My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
Re.1:1-7"Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness" (2 of 2)
Jesus said, "Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."(Ps.16:8) So what is the mystery of the seven stars "which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." (Re.1: 20) The seven churches carry names and can be located in Asia Minor. The mystery of the Number Seven tells us that the entire congregation, the angelic host are represented and they are in the right hand of the Son. They are witnesses in heaven to the church as a body. So are the believers whose heart was steadfast in faith.
Now we shall consider the verse: 1:7
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." The cloud of witnesses accompanied in the night vision of Daniel. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him./And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."( Dan 7:13-14) Here we have a narrative mode that the Spirit employs where the specific overarches to the end times. This Min-Max mode helps us rightly place the role of Israel in the Salvation Saga. Israel's understanding of his nation is only a jump-off point for the church purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Evangelism pleases the Lord. The Christian life must never be lived according to "shoulds." Yet we hear that word often in relation to Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and other Christian practices. "I should do that, but . . ." The but is a bigger problem than we want to admit. God's children will naturally want to please their Heavenly Father; it is their greatest delight. So our compass is set with God at true north. In everything we do, we feel the magnetic pull toward pleasing God. Even mundane tasks can be completed with joy because we are doing what God has given us to do ( 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:9). Teaching other people how to have a relationship with Jesus is one way to please Him. And in pleasing Him we are most fulfilled ( Galatians 2:20).
END ARTICLE.
When we are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before us. Instead of working together, we are at odds with one another.
Paul's admonition in 2 Corinthians 6:14 is part of a larger discourse to the church at Corinth on the Christian life. He discouraged them from being in an unequal partnership with unbelievers because believers and unbelievers are opposites, just as light and darkness are opposites. They simply have nothing in common,
just as Christ has nothing in common with "Belial,
The "unequal yoke" is often applied to business relationships, Marriage ect..
We are to love everyone as Christ do and share the Gospel but we must understand that unbelievers have opposite worldviews and morals, and decisions made daily will reflect the worldview of one partner or the other.
In this world we are to be as Daniel in Babylon. He inspired Nebuchadnezzar. See Daniel 4
Re.1:1-7 "Jesus Christ the Faithful Witness" (1 of 2)
Jesus Christ as the faithful witness to the holiness of God. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;/ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,/ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ep.4: 4-6). This oneness defines unity of the Spirit. God is a Spirit which is 'in you all' refers to the one body, the church to which Jesus is the Lord.
The church is a living organism since Jesus triumphed over death everlasting life is what faith signifies. It is Person specific. The earth which was without form and void acquires the head and body, It is what creation of Eve instructs us. Adam's deep sleep was caused by God and when he wakes up exclaims, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh."(Ge.2:22). By several list of genealogies the Spirit gives us an unbroken track where faith creates several heroes of faith, every one of them foreshadows Jesus who shall be born of a virgin. This sign was given before the great congregation of angels and children of men.
He.11:3 refers to the will of God the Father and the fulfilment aspect of God the Son. The paternity test of faith the DNA of Jesus passed the test. His resurrection proves the point. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."(Ac.2:24) Peter refers to the psalm, which tells us why. "I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."(Ps.16:8) Faith is not merely a flash in the pan but is the result of loving God and as Moses exhorts the nation of Israel, "An d thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might./And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart"(De.6: 5-6) This is how Jesus fulfilled his Father's mandate.
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
Some seems to prefer to minister to only other believers and have very little to say to unbelievers.
They are quick to judge and tell them where they are going but don't offer them the only way of escape. The Gospel.
In John 17:20 we see Jesus praying for our ministering to them.
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
I once copied an article on Evangelism. Here's how it reads.
Part 1.
To evangelize means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. Personal evangelism should be the lifestyle of every true Christian. We've been given a great gift, and our Master left us with clear instructions: "Go into all the world and make disciples of every nation" Matthew 28:19. Before we can "make disciples," we must evangelize. There are other reasons, besides Jesus' command, that should also motivate us to share the greatest news in the world with people who haven't heard it:
Evangelism is an act of love. Love must be the defining characteristic of every follower of Jesus Christ John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so anyone who walks in the Spirit will demonstrate love in dealing with people Galatians 5:16, 22-23. We possess the best news in the world, and love propels us to share it with those who haven't heard. Love wants everyone to have a chance to respond to God's offer of salvation. Withholding news that could save someone's life is the utmost cruelty; therefore, those who truly love God will love the people whom Jesus came to save John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:20.
Evangelism builds our own faith. Nothing helps us learn a subject like teaching it to someone else. When we make a practice of sharing our faith with those in our lives, we strengthen our own beliefs. Regular evangelism forces us to wrestle through the hard questions, find answers for ourselves, and prepare to respond to the questions of others.
I have friends that may be unsaved judging by their testimony, lives, response to certain things such as worldly things and Church things or "Spiritual things"
I have one friend in particular that has no Spiritual insight, void of peace and have no love for what he calls "Religious people" but he enjoys to dabble in the chaotic ways of the world.
When we first met I told him I was a Christian. He doesn't go to Church for reasons I won't get into but I don't think he ever knew what Christian means or how to define one.
However, I believe he found something unique about my way of life and noticed my firm stance for what I believed in.
He began to watch his steps and began to trust and take counsel from me and left off trying to counsel me with his worldly take on life and his ignorance of God.
Today he has gained a respect for the word of God.
Our relationship to the lost world is to introduce Christ.
We do that "Not by acting out a performance" but by truth, and his word.
The word and our deeds should align. (That's God's doing).
TRUTH.
They'll understand by listening and watching us that we are not perfect but we follow that which is. (Jesus )
We have a name we must uphold. We can't follow them in this world. "The darkness that it has to offer"
We are to be a light for them to lead them out of it. We are light bearers that shines light on Christ. We show a lost world that the way to the father is through the Son.
So to your friend you are here to be a leader and not a follower. Philippians 2:15.
You are to be a Evangelist to them in some way.
The Apostles set the foundation and was left here to do this and we are here to build on it.
John 17:14-21 says it best. We don't separate ourselves from them. We separate ourselves from all aspects of their way of life.
Do you recall Jesus said, "behold, your house is left desolate"? Math 23:38, the he is the messiah. The entire 70 weeks concerned the coming of Jesus, true the prince that shall come destroyed the city, 70 A.D. The "subject" throughout the explanation of the 70 weeks was Jesus. The 70 weeks culminated with the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr, would have been 3 and a half years after the crucifixion.
The cloud of witnesses are angels as the fellow-servant of StJohn says, "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things./Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:"(Re.22:8-9)
They were with God even before the foundation of the world. The night vision of Daniel mentions their presence when the books were opened and judgement was set. When God called us they were present as witnesses for our soul. We as a body served in turn for them a sign. In short without taking both worlds as one we are up the creek without a paddle. The seven angels to the seven churches are indicated by seven stars in the right hand of Jesus Christ in his glory. "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God" tells how little Satan understood of the concept of Salvation or of Atonement. His pride had made him blind to the beauty of holiness that marked the Son.
Naturally Lucifer wanted to be like the Most High and above the congregation of witnesses.
