From what I can glean from the scriptures, Jesus, when his hour was getting close, he prayed in Mark 14:35 and other verses "take this cup from me". Do you know of other scripture where God might have talked to him about his "powerful resurrected blood" after his death and what effect that this blood, and being resurrected would have on him? I wonder if God talked to him about it. Maybe he didn't. I'm not sure. What do you think? Kathy
"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be./For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."
The disciples of Jesus asked the question, which is in three parts. "Tell us, when shall these things be?"The first part we have covered already. From 'the books opened and the judgment was set' in the night vision of Daniel has a bearing on the great tribulation and it is also set on a reconstituted time. Now we shall look at "what shall be the sign of thy coming" For the final part of " the end of the world?" we have a parable in the following chapter.
The second Temple of Jerusalem faced the east, the prince mentioned in the vision of Ezekiel on leaving the east gate has to be shut. So we are not looking at the Son of man but Jesus Christ as the Lord from heaven. In Malachi his coming leads to the day of his coming. "And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts./But who may abide the day of his coming?" (Mal.3:1-2)
What do we make of lighting, which in the vision of St John is associated with the throne of God?"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices."(Re.4:5) From Re.10:4 we shall infer that thunderings and voices refer to gospel preached.
"And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." What contained in the little book was judgment remained to be executed."But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."
East west mentioned in the first part refers to the destruction of Jerusalem AD70.
Acts 16:30-33 states: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
This passage shows what appears at first glance to be a statement that supports the idea of infant baptism; or that entire households as a given are saved as a result of one person coming to faith. I would take it more as a word of knowledge on Paul's part. We see in this passage in verse 32 that the Gospel was spoken to the entire household of the jail guard first; and immediately afterwards baptism occurred (although it is not clear where that was done in the middle of the night).
The main concept here is that with the earthquake and releasing of chains at midnight of Paul and all the prisoners brought great fear; and that this shows the Biblical prescident for faith; that is an emphasis on the fear of the Lord and a desire for the individual to come to faith without prodding or compulsion by others as is the style today. When we see other verses such as in Acts when Agrippa almost was convinced to be a Christian ( Acts 26:28) it was through Paul's eloquent appeal. Repent and believe is a general call; but I can't find any specific verses where an individual is called to make a confession of faith such as in modern day "altar calls". This shows that a heart must be ready; and how frequently such commitments are made due to pressure from man; rather than genuine conviction. The appeal in Acts to the Jews was that the one they had crucified was indeed the Christ ( Acts 2:23). Such response brings persecution as all who are giving a genuine convicting message of truth; this is opposed to today's easy believism without counting the cost which happens often.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you./For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
When Christ sent his disciple he laid down the principle of Association."He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.". He that received in the name of Jesus received the Father who sent him.(10:40). If this is the case, where is the deception? We see in our times, how preaching of gospel is a ruse for Televangelists to add to their acquisitions Universities, real estate, fleet of sleek autos and aircrafts. It is of them Jesus warned, "For mayy shall come in my name and shall decieve many. They do not have to say, "I am Christ" but the principle is already laid down. They are collecting 'in my name; since the gospel stands as witness against them. All the while camera is rolling under the lights controlled to set off the preacher performing his spiel it is not for the glory of Christ but for his own brand name.
We see already the beginning of sorrows.(v.8) "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. In the post-pandemic days uncontrolled wild fires and monster surges snowstorms inundating cities are merely the beginning. Famine in Gaza, Ethiopia or in Sudan, street violence in Haiti the list can go on endlessly. These sorrows ought to make the complacent nations realize that manifest destiny for them is no different. Seek the Lord while he may be found.
Can anyone offer information located in The New Testament, KJB, regarding the Sabbath? I would like to know if Jesus changed the commandment regarding Saturday as the Sabbath, Holy Day of Rest, according to God? And replaced it with Sunday or as I was also informed any day of the week is proper for worship. I keep reading but there are no direct or indirect notations/references regarding the Sabbath or 7th day if the seek, Saturday or Sunday Or??
"Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Here we can understand the world of the body is a closed system where law of sin run through the whole lump of flesh and blood, so being 'woke and cancel culture' are merely BandAid that nation applies to a sepulcher of the past. Statues erected to commemorate men of yesteryears fall in disrepute but fighting the past is only to clear the way for those who shall be thrown down in future. Thus man fights the phantoms of the past. The real culprit is the law of sin.
The Don Quixotes who tilt at the windmills are themselves "whited sepulchers,"and as such Jesus observes,"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity"(vv.27-28).
