Matthew
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Once we accept Christ, as savior of our life, and begin to live a righteous life, that's not all that is required of us.
Now we must fast, pray, and study our word, that we may grow there by, and then begin to multiply our gifts, that God gives to us, to win soul unto the kingdom. ...... See if we only focus most of our lives on our own prosperity, and lag on the well-being of others, then well be like the foolish virgins who did not have enough oil for there lamps, for when the bridegroom came; therefore he can't remember you when your time is up, because you did not have much of a positive impact on people's lives, during the time you were on earth.
So we must be careful, not to become idle in doing God's will, and we must first be diligent in finding out what God wants us to do, then be dedicated to doing it, cause idle Christians are in danger of being unknown, and cast out into outer darkness, where part of the torture; among many is regret.
So we must become active in kingdom building, and stay active till the end, to receive God's rest.
Comments on Hebrews 7:8. You say: “The only way to pay tithes today is to witness that Jesus lives... Our life then becomes a living epistle, in honoring our Great High Priest”.
While I like very much the idea of honoring our God by our lives, as “living epistles”, I don’t agree with your idea of not paying tithe. Here’s why: The “tithes and offerings” principle/law was established by God way before Sinai. Remember Abraham paying tithe to Melchisedec ( Genesis 14)? The tithes were supposed to take care of the “men of God”, the poor and the orphans. The tenth belonged to God before the cross, and is His today. The same Apostle Paul says: “The labourer is worthy of his reward” ( 1Timothy 5:18), and “Even so hath THE LORD ORDAINED that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel” ( 1 Corinthians 9:14). You don’t suppose the Gospel Workers should be paid of government subsidies?! … Your reference to Romans 10:4 doesn’t apply. Here’s what bro. Malachi says: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee?: In tithes and offerings ( Malachi 3:8).
But the best argument of paying tithes and offerings is made by Jesus in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me”. And you know what will happen to those who don’t… God bless.
GOD is a jealous GOD and he will not have any part time lovers, see Exodous 20:5. "you cannot serve GOD and mammon" you will always end up despising one one "side of the triangle". There is no need to lie to yourself- Psalms 15:2
What will it be? Christ or Barrabas? GOD'S "well done" or the world's pat onthe back?
What will GOD do to such in-the-name-only-christians who want to hold hands with the world? He will vomit you out of his mouth-Revelations 3:15 and then tell you to depart from HIM,that he never knew you- Matthew 25:41
"Come now let us reason together,saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,they shall be white as snow;though they be red as crimson,they shall be as wool.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
1. Matthew is a book about the king of the Jews ( Matthew 2:2);
2. Until the cross they are under the law;
3. Jesus first came to save his people the Jews ( Matthew 1:21);
4. Much of Matthew is prophetic given to the Jews for the future, knowing that the Jews were going to reject Jesus as their Messiah. The titles of each book are clues to whom that book is directed at, Jewish title or gentile title. In chapter 25, if a person stumbles over the doctrinal intent then, it will be difficult understanding the spiritual intent. I believe that this chapter 25 is mainly given to the Jews in the tribulation age. Trying to place this chapter in the church age will not work and here is why.
a. Kingdom of heaven is a Jewish term;
b. Virgins = 144,000 Jews from Revelation 7:4 3;
c. The church is always without exception referred as singular (never plural);
d. Oil = holy spirit and it can never be purchased but given when asked for in church age;
e. The wise virgins trimmed their lamps = good works;
f. The foolish virgins did not trim their lamps = no works;
g. In church age we are saved by grace not by works;
h. The 5 virgins go out to meet the bridegroom (church age saints are caught up to be with him);
i. I believe there will be a tribulation rapture ( Revelation 11:12) and the 5 wise virgins that took oil, (in church age we receive oil (holy spirit)) go up with Christ in the tribulation rapture ( Revelation 14:12-16) and the 5 foolish virgins that did not trim their lamps go into the millennial age after second advent of Christ.
