our Saviour, we come to thee...In Jesus Christ Name, we pray. Amen.
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." Luke 23:34 KJV
"He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me." Psalms 18:17 KJV
"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26 KJV
Standing in agreement with you for peace during this time. Amen.
In John 12:1-16 this is 6 days before Passover and Jesus rides into Jerusalem the next day which would be the 10th, the day the lambs are taken up five days before Passover day which is called today Palm Sunday.
Each day is recorded in Matthew 21 through Matthew 27:56 Mark 11:1 through Mark 15:41 Luke 19:28 through Luke 23:49 John 12:1 through John 19:37.
On the 1st day of the week, we call Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem and returned to Bethany in the evening to lodge.
The second day shows Jesus going to Jerusalem and returning to Bethany.
The third day is two days before Passover Matthew 26:2 Mark 14:1.
On the fourth day, Judas makes the deal to betray Jesus and toward the end of the day, the disciples ask him where he wants them to prepare to eat the Passover. God commanded it to be eaten inside the city walls but they did not eat the Passover, Luke 22:15-16.
When the sun went down the fourth day what we call Wednesday is the beginning of Passover day the 14th of Nisan the day the Passover lambs are killed, Mark 14:12 Luke 22:7. What confuses things is then and now Passover day and the Feast of Unleavened Bread is referred to as an eight-day feast. Passover day is a preparation day for the seven-day feast of Unleavened Bread not part of the seven-day feast.
The lambs were killed on the 14th in the evening, the time when the sun starts to go down, any time after noon and before the sun sets. The Passover is eaten the night of the 15th the first day of the seven-day feast which is a holy convocation/Sabbath Exodus 12:8 the same night they went out of Egypt not on Passover day.
The Lord's Supper and the crucifixion were on Passover day the fifth day from when Jesus rode into Jerusalem which would make that the 5th day of the week we call Thursday.
God bless,
RLW
"Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;/And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me."(vv.9-10)
Here St Matthew refers to a quote from the book of Zechariah. In order to give them its proper context we shall consider the v.10. "And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.' This covenant with Israel refers to the Law of Moses. Beauty symbolic sign for Jesus ("For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?"- Luke 23:31) In cutting off the Son they were repudiating the covenant and God. Jeremiah then smashing the potter's vessel at the east gate in Je.19 was a public event. Now the crucifixion was going to be a public event.
The inspired writing of the Evangelist did not err, an example of which we have seen in the preceding chapter. The verse"that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" referred both Isaiah and Zechariah.(26:56) The Spirit presented the potter's vessel as a sign for the Son and where Prophet Jeremiah had begun we have Prophet Zechariah leading to the field, which in general sense signifies the whole land. "The land is mine" and the divine potter "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel."(Je.18:6)
As a teacher of the Word the Spirit exhorts anyone who does interpreting the word to keep note of the thrust of his argument. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell." Comparing apples with pears are for the glory of man and not for God."Instruction in righteousness" is fighting according to the rules. 2 Ti.3:16
"All things were created by him, and for him:/And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Col.1:16-19)
Here is another example. Jesus Christ warns the Laodicean church,"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see".(Re.3:18) Ministry reconciliation of Jesus we have in this healing at Bethsaida, of a blind man,"And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking./After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly." ( Mark 8:24-25). If foolish shepherds use the word of God to bilk their congregation we can appreciate this comparison spiritual with spiritual. Christ's warning to the church holds true even now.
Coming back to Jesus as the Good shepherd we have "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones."(Ze.13:7). What reconciles it to Jesus is the preceding verse. "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." These wounds did not make him retaliate but he cried at the cross. "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."( Luke 23:34). The word of reconciliation does its perfect work with word of his grace which as St Paul says, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."(Ac.20:32)
That aside, I would ask you to give thought to these Scriptures: Luke 16:19-31 and Luke 23:39-43. In the Luke 16 account, Jesus gave us a glimpse of life after death (the locations of those were prior to Jesus' Own Resurrection). Here, we read that there was consciousness beyond the grave; their bodies were buried, but they were aware of their situation, of joy or pain, even of concerns.
Then the Luke 23 reference. Jesus gave the repentant thief (hanging on the Cross beside Him), the assurance that at his death, he would join Jesus in Paradise - the place of no pain & real comfort. If people today die & just remain in the grave awaiting the resurrection, then most certainly, those of Jesus' day knew that their spirits would live on in the place of God's appointment for them, while their earthly remains awaited resurrection & final judgement. Sending this for your reading & consideration & for God's Comfort & Assurance to be your daily experience.