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:/I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Here we are faced with a number of entities which are associated with the world of the Spirit. Mount of the congregation for instance is two terms compounded from the mountain of God and the great congregation also called the cloud of witnesses. It is also set down, 'in the sides of the north' location evidently set in context of the throne of God. It merely indicates God as the judge and judgment calls for witnesses where angelic host play their part. Lucifer's revolt began in heaven so it is judged there.
Firstly the two worlds the heaven and the earth are framed by the word. Faith is what holds them as one. Divine Will according to the word or the Law evolves into a world of the body, which is a spiritual body, and St Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit calls it a building 'eternal in the heavens'. The earth which was without form and void shall be the House of Prayer for all nation. Christ is the head and the church is the body. 'A body hast thou prepared' refers to the word become flesh. By fulfilling the will of the Father the church is formed. It is to this body, made up of a great congregation the Psalmist refers, "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation." (Ps.40:9). The saints redeemed from the earth shall continue the life everlasting clothed with their spiritual bodies. As St Paul says further down "For we walk by faith not by sight." Jesus talk that we hear is dud without the walk. faith cannot be faith without the walk.
Greetings Brother S. Spencer! Your comments here are perfect timing for me as I have a dear friend who is not saved but thinks she is a believer I suppose but her Jesus is the counterfeit Jesus (New Age, crystals, etc... ).
When you said
"So, in what ways we are not to be unequally yoked with them? Many things can be mentioned but I won't get into that here."
Can you elaborate a little bit? I want to always love her no matter what. I do pray to Holy Spirit to guide me with this as it is heavy on my heart.
God set everything perfect. God set Lucifer perfect in beauty. But his pride was his own invention. As a spirit he tinkered with his thoughts Jesus says "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." ( John 8:44) For this reason Jesus referred to Judas Iscariot as the son of perdition. The beast is another. Their sin traces who their father is. Man is shaped by his thoughts and for this reason what is a merchant prince but a mean fellow whose wakeful life is seized by profits and raking the muck of turning up wealth. In old China they were held in low esteem. In our society they are looked upto though they are as cantakerous as a Musk or as Bezos who has to monitor 7x24 their employees.
James says,"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:/But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed./Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."(Jas.1:13-15)
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"
There are two ways of speaking. One is this, "I believed therefore have I spoken." St Paul annotates it to indicate salvation that comes from open confession. At the bottom what works is the spirit of faith which outpours from God a Spirit. Holiness of God makes no separation and every man is entitled to it. So St Paul explains,"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Ps.116:10; 2 Co.4:13; Ro.10:10)
Second way is what Lucifer, an angel employed. God charges him thus, "For thou hast said in thine heart,"I will ascend into heaven." God makes angels spirits so their thoughts have a centre. Since they do not have a body we cannot foist upon them a heart that we associate with human anatomy. Mind is indicated here. Satan expresses, "I will" which contradicts the will of God the Father so pride is a spiritual anomaly that Satan has coined. No man may invent in the world of the Spirit as one invents a tool from flint or a water wheel. He works with his visible world. Now what is evolution but tinkering with what is already existing, which is outside the will of man. The Bible is the God document and the Spirit is not teaching us anthropology or a treatise on ethnography but of the righteousness of God.
Without the Spirit giving us grace, what is faith as it is bandied about in the churches? Justification, yes but works, oh no! I wonder if Luther had got his scripture right? St James in his epistle was correct to connect works where it rightfully belongs. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."(Jas.2:17)
I would like to share another verse that is sometimes missed when studying this portion of scripture.
Matthew 28:19. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in "THE NAME" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(The name) notice that this is singular, not plural! of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus didn't say baptize in "The names" (plural) as in three different people. He said in "The Name" as if the father Son and Holyspirit is one God of the same.
This is an early indication of the Trinitarian Godhead and an overt proclamation of Jesus' deity.
I thought you were saying there is no 3 and a half year tribulation period. I re-read the text and couldn't do nothing but laugh at myself.
I think I combined your text with another and didn't read through neither.
Sorry for that!
More on the wide gate and "broad way" mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14.
I don't think you will find least resistance in the wide gate because because it is a "broad way"!
This group doesn't necessarily agree with one another! The only thing they have in common is they reject Christ and some don't even know it.
One's narrow view can be found in the wide gate.
I believe that is what makes the wide gate a broad way. People are willing to take any other way but the Lord's way.
That's why those on Christ narrow path is persecuted by the world and half of them goes under the banner of Christianity so I would be careful not to be prejudice against a view point because it is taught by what is believed to be the majority or minority view.
We study scripture to learn and grow. Not to differentiate or to disprove aview point.
It can become an obsession and lead you down the wrong path.
I could not see in your reply what is your interpretation on Dan.9:27, you just limited yourself to informing other interpretations are erroneous, your answer did not bring your interpretation.I did not understand what you meant: 'one issue with Dan 9:27 is that it's all about the Messiah'.
But what does Daniel 9:27 reveal?
27 - And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week(of years):and in the MIDST of the week(after 42 months)HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation,and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Just curious.Who is HE in your understanding? (Remember:In Matthew 24:15 our Lord JESUS LITERALLY referred to this desolation spoken of by Daniel as a signal of His coming imediately after the period of sorrows- Matthew 24:3-8).
Then,according to the above,'HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease',but verse 26 says:And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (crucified),but NOT for Himself: and the people (WHAT PEOPLE?)of the PRINCE (WHAT PRINCE?)that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary(for me Ezekiel 21:25 reveals who is this profane Prince); and the end thereof shall be with a flood,and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
You said 'the Ministry of JESUS' was 3,5 years, but the current and universal record of the period of JESUS's Ministry is only 3 years, not 3,5 years. What is your source? Just curious,it's unknown to me.
Sorry, our posts are read by many brothers and sisters, so my concern is to FIND the true interpretation of Scriptures in the current perilous times, and also overspreading of apostasies, beyond manifestation of the son of perdition very soon( John 5:43-47 combined with 2Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Revelation 13:11).
May our Lord GOD bless us,and give us His pretection
Anyone who wants to give biblical evidence that disproves the deity of Jesus is welcome to post their views as I did. Both views cannot be true, so we must find out which one is true and which one is heresy. It is such an important matter for believers to have correct doctrines about who God is according to Scripture so that we can worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
Then Peter says that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Remember that the Jews of the first century understood that Son of God is a divine title, as I explained earlier. So for Peter to say that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, He is saying that Jesus is God.
In Matthew 16:16-17 Jesus again asked a very profound question. "Who do you say that I am." Again, Peter the same statement. "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus receives this statement as true and declared that Peter didn't come up with this idea on his own but that the Father had revealed this truth to Peter (because God can only tell the truth).
In john 20:28, Thomas, upon seeing and touching the risen Jesus exclaims, "My Lord and my God." Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for saying He is God, nor does He say Thomas is mistaken and then correct Thomas. No, Jesus accepts Thomas' statement of worship.
In Is. 43;15, YHWH says, "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, you King." In Jn. 1:49, after Jesus calls Natanael, Nathanael says, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus does not negate what Natanael states because this disciples is equating Jesus with YHWH of Is. 43:15.
Also, even demons knew that Jesus was God, calling Him the "Holy One of God" in Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34.
Next, I want to go to Hebrew1:6 where the inspiration of God had the author say that the angels worship Jesus, In Rev. there is worship of Jesus, the Lamb, along with the Father, who sits on the throne. How could this worship be allowed in heaven if Jesus was not God?