This is why Christians need to study dispensational truth by Clarence Larkin. I Timothy 2:15, God’s plan of salvation for all mankind has never wavered, Ephesians 1:4, Matthew 25:34, God’s method may change, but not his plan. Jesus first purpose was the Jews and have the Jews to have the oracles of God and to evangelize the world, but the Jews rejected him as their messiah John 1:11. So the kingdom of heaven was postponed and ushered in the church age (kingdom of God). The responsibility has now been given over to the gentiles ( Ephesians 3:1-10) until the time of the gentiles become in ( Romans 11:25), at the rapture of the body of Christ. When Christ stated that it is finished on the cross of Calvary, salvation was available for mankind and extended to whosoever would invite Jesus into their heart as savior, Romans 10:9-13, I Timothy 4:10.
Be well.
Definition: The central doctrine of religions of Christendom. According to the Athanasian Creed, there are three divine Persons (the Father, the Son, the Holy Ghost), each said to be eternal, each said to be almighty, none greater or less than another, each said to be God, and yet together being but one God. Other statements of the dogma emphasize that these three “Persons” are not separate and distinct individuals but are three modes in which the divine essence exists. Thus some Trinitarians emphasize their belief that Jesus Christ is God, or that Jesus and the Holy Ghost are Jehovah. Not a Bible teaching.
What is the origin of the Trinity doctrine?
The New Encyclopædia Britannica says: “Neither the word Trinity, nor the explicit doctrine as such, appears in the New Testament, nor did Jesus and his followers intend to contradict the Shema in the Old Testament: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord’ ( Deut. 6:4). . . . The doctrine developed gradually over several centuries and through many controversies. . . . By the end of the 4th century . . . the doctrine of the Trinity took substantially the form it has maintained ever since.”—(1976), Micropædia, Vol. X, p. 126.
The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: “The formulation ‘one God in three Persons’ was not solidly established, certainly not fully assimilated into Christian life and its profession of faith, prior to the end of the 4th century. But it is precisely this formulation that has first claim to the title the Trinitarian dogma. Among the Apostolic Fathers, there had been nothing even remotely approaching such a mentality or perspective.”—(1967), Vol. XIV, p. 299.
In The Encyclopedia Americana we read: “Christianity derived from Judaism and Judaism was strictly Unitarian [believing that God is one person]. The road which led from Jerusalem to Nicea was scarcely a straight one. Fourth century Trinitarianism did not reflect accurately early Christian teaching regarding the nature of God; it was, on the contrary, a deviation from this teaching.”—(1956), Vol. XXVII, p. 294L.
According to the Nouveau Dictionnaire Universel, “The Platonic trinity, itself merely a rearrangement of older trinities dating back to earlier peoples, appears to be the rational philosophic trinity of attributes that gave birth to the three hypostases or divine persons taught by the Christian churches. . . . This Greek philosopher’s [Plato, fourth century B.C.E.] conception of the divine trinity . . . can be found in all the ancient [pagan] religions.”—(Paris, 1865-1870), edited by M. Lachâtre, Vol. 2, p. 1467.
John L. McKenzie, S.J., in his Dictionary of the Bible, says: “The trinity of persons within the unity of nature is defined in terms of ‘person’ and ‘nature’ which are G[ree]k philosophical terms; actually the terms do not appear in the Bible. The trinitarian definitions arose as the result of long controversies in which these terms and others such as ‘essence’ and ‘substance’ were erroneously applied to God by some theologians.”—(New York, 1965), p. 899.
Jesus is the the fleshly representation of God's word. Hense he is known as the Word, and there are other descriptions we will confirm. The Greek vernacular of the scripture tranalated interlinearly says (John1:1,"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was toward the God, and god was the Word." the Greek spellings of God is capitalized in "toward the God" and not capitalized in," god was the Word." When translated from the Greek root meaning, it reads in english this way, " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God , and the Word was a god." Jesus is a god. Not God the Almighty.