St Paul writes of being born again. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new./And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."(2 Co.5:17-18). What is this new creation but brought out of the world of the flesh to the everlasting life. Father of mercies accepted us in his Son. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:/Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."(Col.1:12-13).
Despite of this liberty if man would prefer darkness what shall we call them. They are enemies to Christ. Jesus denounced the Pharisees and scribes and it applies in our times as well. Their culture wars shall continue since they have by rejecting the prince of life has rejected the wisdom that Jesus Christ of God signifies to us. (1 Co.1:30)
v.33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption(2 Pe.1: 4)
"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"
The Pharisees would prove they are separate from the rest which when taken to excess so their sanctimonious humbug drew condemnation from Jesus. "for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (v.24)
St Paul would annotate this verse in his own manner, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."(1 Co.13:1) Eloquence of the tongue is mere sounding brass without Christ in you putting words to sound. Paying tithe does not sanctify your Maker when your actions are to show you off before others. Paul's discourse on Charity is preached so frequently but with congregants separated into White and ethnic divisions does it sound right? God's word so worked over in order to explain the slavery question is a case in point. "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren."( Ge.9:18-27). The curse was on Canaan but for those who wanted to justify slavery on Biblical grounds, arbitrarily put the curse on Ham instead. Ham was made black, and his descendants were made Africans. If the inerrant word of God could be set as foundational text to perpetuate a myth and an abhorrent doctrine, it speaks volumes of the perversity that the churches have largely turned a blind eye on. St Paul's warning of 'the hireling' has come to pass." For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock./ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."(Ac.20:29-30; John 10:12)
v.13 "For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Scribes and Pharisees cause others to stumble to which Jesus had commented on another occasion, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(18:6)
v.14 " hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." Hypocrisy of Pharisees is to sound holier -than- thou while they hear only the sound of money coming in.
v.15 "for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Church planting is well and good. After big fanfare and cheers who shall water them daily and attend to their growth do get lost. St Paul faulted churches in Corinth and ensewhere on their partisan spirit. Heresies find a fertile ground in this spirit of contention.
vv.16-18 :Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" Wherever the vitality of the doctrine of God is glossed over from Christ to the tradition of man it becomes idolatry. In the age of televangelists it is what celebrities thrive upon. The disciple pointed at the temple in admiration "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(24:2). Glory of what is seen is temporal and shall fade off. Without taking two worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one and our everlasting life is assured on jour Redeemer Lord what we witness about us is hypocrisy. The Pharisees and scribes were content with praise of men and God swept them off as filth from the face of the earth.
Wondering what others believe about this verse about everything God created being "good"- Some use this to say it's morally ok for them to do drugs like weed, cocaine, mushrooms, meth?
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:" 1 Timothy 4:4 KJV. Also Genesis 1:31, Romans 14:14, Acts 11:7-9
At what point do we believe something is no longer God's creation, but a man-made creation, like a drug made in a lab? And how do we balance that with harming the body? "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
( Psalm 37:4).
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
( Luke 18:8).
The issue of our heart relates to our affections and the ownership of such. When we are crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2:20) His life takes over and our vessel (body) becomes His tabernacle where the Spirit dwells. Since the Lord is eternal; along with the spirit in which God has created us we perceive these things ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Whether in the body or out of it we are part of Christ's Body and we shall stand in His presence; we are already "seated in heavenly places" ( Ephesians 2:6).
Such affections draw us close to our brothers and sisters in the faith; and indeed we are COMMANDED to love one another; both from the Gospels and later quotes from John ( John 15:12; 1 John 3:23). This should be a springboard for time; money and effort to be poured out for the ministries and missions of the church and unity among the brethren. Agape love is the only love which can love anyone unconditionally; and therefore it also extends to the lost who we are commissioned to reach.
Often people complicate things when it comes to relationships; prayer certainly is helpful as I have seen personally a brother finding his wife to be 2 days after praying to find someone; along with another missionary friend of mine from many years ago when overseas. Still; there are some things which may not come to fruition until the Lord returns (primarily finding justice on the earth in places which have for a long time now featured persecution). Since we have a NEW heart; however we can find joy in seeing others being blessed; and seeing people come to faith even during times when we are struggling in our lives.
We often look at Christ's death as the ultimate love; but let us not forget His whole ministry especially toward His Disciples.
In 2016 we heard a televangelist asking for a Jet Falcon for his missionary tours. His explanation was, "I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the Earth today he wouldn't be riding a donkey," he said. "Think about that for a minute. He'd be in an aeroplane preaching the gospel all over the world." Jesus explained the quality of servants, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are commanded to do a certain task and we set out to do them trusting fully in His promises.