For now I will stop. There are many, many more verses that speak to Jesus; divinity. One can look on this site under the question "Is Jesus God?"
For me, I am convinced that Jesus is God and worthy of worship as God. And it is not idolatry to worship the Father and Jesus, the Son, for there are not two Gods (or three), but one God who exists as several divine persons who are one in nature.
The apostles knew that they were to believe and worship only YHWH. So, why would Jesus tell them to believe in the Father as God and also believe in Himself as God? In verse 7 He tells Thomas that if they know Him they would also know the Father and have seen the Father in knowing Himself. Right away, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus says, "He that has seen me has seen the Father." and in vs. 8 He says "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me." Her Jesus is telling the truth that He is in a oneness relationship with the Father. He speaks that the Father is one person and he is another, but together they are truly one.
In vs. 23 He says that those who love Him, the Father and Himself will come and together with the Father (and the Spirit -vs.17) God will live within the believer. In Chapter 15:23 Jesus says that He who hates Him also hates the Father, once more speaking to their divine oneness.
John 17 is Jesus' high priestly prayer (which I so love to read again and again) After saying in vs. 2 that the Father has given Jesus power over all flesh (divine sovereignty) and that Jesus give eternal life to all the Father gives Him, in vs. 5 Jesus speaks of the Father glorifying Him again just as He was glorified within the Father eternally from before he came into the world. This is clearly a statement of His Deity because in Is. 42:8, 48:11God said He will not give His glory to another.
Next, I wish to cite passages that tells us what the disciples believed about Jesus. Jesus asked a very pointed question to His disciples in John chapter 6 after telling the crowds that He was the Bread of Life and many followers deserted him. He asked "Who do you say that I am (again using the name YHWH). in vs. 62 He says "What and if you see the Son of man (Himself) ascend up where He was before? (Speaking about His eternal existence with the Father). In vs. 69 Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) see part 6
Since the essential nature of the Godhead is changeless, the Father would eternally be the Father of the Son, and the Son would eternally be the Son of the Father. Since John, under inspiration says that the Son is God, then it would be a conflict to say that the Son had a beginning of His begetting because that would indicate a change in the internal nature of the Godhead.
Next, I want to cite a few instances in John's Gospel where the Jewish leaders took up stones to kill Him or worse because in their first century thinking, they accused Jesus of making Himself God or equal to YHWH. These citations are John chapter 5:16-47; (for healing on the Sabbath and making Himself equal with God, vs. 18) 8:59 (where Jesus us the name YHWH to say that he existed before Abraham); 10:18 (Jesus says that He has the power to resurrect Himself) 10:20 (the Jews said that He had a devil and try to arrest Him) vs, 30 where Jesus states "I and the Father are one." and 31-39 where the Jews wanted to stone Him for blasphemy because He said He was the Son of God, thus making Himself to be God.
In all of these citations, Jesus knew already before He spoke how the Jews would understand His words, and He spoke them very deliberately, knowing they would accuse Him of saying He is God. He did not restate his words in ways such as, "No, no, I did not mean to say that I am God or equal to Him, you have misunderstood." No, He let his words stand affirming that their understanding of Him stating his deity was correct. If their understanding of His words were wrong, then He would have corrected their misunderstanding, but He didn't, and thus they wanted to stone him for blasphemy.
Next, I wish to go to the Last Supper Discourse in John. Right away, in john 14:1 Jesus tells His disciples to believe in God (His eternal Father) and also to believe in Him (the eternal divine Son). I say this because He never once retracted His claims to Deity. See part 5
Sorry for the delay, I did not reply concerning the two beasts in Revelation 13 my reply was about the last week of Daniel 9:27 being put at the end times, my understanding is different. As far as the sea means waters and could be the Gentile nations you may be correct, we know it won't be Israel.
If we look at Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 17:8 this beast ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, so the word sea in Revelation 13 may mean the abyss, just a thought.
Most of all, John would have known the doctrines being taught about Jesus and the writings of the other apostles. After being released from Patmos, John returned to Ephesus where he remained until his natural death. Polycarp, Ignatius and Papias were his pupils who were appointed as bishops either by John or Peter. Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp. John was active in ministry in Asia Minor prior to his imprisonment on Patmos. He planted churches in the region.
So, what was John inspired by God to say about J9esus' deity?
He begins his Gospel right away claiming Jesus was God ( John 1:1-3, that Jesus the divine Son of the Father, became enfleshed in human form. (vs. 1:14, Immanuel, God with us). John says that the Father (God) sent divine Son from Himself to be born into the world, fulfilling Is. 9:6-a child is born, a son is given). John says in vs. 1:4 that in Jesus was Life (just as the Father had Life within Himself ( Jn. 5:26, divine, eternal life that both the Father and Jesus can give to believers). Vs. 3 says that Jesus created ALL things ( Rev. 4:11 says the same) which is an act only God can do (see 1 Cor. 8:6). John goes on to say that in Jesus was the fullness of God bodily. (vs. 14. 16) Paul says the same thing in Col. 2:9.
In Jn. 1:18 some of the earliest Greek manuscripts wrote Theos instead of the Greek word of Son, but both speak of the Son/God being the only begotten. The Father is completely unbegotten, but the Son is begotten and it is the Son who reveals the Father to humanity. This gospel was written in Greek, and in Greek, 'only begotten' is written "monogenes", which, (from what I read) means a unique, one-of-a-kind offspring-as having the nature of its father. So, it seems that 1;18 is saying that Jesus , as the only Son of God by nature is divine as the Father is. This verse does not seem to say that the Son had a beginning in the Godhead. see part 4
In Rev. 1:8 Jesus a says that He is "the Almighty" which is equivalent to "Mighty God" and the name that YHWH named Himself to Abraham ( Gen. 17:1; Ex 6:3) This harkens back to Isaiah's prophecy 9:6 as well as to Abraham and Moses as identifying God. Jesus was saying in Rev. 1:8 that he is God Almighty, just as Isa 9:6 prophesied.
In Mic. 5:2 another Messianic prophecy concerning Jesus is:
"For thou, Beth-lehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old; from everlasting." This verse is saying that the Messian existed eternally. He is from everlasting, just as the Everlasting Father is.
Again, in Is., 48:12 YHWH speaks, "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am." the last." Jesus attributes this title to Himself in his statement to John in Rev. 1:8; 22:13.
Just from these statements from the OT that are attributed to Jesus in the NT, it is clear that the Scriptures attest to the deity of Jesus, as He calls Himself God explicitly in Rev. 1:8.
The witness of both OT and NT teach that Jesus is God, so I believe that this is the truth concerning His nature.
But next I will go into the NT to see other examples that attest to the truth that Jesus is God with us, God made flesh.
John the author of the Gospel, 1,2 and 3 Jn. and Revelation, was alive in the 90's A.D. All the other apostles had been martyred and he had been imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos (in the northern Aegean Sea) by the emperor Domitian 88 A.D. - 96 A.D. He was most likely released from Patmos in the mid-90's by the succeeding Emperor Nerva who became Emperor in 96 A.D.