Jesus is also known in the scriptures as the Son of man. ( Acts 7:56) and he said: “Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.”Compare, Matthew 25:31) “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne.
If The Son of man (Jesus)is God Almighty would it be reasonable for him to approach one greater than himself? Consider if you will DAN 7:9,10.. 9)"I kept on beholding until there were thrones placed and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white just like snow, and the hair of his head was like clean wool. His throne was flames of fire; its wheels were a burning fire. 10) There was a stream of fire flowing and going out from before him. There were a thousand thousands that kept ministering to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand that kept standing right before him. The Court took its seat, and there were books that were opened...
Continuing, DAN 7:13,14 “I kept on beholding in the visions of the night, and, see there! with the clouds of the heavens someone like a son of man happened to be coming; and to the Ancient of Days he gained access, and they brought him up close even before that One. 14) And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin.(The Ancient of Days clearly describes God)
Compare; ( Hebrews 1:1-4,6) 1) God, who long ago spoke on many occasions and in many ways to our forefathers by means of the prophets, 2) has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the systems of things. 3) He is the reflection of [his] glory and the exact representation of his very being, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made a purification for our sins he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty in lofty places. 4) So he has become better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs........verse 6) But when he again brings his Firstborn into the inhabited earth, he says: “And let all God’s angels do obeisance to him.” Compare also Matthew 25:31) “When the Son of man arrives in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit down on his glorious throne. ( Acts 7:56) and he said: “Look! I behold the heavens opened up and the Son of man standing at God’s right hand.” Clearly two distinct entities.
Another scripture taken from the Greek Scriptures (New Testament) shows that Jesus is before all creation (God Almighty's only direct creation). In the Greek writings the wording would appear this way. John 17:5 ,"and now glorify me you, Father,beside to yourself to the glory which I was having before of the the world to be beside you. Translated in english to say,"So now you,Father,glorify me beside yourself with the glory that I had alongside you before the world was.
Notice in Hebrews 1:6 it mentions Jesus as being Firstborn. Jesus was with God ions before the 6 days of creation. In fact all things were created by God through Jesus, Col 1:15-17 (again line for line the Greek would read) "who is image of the God the invisible, firstborn of all creation, because in him it was created the all (things)in the heavens and upon the earth, the (things) visible and the (things) invisible, whether thrones or lordships or governments or authorities;the all (things) through him and into him it has been created; and he is before all(things)and the all (things) in him it has stood together. Versed in englih it reads , "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other (things) were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible,no matter whether they are thrones,or lordships, or governments or authorities. All other(things)have been created through him and for him. Also he is before all (other) things and by means of him all (other) things were made to exist." Before time as we know it, Jesus was the only direct creation by God (Jehovah). Then all things were created by God (Jehovah) through Jesus. Therefore we read as previously mentioned by Joe on 10/15/2011 @9:38 am,(God speaking to Jesus)," God said in Ge 1:26 "Let US make man in OUR own image."
Jesus in the Greek is Iesous' and in Hebrew it is Yeshua and means (Jehovah Is Salvation)as mentioned by Ray R on 10/12/2011 @ 2:40 am. This should not be misconstrued to mean it is another name or descriptive identity of Jesus. Note other names and their meanings in the bible; Jeconiah (Jehovah Firmly Establishes), Jecoliah (Jehovah Has been Able), Jeberechiah (Jehovah Blesses), Jedidiah (Beloved of Jah) Jah being the short version of Jehovah , example Ha-le-lu-jah meaning praise be to Jehovah.
Clearly these others are in no connection with Jesus nor are they considered to be God The Almighty. Their names describe who Jehovah is and what He is synonymus with. Jesus is our very salvation in that he was the sacrificial lamb provided by Jehovah for covering mans sins. Reasonably then, Jesus being the very sacrifice given for us would be the correct and rightful meaning of his name,"Jesus" meaning (Jehovah Is Salvation). Also mentioned was the Christ meaning: Annointed. Annointing is an act of one individual to another. Indicating two distinct individuals.