The Gentile kings have a custom, and it perpetuates the master servant distinction. Regarding the tribute money Jesus posed this question,"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?/ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." (17:25-26) The earth lieth in wickedness because Satan's ploy has worked well with man who would serve both God and mammon with little success. Jesus set the reward of everlasting life for those who are led by the Spirit.
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord./It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (10:24-25). Simon Peter towards the end wanted to know, " Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?/And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:27-28)
"Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ./But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant./And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Jesus as he delivered the doctrine of his Father he had as a man no place to lay his head. But God chose him as the Savior of the whole world. His holiness is founded not any world seen or in externals but on an quality, which is the DNA of the Father Son relationship. Faith is accordingly based on the Word which is eternal, and is the Law. He assured that his Father would never let go his divine nature. " Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"(6:26) 'Behold' in this verse tells man to think of the word as already sent out and it is as good as done. So faith is what man would require as His children to take a lesson from the fowls. Similarly ants. Their worlds are organized vastly different from what we have devised so faith exercised by them no less true that we understand the term. Faith is one as the Gospel is. Holiness of God covers His creation.
Jesus set an example with his life so at every turn we read that at Bethphage he sent out for his carriage, "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."(21:4-5). His itinerary had been set even before the worlds began so word concerning would never change. Faith is thus serves every believer so there is no Master servant considerations to go into. He is sent exactly as he sent his disciples and everything concerning their ministry is thus arranged so any conditions demanded would be inappropriate.
Sermon on the Mount was an occasion for Jesus for presenting the doctrine of God. The emblem mentioned in 5:1 served as the witness. "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples."
Blessedness was the portion for the multitudes and his disciples which was stipulated in the everlasting covenant. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."(2 Pe.1:4) Blessedness allowed access to be partakers of the holiness of God to which he was the way. Now what Jesus presented was condemnation for those who refused to receive him.
It explains also the significance of the number of the beast. 666 applied to the tripartite nature of man whose body, spirit and soul resisting the day sanctified by God. This day was by a decree, the everlasting covenant, to his Son. The Pharisees and chief priest engaged in talk with him in order to trip him up than receive the good news gladly.
It was to a multitude Simon Peter preached the good news and their response was,"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"(Ac.2:6,37-40) They heard the word of salvation,"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."(v.41)
The Spirit gives us an additional clue, where Command Number Three refers to the Son.(Three Thousand refers to number of souls saved in that day as the basis for the founding of the church age.)
Doctrine of Jesus stated, " But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."(23:11) The Pharisees and the scribes instead sit in Moses' seat, "And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues." Are we in our times any better?
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ( Jeremiah 17:9).
I thought that I should be honest here as to the state of my own heart. When a woman the other day showed kindness to me at the store a few days ago I suddenly found myself thinking about how it made me feel and if there was something in the future there. Those situations are times when those not grounded in the Word can suddenly be swept away into something outside the will of God. Being a man; of course there are some women no doubt who would chalk that off to the stupidity of a man as opposed to their greater senses of judgment on such matters. Frankly I don't really care about that analysis; I have done much thinking about my actions and much scriptural analysis in recent years but have to admit that there are some real weaknesses here that the enemy could easily exploit if I am off guard.
Such madness of course in my own situation as many may know led to my wife excusing her own actions in getting involved with a long term friend at work (which probably commenced long before I realized it). My former Pastor had the wisdom when I was going through the separation to advise me NOT to be alone with a woman in a car or similar situation as I was still a married man but didn't seem to mind when the divorce was final. My belief holds firm about remarriage being wrong when a former spouse is alive but that isn't the focus here. Such vigilence that my former Pastor had is similar to what Billy Graham did not allowing himself to be in an elevator alone with a woman. "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" ( Job 31:1).
I am of the firm belief that fornication and adultery are two chief ways that men will "drown in perdition" ( 1 Timothy 6:9). There are other sins related here such as covetousness; which I may go into more detail in the next post.
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
We need examine v.30 in detail since the gospel presented the doctrine of God in the Man. John testified that he was the Word (he 'was made flesh) "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. God is a Spirit so his glory in the world of the Spirit was translated when he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, in real time so to speak. John also refers the glory of the Word, "full of grace and truth."
So what shall we make of the mountain in the back drop? ("And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain.") This mountain is set as an emblem indicating the glory of the Word which is eternal. The cloud of witnesses attest that he presented the doctrine of God in his Person. It is truth. "(Thy word is truth") His voice likewise carried the voice of the Lord, full of grace. It is very similar to the voice from heaven witnessing. "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."(17:5).