John , having been one of the 12 apostles during Jesus' earthly lifetime, had much knowledge about the formation, expansion, and establishment of the early church in the first century. He knew Jesus well and the other apostles. cont
The past weeks I have taken much time in Scripture to once again find out what it teaches on the deity of Jesus. It is very important to me to believe what the Scriptures do say as the basis for my belief in Jesus. Jesus asks us to believe in Him, and to me, this means believing the truth about Him from Scripture as well as trusting in Him for salvation. So, in the following posts I will accept what the Scriptures say about Jesus' nature. What does the Scriptures say concerning Jesus in this view?
First, I will bring forward some OT prophecies concerning Jesus:
Psalm 45:6
"Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre."
The writer of Hebrews applies this prophecy to Jesus in 1:8
"But unto the Son, he (God) saith: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre ofthy kingdom."
Verses 9-13 goes on to speak of the Son as creating the foundations of the earth and of the heavens; that the Son will fold these up again, and bring about the changed to them; but the Son is changeless and eternal.
Isaiah 7:14 gives a prophecy concerning Jesus.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and they shall call him Immanuel."
Matthew 1:22-23 cites this prophecy as being fulfilled in Jesus, who is Emmanuel (another spelling of Immanuel) which means "God with us."
isaiah 9:6 prophesies that:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Gather, the Prince of Peace"
Here, Isaiah the prophecy of vs. 9:14 is extended and still refers to Immanuel who Jesus is. In this verse Jesus is called Mighty God (an OT name for God) along with the Everlasting Father: (which shows Immanuel's oneness with the Father as Jesus said that "I and the Father are one" in John 10:30. cont. to pt. 3
I am coming back to my study of Who God is. last time I wrote about God being "SAVIOR". Before I continue I wanted to clarify something from the last post on this series. I showed how Jesus is our Savior and that in the OT it is stated that only God is our Savior. Thus, the Scriptures show that Jesus is God who was prophesied to save mankind from sin.
I also gave a quotation (which I did not remember to source) and this quote offended some here. I wish to explain my motivation further concerning this quotation.
First of all, I never would post something to purposely offend another person. My heart is not like that.
Secondly, I did not direct that quotation towards any particular person.
Thirdly, I posted that quotation because I believe that the topic of whether or not Jesus is God just as the Father is God or not is a very important matter for believers to resolve. And that it should be resolved with what Scriptures do say.
I think that coming to a Scriptural conclusion on this aspect of Jesus nature is vital to whether one believes in the Jesus of Scripture or "another Jesus".
Jesus exhorted people time and again to believe in Him to have eternal life. So, believing truly about Jesus is so very important to any believer.
The quotation I posted was intended to make this point:
And please note that it was prefaced with an "IF"
IF anyone believes that Jesus is God and Scripture says that He is not and continues to believe He is God and worships Him, then they are idolaters. AND IF anyone believes that Jesus is not God and Scripture say that He is God and refuse to believe that Scriptures reveal his deity and will not worship Him, they are also idolators.
ALSO, IF anyone who continues to hold on to a false belief concerning Jesus' deity or non-deity when Scriptures say that He is God or not God then they are either blaspheming the Father if Jesus is not God or blaspheming the Godhead if Jesus is God.
Thanks, brother, I did not intend to combine salvation issue and eschatology. I was just referring to it being an innate human nature to follow a crowd and taking the path of least resistance. I did not mean to base any truth on the majority or minority. I agree we can apply Matthew 7:13 with salvation but we can also apply it to what is being taught as in verse 15 is a warning of false prophets. This includes false teaching that is attractive and the larger the crowd the easier it is to deceive people.
I agree we should put Scripture above all that is taught out there for in them is the only truth, but many people do not, they just go with what they hear from a preacher, TV, YouTube, etc. Some never open a Bible and study and pray, asking God for the truth and the larger the follower's impact what they believe is the truth.
We can be deceived if we do not try the spirits, 1 John 4:1 that only comes from prayer and study being guided by the Holy Spirit. Hope this makes sense, we have discussed this before and this is not to debate we both know each other's understanding and I am not asking you but honestly, I have not found or have been shown one verse that out-and-out says we go or are taken to heaven that some teach.
I must disagree, I am not Amillennialism, I do not spiritualize Scripture, I believe in a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus with His chosen and faithful at His second coming, Revelation 5:10Revelation 20:4-6. Also, I do not believe the Church has replaced Israel. We are probably closer in our understanding of the end times than you think.
Hope you had a good vacation I guess you are on the road again.
When Jesus said "broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" I believe that is a salvation issue, "Not eschatology"
You said yourself that we shouldn't tie the two together!
We should hold to and run with scripture, "Not majority or minority as you stated but if the majority or minority is correct on a matter there is nothing we can do against the truth whether it is a salvation issue, eschatology, or any other issue.
Concerning the wide gate. Most and confess we are saved by faith in the working of God by way of the cross but out of that group many will be deceived. "It's just a confession. Not faith.
In the context of that portion of scripture man puts his trust in the work in his own hands.
I agree with you when you say that your interpretation on eschatology is different from most,
However, I don't agree that the view that Richard, myself and others has shared on this topic is a majority view point.
Today the Amillenial view point "where one spiritualize much of the text is widely accepted and your views is closer to theirs than the narrow viewpoint the we premillennials hold to.
So brother you are in that wide gate that has been passed down since st Augustine.
I believe this viewpoint has a faulty hermeneutics.
I agree 100 percent with Richard on this but I wouldn't be willing to debate it again at this time.
However I believe you have been shown the proof of what you are asking multiple times by several people on this site.
My understanding is Jesus was baptized and anointed in the fall of the year__, he was 40 days and nights in the wilderness. Jesus then chose His 12 disciples. shortly after the wedding where Jesus turned the water to wine, He went to Passover John 2:23, this would be 6 months after He was anointed by the Holy Ghost.
There are 3 more Passovers and Jesus was crucified on the last one, John 5:1, 1.5 years John 6:4 2.5 years, and John 13:1 the Passover He was crucified 3.5 years from when He was anointed as the Messiah.
My understanding of Matthew 24 was also for the disciples for the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem not just for us today, if we compare Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 have when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet. But in Luke 21:20, He writes when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
The abomination of desolation is something done by someone as King Antiochus IV Epiphanes did in 168 BC. It happened before the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. My understanding is parts of Jesus's Olivet discourse were for them and parts are for us.
What is in Daniel 9:27 Jesus caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease when He died and the vail of the Temple rent from top to bottom. As Jesus told the woman at the well the hour has come ye shall not worship the Father in the mountain or Jerusalem, John 4:21
The wording in Daniel 9:27 is for the overspreading of abominations points to the abominations the leaders of Jerusalem will have done, Matthew 23:32-38 Jesus told them "Behold, your house is left unto you desolate" The he, is Jesus who will make it desolate and, in their generation, it was made desolate by the people/Roman army, of the prince/Titus same as God used Babylon in 586 BC.
I hope this makes sense so that you can study for your understanding even if you disagree, if you have questions let me know.
God bless,
RLW
Jesus said, "Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."(Ps.16:8) So what is the mystery of the seven stars "which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches." (Re.1: 20) The seven churches carry names and can be located in Asia Minor. The mystery of the Number Seven tells us that the entire congregation, the angelic host are represented and they are in the right hand of the Son. They are witnesses in heaven to the church as a body. So are the believers whose heart was steadfast in faith.