On a final note Jesus in reply to his disciples questions at Matthew 24:3 explains the sign of his presence and the occurrence of things at the conclusion of this system. Better known as Armageddon. Jesus words at Matthew 24:36, " Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens, nor the Son,but only the Father." In a trinitarian godship all godheads are omnipotent. All have exact power. Equal if you will. Not one greater than the other. All knowing of everything together. Jesus clearly stated he did not know the day or hour. Only the Father knew that time frame. Jesus spoke of how some one could speak against him (The Son of man)and be forgiven, but speaking against the holy spirit would never be forgiven.( MT 12:32) Again this would not stand to reason in a trinitarian worship.
Accurate knowledge is the means of salvation. Jesus said in John 17:3 "This means ever lasting life, their taking in knowledge of you the only true God and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."
Isaiah also foretold that Jesus would be a “Mighty God.” Before coming to earth he was “a god” in the sense that he was “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” ( John 1:1; Colossians 1:15) After dying as a human and being raised as an immortal spirit, he is a god in the sense that he partakes bodily of “the divine quality.”— Colossians 2:9; 1 Timothy 6:15, 16.
However, there is an authority associated with the title “Mighty God.” In the Bible certain men were called gods. Why? Because they served as judges in the nation of Israel. ( Psalm 82:1-6) Jesus, the “Mighty God,” is Jehovah’s great appointed Judge. He himself explained what this meant: “The Father judges no one at all, but he has committed all the judging to the Son, in order that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father.”— John 5:22, 23.
Among the judgment acts entrusted to Jesus is the judging of his own congregation—both those who had died prior to his return in Kingdom power and those still alive—at the period of his presence during “the conclusion of the system of things.” ( Matthew 24:3) He also does the judging of the nations today, separating “the sheep” from “the goats.” In addition, he will preside over the thousand-year judgment day of all mankind after Armageddon. A “Mighty God” indeed!— Matthew 25:31-46; Revelation 11:18; 1 Peter 4:17; Revelation 20:4, 5, 13.
“Listen, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah
Deuteronomy 6:4
But most people around the world still do not know what is the Kingdom of God? And which among many religions are truly followers of Jesus, since Jesus himself warned that "many" will confess him as Lord but "will deceived many"- Matthew 24:4,5
The safest things to do is to stay at home and wait someone to knock on our door. Why? Because Jesus had specific command to his true followers, at Matthew 10:5-11 Jesus commanded his follower to " Preach the good news of the kingdom of God through house to house method, village to village and city to city." Also read Acts 20:20
Yes, if we are truly determined to obey Jesus command, We should stick to his "specific" teachings and wait until we meet this kind of people, right on our doorway. Ask them like, " Do you know what is the Kingdom of God?"
Here are some truth about the Kingdom of God:
When Will
God’s Kingdom Come?
“LORD, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” ( Acts 1:6) The apostles were eager to know when Jesus would establish his Kingdom. Today, some 2,000 years later, people are still eager to know: When will God’s Kingdom come?
Since Jesus made the Kingdom the theme of his preaching, you might expect that he discussed this question. And indeed he did! He spoke extensively about a marked period of time that he called his “presence.” ( Matthew 24:37) That presence is closely tied to the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. What is this presence? Let us consider four truths the Bible reveals about the presence of Christ.
1. Christ’s presence would begin a long time after his death. Jesus gave an illustration in which he likened himself to a man who “traveled to a distant land to secure kingly power,” or to “secure a kingdom.” ( Luke 19:12; footnote) How was that prophetic illustration fulfilled? Well, Jesus died and was resurrected; then he traveled to the “distant land,” that is, heaven. As Jesus foretold in a similar illustration, his return in kingly power would come only “after a long time.”— Matthew 25:19.