Jesus compares the witnesses in the cloud as angels of God in heaven. In the transfiguration Jesus made manifest the spiritual body he carried in his Person which was to come into its own after his resurrection. He wanted his disciples to keep it a secret. Without death there was no resurrection/ It applied to his humanity. The glory of God in his resurrection therefore had bearing on the cloud as well as on his disciples. His doctrine gives us few examples. God is the God of the living. Death belongs to the world of the flesh and blood.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
"Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her./ Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
When the Scriptures speak of everlasting covenant death as an entity is not recognized by both parties to it. The world of the Spirit recognizes only life and it is for this reason the Spirit calls Jesus Christ as the Prince of life. "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."(Ac.3:15) Simon Peter as a witness in the world of the body refers to death which has only relevance because of sin. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"(Ro.5:12) Salvation Program of God consequently entailed sending his only begotten Son to which Simon refers as a witnesses.
It is thus we allow as the Spirit has set down in many places, the cloud of witness closely associated with this covenant. Heresy of churches of today owe to the misreading of the Scriptures and it only takes cognizance of the world of here and now. Prosperity as taught by false shepherds give glory in a success of abundance of worldly goods and impute it to God's favor. Jesus tells them as he tells the Sadducees."Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Without being part of the life that Jesus signifies where his life, his truth and the way must be where we put ourselves we are deceiving ourselves.
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."(v.30). Everlasting Covenant, in the world of the Spirit refers to Christ as the head of the body, the church. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."(19:6). This is the correct approach and not what is instituted for the flesh. So Moses had to take note of the hardness of their heart. (19:7-8)
Before we come to coinage that runs through hands and make a sound of splash when it is put on the counter there comes up a question, "Is this legal or is it counterfeit? Jesus wanted to make sure when a penny was brought to him, "Whose is this image and superscription?" It is so elemental that we buy and sell without realizing the entire authority of the powers- that-be has made it valid. So much so for a world given to changes. God has invested in faith so everlasting covenant validates our interaction with our brethren as well as with God. Blood of Jesus validates our act of faith so when we say Amen at the end of the Lord's Prayer we are making our requests in his Son.
We read of God tempting Abraham and Isaac because of this covenant existing between God and his Son. As the name says this value shall never change. Both sides of the coin are placed on the line before God. When the Spirit writes, "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Ge.9:16) it is not about memory but the covenant between heaven and the earth already in existence. His blessings running on continually ever since the sixth day is manifestation of His holiness. God is love. It also tells the perverseness of imposter church to exegete passages without sticking to this covenant where both sides, world of the Spirit and of the body has to be addressed. So my faith is addressing my Father which art in heaven in his Son. Without it it is neither here nor there.
Look at Science? Without including God as the creator what it speaks is merely how things work in such and such manner. After Galileo everything must be proved by hypothesis. So steady state theory of cosmology may give over to something else. It is how flase shepherd have treated the word of God. Why things work can only be made real by faith."Thy word is truth."
" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Jesus could track their motive to the source and it was nothing new. Satan tempted Jesus as he had embarked on his earthly ministry and he concealed his intent by citing the word of God. He had no intention of giving up his stance or acknowledging the truth. Similarly the Pharisees would thwart the triumphal march of the Son of man, not fully realizing its significance. "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk." Same trickery that could only set the interlocutors as egged on by Satan. He did not quit at the first time. As we read he waited for his opportunity."And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."( Luke 4:13)
The Spirit informs us that God had also tempted or tested Abraham. "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham" (Ge.22:1) and Isaac was his heir of promise and not Eliezer, it was made clear to him. God cannot deny his holiness. "And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir."Abraham received it and it formed the basis for the blessing God spelt out in Ge.12:3. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Ge.15:6) So testing of Abraham meant something else. In the Abstract God blessed man on the sixth day and it was validated in heaven as well as on earth. So all families will be blessed through Abraham. So Abraham and Isaac were testimonial in the Word of the Spirit as God and the Son framed the everlasting covenant. Thus Abraham and Isaac serve after a similitude to the Father Son relationship. The testing was only in as far as faith was concerned. "Without faith it is impossible to please God".(He.11:6) Whosoever came as heirs were to prove this in their lives. The cloud of witnesses made the covenant proper.
This Parable is noteworthy since this along with the previous one are two of a kind. "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."(21:45) The householder in the previous parable lets out his vineyard (the earth) to husbandmen (nations) and expects fruits in return. Here the king commands his subjects to be present during the marriage of his Son. In both cases the nation of Israel were included among nations obligated to perform. Whether as tenants or as subjects their places are outside the holy city of God. "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it."(Re.21:25) Those who belonged to New Jerusalem was called the Bride. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me," ( Luke 22:28-29). The parable is about the righteousness which is freely provided on the House. All that the guests required was to take the trouble of exercising faith trusting in the one who promised entry. All His promises are yea in his Son.