Now we shall consider the verse: 1:7
"Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." The cloud of witnesses accompanied in the night vision of Daniel. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him./And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."( Dan 7:13-14) Here we have a narrative mode that the Spirit employs where the specific overarches to the end times. This Min-Max mode helps us rightly place the role of Israel in the Salvation Saga. Israel's understanding of his nation is only a jump-off point for the church purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.
Part 3.
Evangelism pleases the Lord. The Christian life must never be lived according to "shoulds." Yet we hear that word often in relation to Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, and other Christian practices. "I should do that, but . . ." The but is a bigger problem than we want to admit. God's children will naturally want to please their Heavenly Father; it is their greatest delight. So our compass is set with God at true north. In everything we do, we feel the magnetic pull toward pleasing God. Even mundane tasks can be completed with joy because we are doing what God has given us to do ( 1 Corinthians 10:31; 2 Corinthians 5:9). Teaching other people how to have a relationship with Jesus is one way to please Him. And in pleasing Him we are most fulfilled ( Galatians 2:20).
END ARTICLE.
When we are unequally yoked, they cannot perform the task set before us. Instead of working together, we are at odds with one another.
Paul's admonition in 2 Corinthians 6:14 is part of a larger discourse to the church at Corinth on the Christian life. He discouraged them from being in an unequal partnership with unbelievers because believers and unbelievers are opposites, just as light and darkness are opposites. They simply have nothing in common,
just as Christ has nothing in common with "Belial,
The "unequal yoke" is often applied to business relationships, Marriage ect..
We are to love everyone as Christ do and share the Gospel but we must understand that unbelievers have opposite worldviews and morals, and decisions made daily will reflect the worldview of one partner or the other.
In this world we are to be as Daniel in Babylon. He inspired Nebuchadnezzar. See Daniel 4
God bless.
Jesus Christ as the faithful witness to the holiness of God. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;/ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,/ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ep.4: 4-6). This oneness defines unity of the Spirit. God is a Spirit which is 'in you all' refers to the one body, the church to which Jesus is the Lord.
The church is a living organism since Jesus triumphed over death everlasting life is what faith signifies. It is Person specific. The earth which was without form and void acquires the head and body, It is what creation of Eve instructs us. Adam's deep sleep was caused by God and when he wakes up exclaims, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh."(Ge.2:22). By several list of genealogies the Spirit gives us an unbroken track where faith creates several heroes of faith, every one of them foreshadows Jesus who shall be born of a virgin. This sign was given before the great congregation of angels and children of men.
He.11:3 refers to the will of God the Father and the fulfilment aspect of God the Son. The paternity test of faith the DNA of Jesus passed the test. His resurrection proves the point. "Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it."(Ac.2:24) Peter refers to the psalm, which tells us why. "I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."(Ps.16:8) Faith is not merely a flash in the pan but is the result of loving God and as Moses exhorts the nation of Israel, "An d thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might./And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart"(De.6: 5-6) This is how Jesus fulfilled his Father's mandate.
He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Part 2.
We should "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" ( 1 Peter 3:15). We prepare by studying God's Word for ourselves, listening to sound Bible teachers, and staying in close fellowship with Jesus. Those practices keep our own lives pure so that we are not hypocrites who preach one thing but do another Galatians 6:1.
Evangelism provides eternal benefits. Jesus encouraged His followers to "store up treasure in heaven" ( Matthew 6:19). That treasure consists of rewards for what we did on earth in His name and for His glory. It is not self-centered to make choices that will ensure eternal treasure for ourselves. Jesus told us to! Our service to Him can be as simple as offering a cup of cold water to one of His own ( Matthew 10:42). The parable of the unjust steward underscores the importance of doing whatever we can to bring people to faith in Christ ( Luke 16:1-13).
4. Evangelism is an overflow of the "hope that is within us" ( Hebrews 6:19; 1 Peter 3:15). When two people fall in love, they cannot help but let everyone around them know it. Joy shows on their faces; stars glitter in their eyes. They are eager to tell anyone who will listen about the wonderful person they love. So it is when we've fallen in love with Jesus. We cannot help but tell people about Him every chance we get. We think about Him all the time. We're drawn to His Word, to worship services, and to others who love Him. We look for opportunities to share His truth with someone who is far from Him. If Jesus is not at the forefront of our minds, we have a spiritual problem and need to address that first before we can share the "hope that is within us."
See part 3.
Evangelizing.
Some seems to prefer to minister to only other believers and have very little to say to unbelievers.
They are quick to judge and tell them where they are going but don't offer them the only way of escape. The Gospel.
In John 17:20 we see Jesus praying for our ministering to them.
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
I once copied an article on Evangelism. Here's how it reads.
Part 1.
To evangelize means to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else. Personal evangelism should be the lifestyle of every true Christian. We've been given a great gift, and our Master left us with clear instructions: "Go into all the world and make disciples of every nation" Matthew 28:19. Before we can "make disciples," we must evangelize. There are other reasons, besides Jesus' command, that should also motivate us to share the greatest news in the world with people who haven't heard it:
Evangelism is an act of love. Love must be the defining characteristic of every follower of Jesus Christ John 13:35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, so anyone who walks in the Spirit will demonstrate love in dealing with people Galatians 5:16, 22-23. We possess the best news in the world, and love propels us to share it with those who haven't heard. Love wants everyone to have a chance to respond to God's offer of salvation. Withholding news that could save someone's life is the utmost cruelty; therefore, those who truly love God will love the people whom Jesus came to save John 3:16-18; 1 John 4:20.
Evangelism builds our own faith. Nothing helps us learn a subject like teaching it to someone else. When we make a practice of sharing our faith with those in our lives, we strengthen our own beliefs. Regular evangelism forces us to wrestle through the hard questions, find answers for ourselves, and prepare to respond to the questions of others.
See part 2.
I have friends that may be unsaved judging by their testimony, lives, response to certain things such as worldly things and Church things or "Spiritual things"
I have one friend in particular that has no Spiritual insight, void of peace and have no love for what he calls "Religious people" but he enjoys to dabble in the chaotic ways of the world.
When we first met I told him I was a Christian. He doesn't go to Church for reasons I won't get into but I don't think he ever knew what Christian means or how to define one.
However, I believe he found something unique about my way of life and noticed my firm stance for what I believed in.
He began to watch his steps and began to trust and take counsel from me and left off trying to counsel me with his worldly take on life and his ignorance of God.
Today he has gained a respect for the word of God.
Our relationship to the lost world is to introduce Christ.
We do that "Not by acting out a performance" but by truth, and his word.
The word and our deeds should align. (That's God's doing).
TRUTH.
They'll understand by listening and watching us that we are not perfect but we follow that which is. (Jesus )
We have a name we must uphold. We can't follow them in this world. "The darkness that it has to offer"
We are to be a light for them to lead them out of it. We are light bearers that shines light on Christ. We show a lost world that the way to the father is through the Son.
So to your friend you are here to be a leader and not a follower. Philippians 2:15.
You are to be a Evangelist to them in some way.
The Apostles set the foundation and was left here to do this and we are here to build on it.
John 17:14-21 says it best. We don't separate ourselves from them. We separate ourselves from all aspects of their way of life.