In the previous post "Single Measurement" the quote "Saints redeemed from the earth are interchangeable because new earth knows no John or Andrew but is under the generic name an angel." explains this phenomenon. God has decreed the day for his Son and it pleased him that all his fulness should in him dwell. Who was Elijah but a double for the Son? As a Tishbite he shall show certain characteristics before his death. Elijah the Tishbite came from Gilead. Before giving charge to Elisha he goes through Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan, signifying from his cradle to 'crossing the Jordan' euphemism for death. Elisha sticks close to him all the while. As his associate he was his double through the word of God and ministry for the other. By principle of Association all are co-heirs with Christ the firstborn of all creation." But Jesus is associated with Nazareth but as the Son he reveals his own signature to the body of evidence as the Word become flesh. On the cross, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."( Luke 23:46)
This every one who is called has his own characteristics, of his place and time but in terms of the will of the Father he had adopted them all without exception on the basis each one has become part of the single measure which is his Son, the Man component.
I have been wiped out on my computer TWICE trying to get this posting out. Seems the enemy doesn't want me to do this.
Or I had too many windows up at the same time. UGH.
Whenever I go to get scripture references I take a chance on wiping out the page; although my computer for some reason stalled out last run..
I will post this as an argument and rebuttal format just to do something different....
First assumption (as best I understand it). Christ didn't appear any other time in a bodily form except while here on earth.
It should be clear that Christ rose with scars remaining from His body which He had on earth that was resurrected. This is clear from "doubting Thomas" in John 20:28. There are numerous instances when Christ was indeed in a preincarnate form; such as with the incident with Abraham in Genesis 18:18 (where it also appears the discussion in the previous verses is between the Godhead as to whether these things should remain hidden). There is also the incident with the angel of the Lord in Hosea 11:4 cross referencing Jacob wrestling with God in the account of Genesis 32:22-32. For worship to occur these saints of God were indeed only to worship God. Since 1 John states that no one can see God and live; and Genesis 32:30 says that no one has seen God at any time; it seems clear that Christ was appearing in these cases. Numerous other verses could be cited.
The "us" verses.
We see in the original creation story in Genesis 1; as well as the narrative of the Tower of Babel ( Genesis 11:7) where "our image" and "us" is referred to in the creation of man; and the determination to confuse the language of men.
Argument Two: Main premise that God is one appearing in different "modes" or forms. To ignore that God is in distinct persons seems absurd in light of verses such as Luke 23:46 (where Jesus commended His spirit to God at death); and all other verses which showed Christ praying to the Father.
So let us enjoy the time we have to celebrate and declare HIS salvation with HIS blood shed on the cross.
Then there is a debate regarding HIS resurrection.
2 Corinthians 4:
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost
May we live our lives showing that our GOD lives. We can show this by being obedient and true to HIS word. 2 Timothy 2:15; 3: 16, 17
Merry Christmas to all; and
Numbers 6
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
Luke 2
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Have a great time with family and friends!
December 23, 2023
SolaScrip,
True Christ Followers will be obedient to all of God's 10 Commandments as taught by Jesus in the New Testament."
Well, God's 10 Commandments are identical to Christ's Commandments. Christ didn't change, minimize or abbreviate them in any way. Christ is the Creator of all things and He created the Commandments - there would be no reason for Him to change or rescind any of them.
Christ speaks of obeying the Law, the 10 Commandments, just as they are taught by the scribes and Pharisees in Matt. 23:1-3. He says to "do as they say, but not as they do" because the teachers of the Law at that time were all hypocrites. They taught the 10 Commandments, but kept none of them. That passage proves that Jesus taught the literal keeping of the 10 Commandments, not just the essence, or spirit, of them in our hearts, etc.
Jesus stated, as you pointed out, that He kept all of the Father's 10 Commandments physically when He declared it in John 15:10.
We see that 1 John makes clear that we are to live as Jesus lived, obeying what He obeyed, in 1 John 2:6. That does not support the modern popular teaching that we are only to obey them in spirit. And if Jesus had any intention of teaching that Christians did not need to keep them literally, we would not have the record of the disciples keeping the Saturday Sabbath immediately after Christ's death on the Cross in Luke 23:54-56. We also would not see Paul being labeled by the elders as a "Keeper of the Law" in Acts 21:24.
"IF a Christian is filled with God's Holy Spirit they will naturally be following all of God's/Jesus Commandments."
I would agree with this, but that just means that the vast majority of professed Christians today are not filled with the Holy Spirit because most Christians do not obey the 10 Commandments.
Jesus says that it is the keeping of the 10 Commandments that is pre-requisite for receiving 'HIM' as the Holy Spirit in John 14:21.