"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:/ And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless."(vv.11-12). He did not think it was worthwhile to ask what was ready for him. It was as trifle in his sight as the nation of Israel taking the King'd invitation lightly. "But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city./Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy".(vv.7-8)
Similarly we could speak of the manner the churches approach the word of God arbitrarily without comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
In proverbs it talks a lot about how sparing the rod spoils the child. I understand and agree that children need rules and discipline. I'm new to Christianity. My husband grew up with god. We have a toddler. My husband believes the best and only way to discipline our toddler is by spanking. I grew up being spanked and have always been against it. I have a hard time emotionally not interfering when he does it and he gets upset that I don't spank as well. I know what the Bible says. I just don't know how to make myself ok with it or even do it myself. The Bible says to die to yourself and follow gods word. So how do I put my trauma and emotions aside to do what the Bible says? How do I not worry about my child's emotional and mental wellbeing or what being spanked could do to them? I want to submit to my husbands lead and have my child grow up to be a good human being. I just can't get over physically and possibly mentally harming my child to do it.
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof./ And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder./ And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."
'A nation bringing forth fruits' is not any specific nation but children of light collectively called a nation, and its hallmark is determined by fruits. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."(12:33). Do we see any nation producing fruits that may be called as good?
Re.21:23 presents us nations walking under the holy city which is set up in mid-air so 12 foundation mentioned earlier gives us a rainbow as token of the everlasting covenant renewed between God and Noah, "for perpetual generations"(Ge.9:17).This is the sign now established by their own merits to which Jesus and his disciples serve for signs and wonders.(Is.8:18). Zion is above and not on the earth. Only those whose names 'are written in the Lamb's book of life,'(21:28) shall have access to it.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: and the Lamb is the light thereof".
However the pure water of life cannot be hanging in the midair but serves a purpose. There shall be no more curse but healing of nations would require the tree of life. "And on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations".(Re.22:1-3)
"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."(Ze.14:17) Gates to New Jerusalem are open (21:25)
"By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
The triumphal entry of Jesus moved the city of Jerusalem and the commotion brought chief priests and elders to see it for themselves. "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?"(13:55) In his own country the townsfolk were offended and in Jerusalem he was all the more a question mark. "Who gave thee this authority?"
Jesus could have given the same answer he gave John, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see/ The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."(11:4-6) What blessedness was in reducing the power and glory of God into some theorem to be proved? It is what serpent gave Eve asking her to prove God by some established truths. Knowledge of good and evil without the truth was neither here nor there. Ever since the world has been wrestling with it and to what purpose?
Man raises razor-wire fencing to keep migrants out while within wildfires menacingly spread into an inferno does man see any connection? Of course not. His mind has been corrupted by undue stress on reason to see his folly from evidences. Minds that devise nuclear bombs to halt a war in far-off Pacific theater of war may not have foreseen space based nuclear weapons but it has become the reality.
The chief priests without faith could not determine if John's baptism was from heaven or not. They also wanted to please man so they were stumped by the question of Jesus. They were like the proverbial salt having lost savor was good for nothing. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6)
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
'All things' are included here. Worlds framed by the word of God are heaven and the earth that is the world abides forever so blessings of every one who is adopted the fellowship of God and the Son is entitled to it. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"(Ro.8:32) As children of light we ought to be circumspect to seek not the selfsame things as the ungodly in a frenzy rush in madcap adventures that eventually drive them to their destruction. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:/Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world."(2 Pe.1:3-4)
"And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
Jesus cites from Psalm 8 the glory set above the heaven and it refers to the throne of God. When Jesus said on an earlier occasion,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" he referred to the glory which had ordained strength (19:14) in them 'because of thine enemies' and it was demonstrated along the march. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest./And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved."(vv.9-10) We shall refer the Lucan gospel, "And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples./ And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:39-40).
God gives each body its character " But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him" (1 Co.15:38). These bodies do differ but in terms of glory it points to God whether inanimate or not. It is why Jesus referred to the stones. If the enemies of God were to deny the Son the glory due the stones shall nevertheless take it up for perfecting the praise due to Him. The point is that glory of God when understood correctly is an indication that the body is one with God. This shall also explain why the fig tree withered away. (vv.18-20). Jesus hungered and went to the tree. It failed to see the God of glory. In failing to perfect praise the tree straightaway withered away.