More on Evangelism.
The cloud of witnesses are angels as the fellow-servant of StJohn says, "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things./Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book:"(Re.22:8-9)
They were with God even before the foundation of the world. The night vision of Daniel mentions their presence when the books were opened and judgement was set. When God called us they were present as witnesses for our soul. We as a body served in turn for them a sign. In short without taking both worlds as one we are up the creek without a paddle. The seven angels to the seven churches are indicated by seven stars in the right hand of Jesus Christ in his glory. "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God" tells how little Satan understood of the concept of Salvation or of Atonement. His pride had made him blind to the beauty of holiness that marked the Son.
Naturally Lucifer wanted to be like the Most High and above the congregation of witnesses.
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:/I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."
Here we are faced with a number of entities which are associated with the world of the Spirit. Mount of the congregation for instance is two terms compounded from the mountain of God and the great congregation also called the cloud of witnesses. It is also set down, 'in the sides of the north' location evidently set in context of the throne of God. It merely indicates God as the judge and judgment calls for witnesses where angelic host play their part. Lucifer's revolt began in heaven so it is judged there.
Firstly the two worlds the heaven and the earth are framed by the word. Faith is what holds them as one. Divine Will according to the word or the Law evolves into a world of the body, which is a spiritual body, and St Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit calls it a building 'eternal in the heavens'. The earth which was without form and void shall be the House of Prayer for all nation. Christ is the head and the church is the body. 'A body hast thou prepared' refers to the word become flesh. By fulfilling the will of the Father the church is formed. It is to this body, made up of a great congregation the Psalmist refers, "I have preached righteousness in the great congregation." (Ps.40:9). The saints redeemed from the earth shall continue the life everlasting clothed with their spiritual bodies. As St Paul says further down "For we walk by faith not by sight." Jesus talk that we hear is dud without the walk. faith cannot be faith without the walk.
When you said
"So, in what ways we are not to be unequally yoked with them? Many things can be mentioned but I won't get into that here."
Can you elaborate a little bit? I want to always love her no matter what. I do pray to Holy Spirit to guide me with this as it is heavy on my heart.
God set everything perfect. God set Lucifer perfect in beauty. But his pride was his own invention. As a spirit he tinkered with his thoughts Jesus says "When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." ( John 8:44) For this reason Jesus referred to Judas Iscariot as the son of perdition. The beast is another. Their sin traces who their father is. Man is shaped by his thoughts and for this reason what is a merchant prince but a mean fellow whose wakeful life is seized by profits and raking the muck of turning up wealth. In old China they were held in low esteem. In our society they are looked upto though they are as cantakerous as a Musk or as Bezos who has to monitor 7x24 their employees.
James says,"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:/But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed./Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."(Jas.1:13-15)
"For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:"
There are two ways of speaking. One is this, "I believed therefore have I spoken." St Paul annotates it to indicate salvation that comes from open confession. At the bottom what works is the spirit of faith which outpours from God a Spirit. Holiness of God makes no separation and every man is entitled to it. So St Paul explains,"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Ps.116:10; 2 Co.4:13; Ro.10:10)
Second way is what Lucifer, an angel employed. God charges him thus, "For thou hast said in thine heart,"I will ascend into heaven." God makes angels spirits so their thoughts have a centre. Since they do not have a body we cannot foist upon them a heart that we associate with human anatomy. Mind is indicated here. Satan expresses, "I will" which contradicts the will of God the Father so pride is a spiritual anomaly that Satan has coined. No man may invent in the world of the Spirit as one invents a tool from flint or a water wheel. He works with his visible world. Now what is evolution but tinkering with what is already existing, which is outside the will of man. The Bible is the God document and the Spirit is not teaching us anthropology or a treatise on ethnography but of the righteousness of God.
Without the Spirit giving us grace, what is faith as it is bandied about in the churches? Justification, yes but works, oh no! I wonder if Luther had got his scripture right? St James in his epistle was correct to connect works where it rightfully belongs. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."(Jas.2:17)
This is one of the best statements of Jesus confirming that God is one in nature but three in Persons.
Thanks for those insightful pages.
I would like to share another verse that is sometimes missed when studying this portion of scripture.
Matthew 28:19. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in "THE NAME" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
(The name) notice that this is singular, not plural! of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus didn't say baptize in "The names" (plural) as in three different people. He said in "The Name" as if the father Son and Holyspirit is one God of the same.
This is an early indication of the Trinitarian Godhead and an overt proclamation of Jesus' deity.
God bless.
Brother I certainly misread your text!
I thought you were saying there is no 3 and a half year tribulation period. I re-read the text and couldn't do nothing but laugh at myself.
I think I combined your text with another and didn't read through neither.
Sorry for that!
More on the wide gate and "broad way" mentioned in Matthew 7:13-14.
I don't think you will find least resistance in the wide gate because because it is a "broad way"!
This group doesn't necessarily agree with one another! The only thing they have in common is they reject Christ and some don't even know it.
One's narrow view can be found in the wide gate.
I believe that is what makes the wide gate a broad way. People are willing to take any other way but the Lord's way.
That's why those on Christ narrow path is persecuted by the world and half of them goes under the banner of Christianity so I would be careful not to be prejudice against a view point because it is taught by what is believed to be the majority or minority view.
We study scripture to learn and grow. Not to differentiate or to disprove aview point.
It can become an obsession and lead you down the wrong path.
God bless.
Greetings in Christ JESUS
I could not see in your reply what is your interpretation on Dan.9:27, you just limited yourself to informing other interpretations are erroneous, your answer did not bring your interpretation.I did not understand what you meant: 'one issue with Dan 9:27 is that it's all about the Messiah'.
But what does Daniel 9:27 reveal?
27 - And HE shall confirm the covenant with many for one week(of years):and in the MIDST of the week(after 42 months)HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,and for the overspreading of abominations HE shall make it desolate, even until the consummation,and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Just curious.Who is HE in your understanding? (Remember:In Matthew 24:15 our Lord JESUS LITERALLY referred to this desolation spoken of by Daniel as a signal of His coming imediately after the period of sorrows- Matthew 24:3-8).
Then,according to the above,'HE shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease',but verse 26 says:And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off (crucified),but NOT for Himself: and the people (WHAT PEOPLE?)of the PRINCE (WHAT PRINCE?)that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary(for me Ezekiel 21:25 reveals who is this profane Prince); and the end thereof shall be with a flood,and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
You said 'the Ministry of JESUS' was 3,5 years, but the current and universal record of the period of JESUS's Ministry is only 3 years, not 3,5 years. What is your source? Just curious,it's unknown to me.
Sorry, our posts are read by many brothers and sisters, so my concern is to FIND the true interpretation of Scriptures in the current perilous times, and also overspreading of apostasies, beyond manifestation of the son of perdition very soon( John 5:43-47 combined with 2Thessalonians 2:1-4 and Revelation 13:11).
May our Lord GOD bless us,and give us His pretection
Amen
I forgot to identify the topic as to who God is.
God is the "SON"
Anyone who wants to give biblical evidence that disproves the deity of Jesus is welcome to post their views as I did. Both views cannot be true, so we must find out which one is true and which one is heresy. It is such an important matter for believers to have correct doctrines about who God is according to Scripture so that we can worship God in Spirit and in Truth.