Some years after Jesus ascended to heaven, the apostle Paul wrote: “This man [Jesus] offered one sacrifice for sins perpetually and sat down at the right hand of God, from then on awaiting until his enemies should be placed as a stool for his feet.” ( Hebrews 10:12, 13) So a lengthy period of waiting followed Jesus’ arrival in heaven. The wait finally ended when Jehovah God made his Son the King of the long-promised Messianic Kingdom. That was when Christ’s presence began. Would humans on earth see this momentous event?
2. The presence is invisible to human eyes. Remember, Jesus discussed the sign of his presence. ( Matthew 24:3) If his presence were visible to human eyes, would a sign be needed? To illustrate: Imagine that you are traveling to see the ocean. You may see road signs directing you along the way, but once you are at the shore, standing at the water’s edge with the vast expanse of water stretching out to the horizon, would you expect to see a sign with a big arrow pointing ahead, emblazoned with the word “Ocean”? Of course not! Why have a sign to point out what you can easily identify with your eyes?
Jesus described the sign of his presence, not to point out something that humans could see with their eyes, but to help them discern something that would occur in heaven. Thus, Jesus said: “The kingdom of God is not coming with striking observableness.” ( Luke 17:20) How, then, would the sign show those on earth that Christ’s presence had begun?
3. Jesus’ presence would be marked by a time of profound troubles here on earth. Jesus said that his presence as King in heaven would be marked on earth by wars, famines, earthquakes, pestilences, and lawlessness. ( Matthew 24:7-12; Luke 21:10, 11) What would cause all this misery? The Bible explains that Satan, “the ruler of this world,” is full of rage because he knows that his time is very short now that Christ’s presence as King has begun. ( John 12:31; Revelation 12:9, 12) Such visible evidence of Satan’s rage and of Christ’s presence has been abundant in our time. Especially since 1914, a year that historians acknowledge was a turning point, has this evidence appeared on an unprecedented and global scale.
All of that may sound like bad news, but it is not. It means that the Messianic Kingdom is ruling now in heaven. Very soon, that government will exercise its rule right here over all the earth. How, though, would people know about that Kingdom in order to accept its rule and become its subjects?
The bad news we hear every day proves that good things are coming soon
Two women discussing Jesus' prophecy
4. Jesus’ presence is marked by a global preaching work. Jesus said that his presence would be like “the days of Noah.”* ( Matthew 24:37-39) Noah was more than an ark builder; he was also “a preacher of righteousness.” ( 2 Peter 2:5) Noah warned people that a judgment from God was on its way. Jesus said that his followers on earth would be doing something similar during his presence. He prophesied: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”— Matthew 24:14.
As we saw in the preceding article, God’s Kingdom will destroy all the governments of this world. The preaching work alerts people that this heavenly government is about to act, giving all an opportunity to escape the coming destruction and become subjects of that Kingdom. The key question, then, is, How will you respond?
Will God’s Kingdom Mean Good News for You?
The message that Jesus preached was one of incomparable hope. After the rebellion in Eden thousands of years ago, Jehovah God purposed to form a government that would set matters right, returning faithful humans to the condition that God had in mind for them from the start—life eternal in a paradise here on earth. What could be more thrilling than the knowledge that this long-promised government is ruling right now in heaven? It is not some remote, abstract concept but a living reality!
Now, God’s appointed King is ruling in the midst of his enemies. ( Psalm 110:2) In this corrupt world alienated from God, the Messiah is fulfilling his Father’s desire to search out all who want to come to know God as he really is and to worship him “with spirit and truth.” ( John 4:24) The hope of living forever under the rule of God’s Kingdom is available to people of all races, ages, and social backgrounds. ( Acts 10:34, 35) We urge you to take hold of the marvelous opportunity before you. Learn about God’s Kingdom now, so that you can enjoy living under its righteous rule forever!— 1 John 2:17.