Compare the saying of John the Baptist," And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."(3:9)
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?/So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
God is the householder and when we have become the many sons of God we may say we are of his house and our rights and privileges are that conferred by his Son. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."( Luke 12:32). This aspect of kingdom building is what we considered in the earlier posts. We ministered with the Son who showed with his life as to how. "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (20:27) Holiness of God is made manifest because He sent his own Son whose humanity showed what was good.
In the Parable of the Laborers the willing hands were for hire and nothing else they brought into the vineyard. All they had in mind was merely a penny as the day's wages. They were hireling while Jesus as the Good Shepherd is not working for his hire but he seeks to promote the interest of his Father. He knows the sheep by name so his interests and of his Father are in lockstep. "And know my sheep, and am known of mine./ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ( John 10:14-15) Kingdom building cannot be left to the hirelings because they are not trustworthy if left to themselves. An hireling "seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep./The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."(vv.12-13). For this reason the Householder calls their eye is evil. Their heart is not right since they are in the vineyard for the penny they agreed upon. Salvation is likened to a day's wages.
v.14 Hierarchy on the basis of hours is a lie if the contract stipulated day's wages only. Similarly the Pope and the sexton can only be paid what is agreed before hand.
" Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (v.28)
It is a categorical statement and rules of engagement in the Kingdom of his dear Son vastly differs from that of the pagan world. We shall see the damage done already by the miry clay so the strength of iron has become as oppressive as the weakness of clay has made their creed,-the liturgical worship of the congregation akin to the mumbo jumbo to which Jesus alluded,"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." This vain repetition consequently has made the faith they rely on to none effect. The same Scripture the imposter church follows as a believer yet so many doctrinal heresies would require so many denominations ,-and the religious wars of the past and inquisition with its instruments of cruelty that one may ask, "Is Christ so divided among you?" Jesus set an example but still the princes of the Holy See and TV celebrities overlord their flock as though they were entitled to have different rules than they impose on other. Jesus has clearly shown us an example.
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them./ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;/ And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
Humility of the suffering Servant was not for himself but to give life as ransom for many. Jesus explained the reward of following him through thick and thin. They shall "inherit everlasting life.(19:29). Hope of 'every one that hath forsaken houses' is eternal habitations. "In my Father's house are many mansions". He has also given them a route map. "I am the way." ( John 14:2-6)
"For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be./For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together."
The disciples of Jesus asked the question, which is in three parts. "Tell us, when shall these things be?"The first part we have covered already. From 'the books opened and the judgment was set' in the night vision of Daniel has a bearing on the great tribulation and it is also set on a reconstituted time. Now we shall look at "what shall be the sign of thy coming" For the final part of " the end of the world?" we have a parable in the following chapter.
The second Temple of Jerusalem faced the east, the prince mentioned in the vision of Ezekiel on leaving the east gate has to be shut. So we are not looking at the Son of man but Jesus Christ as the Lord from heaven. In Malachi his coming leads to the day of his coming. "And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts./But who may abide the day of his coming?" (Mal.3:1-2)
What do we make of lighting, which in the vision of St John is associated with the throne of God?"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices."(Re.4:5) From Re.10:4 we shall infer that thunderings and voices refer to gospel preached.
"And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." What contained in the little book was judgment remained to be executed."But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."
East west mentioned in the first part refers to the destruction of Jerusalem AD70.
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
This passage shows what appears at first glance to be a statement that supports the idea of infant baptism; or that entire households as a given are saved as a result of one person coming to faith. I would take it more as a word of knowledge on Paul's part. We see in this passage in verse 32 that the Gospel was spoken to the entire household of the jail guard first; and immediately afterwards baptism occurred (although it is not clear where that was done in the middle of the night).
The main concept here is that with the earthquake and releasing of chains at midnight of Paul and all the prisoners brought great fear; and that this shows the Biblical prescident for faith; that is an emphasis on the fear of the Lord and a desire for the individual to come to faith without prodding or compulsion by others as is the style today. When we see other verses such as in Acts when Agrippa almost was convinced to be a Christian ( Acts 26:28) it was through Paul's eloquent appeal. Repent and believe is a general call; but I can't find any specific verses where an individual is called to make a confession of faith such as in modern day "altar calls". This shows that a heart must be ready; and how frequently such commitments are made due to pressure from man; rather than genuine conviction. The appeal in Acts to the Jews was that the one they had crucified was indeed the Christ ( Acts 2:23). Such response brings persecution as all who are giving a genuine convicting message of truth; this is opposed to today's easy believism without counting the cost which happens often.
"And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you./For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many."