Then Peter says that Jesus is the Son of the Living God. Remember that the Jews of the first century understood that Son of God is a divine title, as I explained earlier. So for Peter to say that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, He is saying that Jesus is God.
In Matthew 16:16-17 Jesus again asked a very profound question. "Who do you say that I am." Again, Peter the same statement. "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus receives this statement as true and declared that Peter didn't come up with this idea on his own but that the Father had revealed this truth to Peter (because God can only tell the truth).
In john 20:28, Thomas, upon seeing and touching the risen Jesus exclaims, "My Lord and my God." Jesus does not rebuke Thomas for saying He is God, nor does He say Thomas is mistaken and then correct Thomas. No, Jesus accepts Thomas' statement of worship.
In Is. 43;15, YHWH says, "I am the LORD, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, you King." In Jn. 1:49, after Jesus calls Natanael, Nathanael says, "Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel." Jesus does not negate what Natanael states because this disciples is equating Jesus with YHWH of Is. 43:15.
Also, even demons knew that Jesus was God, calling Him the "Holy One of God" in Mk. 1:24; Lk. 4:34.
Next, I want to go to Hebrew1:6 where the inspiration of God had the author say that the angels worship Jesus, In Rev. there is worship of Jesus, the Lamb, along with the Father, who sits on the throne. How could this worship be allowed in heaven if Jesus was not God?
For now I will stop. There are many, many more verses that speak to Jesus; divinity. One can look on this site under the question "Is Jesus God?"
For me, I am convinced that Jesus is God and worthy of worship as God. And it is not idolatry to worship the Father and Jesus, the Son, for there are not two Gods (or three), but one God who exists as several divine persons who are one in nature.
Part 5
The apostles knew that they were to believe and worship only YHWH. So, why would Jesus tell them to believe in the Father as God and also believe in Himself as God? In verse 7 He tells Thomas that if they know Him they would also know the Father and have seen the Father in knowing Himself. Right away, Philip asks Jesus to show them the Father. Jesus says, "He that has seen me has seen the Father." and in vs. 8 He says "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me." Her Jesus is telling the truth that He is in a oneness relationship with the Father. He speaks that the Father is one person and he is another, but together they are truly one.
In vs. 23 He says that those who love Him, the Father and Himself will come and together with the Father (and the Spirit -vs.17) God will live within the believer. In Chapter 15:23 Jesus says that He who hates Him also hates the Father, once more speaking to their divine oneness.
John 17 is Jesus' high priestly prayer (which I so love to read again and again) After saying in vs. 2 that the Father has given Jesus power over all flesh (divine sovereignty) and that Jesus give eternal life to all the Father gives Him, in vs. 5 Jesus speaks of the Father glorifying Him again just as He was glorified within the Father eternally from before he came into the world. This is clearly a statement of His Deity because in Is. 42:8, 48:11God said He will not give His glory to another.
Next, I wish to cite passages that tells us what the disciples believed about Jesus. Jesus asked a very pointed question to His disciples in John chapter 6 after telling the crowds that He was the Bread of Life and many followers deserted him. He asked "Who do you say that I am (again using the name YHWH). in vs. 62 He says "What and if you see the Son of man (Himself) ascend up where He was before? (Speaking about His eternal existence with the Father). In vs. 69 Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) see part 6
Part 4.
Since the essential nature of the Godhead is changeless, the Father would eternally be the Father of the Son, and the Son would eternally be the Son of the Father. Since John, under inspiration says that the Son is God, then it would be a conflict to say that the Son had a beginning of His begetting because that would indicate a change in the internal nature of the Godhead.
Next, I want to cite a few instances in John's Gospel where the Jewish leaders took up stones to kill Him or worse because in their first century thinking, they accused Jesus of making Himself God or equal to YHWH. These citations are John chapter 5:16-47; (for healing on the Sabbath and making Himself equal with God, vs. 18) 8:59 (where Jesus us the name YHWH to say that he existed before Abraham); 10:18 (Jesus says that He has the power to resurrect Himself) 10:20 (the Jews said that He had a devil and try to arrest Him) vs, 30 where Jesus states "I and the Father are one." and 31-39 where the Jews wanted to stone Him for blasphemy because He said He was the Son of God, thus making Himself to be God.
In all of these citations, Jesus knew already before He spoke how the Jews would understand His words, and He spoke them very deliberately, knowing they would accuse Him of saying He is God. He did not restate his words in ways such as, "No, no, I did not mean to say that I am God or equal to Him, you have misunderstood." No, He let his words stand affirming that their understanding of Him stating his deity was correct. If their understanding of His words were wrong, then He would have corrected their misunderstanding, but He didn't, and thus they wanted to stone him for blasphemy.
Next, I wish to go to the Last Supper Discourse in John. Right away, in john 14:1 Jesus tells His disciples to believe in God (His eternal Father) and also to believe in Him (the eternal divine Son). I say this because He never once retracted His claims to Deity. See part 5
Sorry for the delay, I did not reply concerning the two beasts in Revelation 13 my reply was about the last week of Daniel 9:27 being put at the end times, my understanding is different. As far as the sea means waters and could be the Gentile nations you may be correct, we know it won't be Israel.
If we look at Revelation 11:7 and Revelation 17:8 this beast ascendeth out of the bottomless pit, so the word sea in Revelation 13 may mean the abyss, just a thought.
Thanks, and God bless,
RLW
Part. 3
Most of all, John would have known the doctrines being taught about Jesus and the writings of the other apostles. After being released from Patmos, John returned to Ephesus where he remained until his natural death. Polycarp, Ignatius and Papias were his pupils who were appointed as bishops either by John or Peter. Irenaeus was taught by Polycarp. John was active in ministry in Asia Minor prior to his imprisonment on Patmos. He planted churches in the region.
So, what was John inspired by God to say about J9esus' deity?
He begins his Gospel right away claiming Jesus was God ( John 1:1-3, that Jesus the divine Son of the Father, became enfleshed in human form. (vs. 1:14, Immanuel, God with us). John says that the Father (God) sent divine Son from Himself to be born into the world, fulfilling Is. 9:6-a child is born, a son is given). John says in vs. 1:4 that in Jesus was Life (just as the Father had Life within Himself ( Jn. 5:26, divine, eternal life that both the Father and Jesus can give to believers). Vs. 3 says that Jesus created ALL things ( Rev. 4:11 says the same) which is an act only God can do (see 1 Cor. 8:6). John goes on to say that in Jesus was the fullness of God bodily. (vs. 14. 16) Paul says the same thing in Col. 2:9.
In Jn. 1:18 some of the earliest Greek manuscripts wrote Theos instead of the Greek word of Son, but both speak of the Son/God being the only begotten. The Father is completely unbegotten, but the Son is begotten and it is the Son who reveals the Father to humanity. This gospel was written in Greek, and in Greek, 'only begotten' is written "monogenes", which, (from what I read) means a unique, one-of-a-kind offspring-as having the nature of its father. So, it seems that 1;18 is saying that Jesus , as the only Son of God by nature is divine as the Father is. This verse does not seem to say that the Son had a beginning in the Godhead. see part 4
Pt. 3
In Rev. 1:8 Jesus a says that He is "the Almighty" which is equivalent to "Mighty God" and the name that YHWH named Himself to Abraham ( Gen. 17:1; Ex 6:3) This harkens back to Isaiah's prophecy 9:6 as well as to Abraham and Moses as identifying God. Jesus was saying in Rev. 1:8 that he is God Almighty, just as Isa 9:6 prophesied.