When Christ sent his disciple he laid down the principle of Association."He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.". He that received in the name of Jesus received the Father who sent him.(10:40). If this is the case, where is the deception? We see in our times, how preaching of gospel is a ruse for Televangelists to add to their acquisitions Universities, real estate, fleet of sleek autos and aircrafts. It is of them Jesus warned, "For mayy shall come in my name and shall decieve many. They do not have to say, "I am Christ" but the principle is already laid down. They are collecting 'in my name; since the gospel stands as witness against them. All the while camera is rolling under the lights controlled to set off the preacher performing his spiel it is not for the glory of Christ but for his own brand name.
We see already the beginning of sorrows.(v.8) "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. In the post-pandemic days uncontrolled wild fires and monster surges snowstorms inundating cities are merely the beginning. Famine in Gaza, Ethiopia or in Sudan, street violence in Haiti the list can go on endlessly. These sorrows ought to make the complacent nations realize that manifest destiny for them is no different. Seek the Lord while he may be found.
Sunday as the Sabbath?
"Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." Here we can understand the world of the body is a closed system where law of sin run through the whole lump of flesh and blood, so being 'woke and cancel culture' are merely BandAid that nation applies to a sepulcher of the past. Statues erected to commemorate men of yesteryears fall in disrepute but fighting the past is only to clear the way for those who shall be thrown down in future. Thus man fights the phantoms of the past. The real culprit is the law of sin.
The Don Quixotes who tilt at the windmills are themselves "whited sepulchers,"and as such Jesus observes,"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity"(vv.27-28).
St Paul writes of being born again. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new./And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ."(2 Co.5:17-18). What is this new creation but brought out of the world of the flesh to the everlasting life. Father of mercies accepted us in his Son. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:/Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son."(Col.1:12-13).
Despite of this liberty if man would prefer darkness what shall we call them. They are enemies to Christ. Jesus denounced the Pharisees and scribes and it applies in our times as well. Their culture wars shall continue since they have by rejecting the prince of life has rejected the wisdom that Jesus Christ of God signifies to us. (1 Co.1:30)
v.33 "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption(2 Pe.1: 4)
"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel"
The Pharisees would prove they are separate from the rest which when taken to excess so their sanctimonious humbug drew condemnation from Jesus. "for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone." (v.24)
St Paul would annotate this verse in his own manner, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."(1 Co.13:1) Eloquence of the tongue is mere sounding brass without Christ in you putting words to sound. Paying tithe does not sanctify your Maker when your actions are to show you off before others. Paul's discourse on Charity is preached so frequently but with congregants separated into White and ethnic divisions does it sound right? God's word so worked over in order to explain the slavery question is a case in point. "Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren."( Ge.9:18-27). The curse was on Canaan but for those who wanted to justify slavery on Biblical grounds, arbitrarily put the curse on Ham instead. Ham was made black, and his descendants were made Africans. If the inerrant word of God could be set as foundational text to perpetuate a myth and an abhorrent doctrine, it speaks volumes of the perversity that the churches have largely turned a blind eye on. St Paul's warning of 'the hireling' has come to pass." For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock./ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."(Ac.20:29-30; John 10:12)
v.13 "For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." Scribes and Pharisees cause others to stumble to which Jesus had commented on another occasion, "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."(18:6)
v.14 " hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." Hypocrisy of Pharisees is to sound holier -than- thou while they hear only the sound of money coming in.
v.15 "for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves." Church planting is well and good. After big fanfare and cheers who shall water them daily and attend to their growth do get lost. St Paul faulted churches in Corinth and ensewhere on their partisan spirit. Heresies find a fertile ground in this spirit of contention.
vv.16-18 :Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?" Wherever the vitality of the doctrine of God is glossed over from Christ to the tradition of man it becomes idolatry. In the age of televangelists it is what celebrities thrive upon. The disciple pointed at the temple in admiration "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down."(24:2). Glory of what is seen is temporal and shall fade off. Without taking two worlds of the Spirit and of the body as one and our everlasting life is assured on jour Redeemer Lord what we witness about us is hypocrisy. The Pharisees and scribes were content with praise of men and God swept them off as filth from the face of the earth.
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:" 1 Timothy 4:4 KJV. Also Genesis 1:31, Romans 14:14, Acts 11:7-9
At what point do we believe something is no longer God's creation, but a man-made creation, like a drug made in a lab? And how do we balance that with harming the body? "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" 1 Corinthians 6:19 KJV
Thank you.
( Psalm 37:4).
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
( Luke 18:8).
The issue of our heart relates to our affections and the ownership of such. When we are crucified with Christ ( Galatians 2:20) His life takes over and our vessel (body) becomes His tabernacle where the Spirit dwells. Since the Lord is eternal; along with the spirit in which God has created us we perceive these things ( Ecclesiastes 3:11). Whether in the body or out of it we are part of Christ's Body and we shall stand in His presence; we are already "seated in heavenly places" ( Ephesians 2:6).