In Mic. 5:2 another Messianic prophecy concerning Jesus is:
"For thou, Beth-lehem-Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been of old; from everlasting." This verse is saying that the Messian existed eternally. He is from everlasting, just as the Everlasting Father is.
Again, in Is., 48:12 YHWH speaks, "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am." the last." Jesus attributes this title to Himself in his statement to John in Rev. 1:8; 22:13.
Just from these statements from the OT that are attributed to Jesus in the NT, it is clear that the Scriptures attest to the deity of Jesus, as He calls Himself God explicitly in Rev. 1:8.
The witness of both OT and NT teach that Jesus is God, so I believe that this is the truth concerning His nature.
But next I will go into the NT to see other examples that attest to the truth that Jesus is God with us, God made flesh.
John the author of the Gospel, 1,2 and 3 Jn. and Revelation, was alive in the 90's A.D. All the other apostles had been martyred and he had been imprisoned on the Isle of Patmos (in the northern Aegean Sea) by the emperor Domitian 88 A.D. - 96 A.D. He was most likely released from Patmos in the mid-90's by the succeeding Emperor Nerva who became Emperor in 96 A.D.
John , having been one of the 12 apostles during Jesus' earthly lifetime, had much knowledge about the formation, expansion, and establishment of the early church in the first century. He knew Jesus well and the other apostles. cont
Part 2.
The past weeks I have taken much time in Scripture to once again find out what it teaches on the deity of Jesus. It is very important to me to believe what the Scriptures do say as the basis for my belief in Jesus. Jesus asks us to believe in Him, and to me, this means believing the truth about Him from Scripture as well as trusting in Him for salvation. So, in the following posts I will accept what the Scriptures say about Jesus' nature. What does the Scriptures say concerning Jesus in this view?
First, I will bring forward some OT prophecies concerning Jesus:
Psalm 45:6
"Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre."
The writer of Hebrews applies this prophecy to Jesus in 1:8
"But unto the Son, he (God) saith: "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre ofthy kingdom."
Verses 9-13 goes on to speak of the Son as creating the foundations of the earth and of the heavens; that the Son will fold these up again, and bring about the changed to them; but the Son is changeless and eternal.
Isaiah 7:14 gives a prophecy concerning Jesus.
"Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and they shall call him Immanuel."
Matthew 1:22-23 cites this prophecy as being fulfilled in Jesus, who is Emmanuel (another spelling of Immanuel) which means "God with us."
isaiah 9:6 prophesies that:
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, The Everlasting Gather, the Prince of Peace"
Here, Isaiah the prophecy of vs. 9:14 is extended and still refers to Immanuel who Jesus is. In this verse Jesus is called Mighty God (an OT name for God) along with the Everlasting Father: (which shows Immanuel's oneness with the Father as Jesus said that "I and the Father are one" in John 10:30. cont. to pt. 3
I am coming back to my study of Who God is. last time I wrote about God being "SAVIOR". Before I continue I wanted to clarify something from the last post on this series. I showed how Jesus is our Savior and that in the OT it is stated that only God is our Savior. Thus, the Scriptures show that Jesus is God who was prophesied to save mankind from sin.
I also gave a quotation (which I did not remember to source) and this quote offended some here. I wish to explain my motivation further concerning this quotation.
First of all, I never would post something to purposely offend another person. My heart is not like that.
Secondly, I did not direct that quotation towards any particular person.
Thirdly, I posted that quotation because I believe that the topic of whether or not Jesus is God just as the Father is God or not is a very important matter for believers to resolve. And that it should be resolved with what Scriptures do say.
I think that coming to a Scriptural conclusion on this aspect of Jesus nature is vital to whether one believes in the Jesus of Scripture or "another Jesus".
Jesus exhorted people time and again to believe in Him to have eternal life. So, believing truly about Jesus is so very important to any believer.
The quotation I posted was intended to make this point:
And please note that it was prefaced with an "IF"
IF anyone believes that Jesus is God and Scripture says that He is not and continues to believe He is God and worships Him, then they are idolaters. AND IF anyone believes that Jesus is not God and Scripture say that He is God and refuse to believe that Scriptures reveal his deity and will not worship Him, they are also idolators.
ALSO, IF anyone who continues to hold on to a false belief concerning Jesus' deity or non-deity when Scriptures say that He is God or not God then they are either blaspheming the Father if Jesus is not God or blaspheming the Godhead if Jesus is God.
So this is a very vital matter.
Thanks, brother, I did not intend to combine salvation issue and eschatology. I was just referring to it being an innate human nature to follow a crowd and taking the path of least resistance. I did not mean to base any truth on the majority or minority. I agree we can apply Matthew 7:13 with salvation but we can also apply it to what is being taught as in verse 15 is a warning of false prophets. This includes false teaching that is attractive and the larger the crowd the easier it is to deceive people.
I agree we should put Scripture above all that is taught out there for in them is the only truth, but many people do not, they just go with what they hear from a preacher, TV, YouTube, etc. Some never open a Bible and study and pray, asking God for the truth and the larger the follower's impact what they believe is the truth.
We can be deceived if we do not try the spirits, 1 John 4:1 that only comes from prayer and study being guided by the Holy Spirit. Hope this makes sense, we have discussed this before and this is not to debate we both know each other's understanding and I am not asking you but honestly, I have not found or have been shown one verse that out-and-out says we go or are taken to heaven that some teach.
I must disagree, I am not Amillennialism, I do not spiritualize Scripture, I believe in a literal 1000-year reign of Jesus with His chosen and faithful at His second coming, Revelation 5:10 Revelation 20:4-6. Also, I do not believe the Church has replaced Israel. We are probably closer in our understanding of the end times than you think.
Hope you had a good vacation I guess you are on the road again.
God bless,
RLW
Amen. GOD bless you and all your family.
When Jesus said "broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" I believe that is a salvation issue, "Not eschatology"
You said yourself that we shouldn't tie the two together!
We should hold to and run with scripture, "Not majority or minority as you stated but if the majority or minority is correct on a matter there is nothing we can do against the truth whether it is a salvation issue, eschatology, or any other issue.
Concerning the wide gate. Most and confess we are saved by faith in the working of God by way of the cross but out of that group many will be deceived. "It's just a confession. Not faith.
In the context of that portion of scripture man puts his trust in the work in his own hands.
I agree with you when you say that your interpretation on eschatology is different from most,
However, I don't agree that the view that Richard, myself and others has shared on this topic is a majority view point.
Today the Amillenial view point "where one spiritualize much of the text is widely accepted and your views is closer to theirs than the narrow viewpoint the we premillennials hold to.
So brother you are in that wide gate that has been passed down since st Augustine.
I believe this viewpoint has a faulty hermeneutics.
I agree 100 percent with Richard on this but I wouldn't be willing to debate it again at this time.
However I believe you have been shown the proof of what you are asking multiple times by several people on this site.
God bless.