Such affections draw us close to our brothers and sisters in the faith; and indeed we are COMMANDED to love one another; both from the Gospels and later quotes from John ( John 15:12; 1 John 3:23). This should be a springboard for time; money and effort to be poured out for the ministries and missions of the church and unity among the brethren. Agape love is the only love which can love anyone unconditionally; and therefore it also extends to the lost who we are commissioned to reach.
Often people complicate things when it comes to relationships; prayer certainly is helpful as I have seen personally a brother finding his wife to be 2 days after praying to find someone; along with another missionary friend of mine from many years ago when overseas. Still; there are some things which may not come to fruition until the Lord returns (primarily finding justice on the earth in places which have for a long time now featured persecution). Since we have a NEW heart; however we can find joy in seeing others being blessed; and seeing people come to faith even during times when we are struggling in our lives.
We often look at Christ's death as the ultimate love; but let us not forget His whole ministry especially toward His Disciples.
In 2016 we heard a televangelist asking for a Jet Falcon for his missionary tours. His explanation was, "I really believe that if Jesus was physically on the Earth today he wouldn't be riding a donkey," he said. "Think about that for a minute. He'd be in an aeroplane preaching the gospel all over the world." Jesus explained the quality of servants, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."( Luke 17:10) We are commanded to do a certain task and we set out to do them trusting fully in His promises.
The Gentile kings have a custom, and it perpetuates the master servant distinction. Regarding the tribute money Jesus posed this question,"What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?/ Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free." (17:25-26) The earth lieth in wickedness because Satan's ploy has worked well with man who would serve both God and mammon with little success. Jesus set the reward of everlasting life for those who are led by the Spirit.
"The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord./It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord." (10:24-25). Simon Peter towards the end wanted to know, " Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?/And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel."(19:27-28)
"Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ./But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant./And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Jesus as he delivered the doctrine of his Father he had as a man no place to lay his head. But God chose him as the Savior of the whole world. His holiness is founded not any world seen or in externals but on an quality, which is the DNA of the Father Son relationship. Faith is accordingly based on the Word which is eternal, and is the Law. He assured that his Father would never let go his divine nature. " Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"(6:26) 'Behold' in this verse tells man to think of the word as already sent out and it is as good as done. So faith is what man would require as His children to take a lesson from the fowls. Similarly ants. Their worlds are organized vastly different from what we have devised so faith exercised by them no less true that we understand the term. Faith is one as the Gospel is. Holiness of God covers His creation.
Jesus set an example with his life so at every turn we read that at Bethphage he sent out for his carriage, "All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,/Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."(21:4-5). His itinerary had been set even before the worlds began so word concerning would never change. Faith is thus serves every believer so there is no Master servant considerations to go into. He is sent exactly as he sent his disciples and everything concerning their ministry is thus arranged so any conditions demanded would be inappropriate.
Sermon on the Mount was an occasion for Jesus for presenting the doctrine of God. The emblem mentioned in 5:1 served as the witness. "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples."
Blessedness was the portion for the multitudes and his disciples which was stipulated in the everlasting covenant. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."(2 Pe.1:4) Blessedness allowed access to be partakers of the holiness of God to which he was the way. Now what Jesus presented was condemnation for those who refused to receive him.
It explains also the significance of the number of the beast. 666 applied to the tripartite nature of man whose body, spirit and soul resisting the day sanctified by God. This day was by a decree, the everlasting covenant, to his Son. The Pharisees and chief priest engaged in talk with him in order to trip him up than receive the good news gladly.
It was to a multitude Simon Peter preached the good news and their response was,"Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?"(Ac.2:6,37-40) They heard the word of salvation,"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."(v.41)
The Spirit gives us an additional clue, where Command Number Three refers to the Son.(Three Thousand refers to number of souls saved in that day as the basis for the founding of the church age.)
Doctrine of Jesus stated, " But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."(23:11) The Pharisees and the scribes instead sit in Moses' seat, "And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues." Are we in our times any better?
I thought that I should be honest here as to the state of my own heart. When a woman the other day showed kindness to me at the store a few days ago I suddenly found myself thinking about how it made me feel and if there was something in the future there. Those situations are times when those not grounded in the Word can suddenly be swept away into something outside the will of God. Being a man; of course there are some women no doubt who would chalk that off to the stupidity of a man as opposed to their greater senses of judgment on such matters. Frankly I don't really care about that analysis; I have done much thinking about my actions and much scriptural analysis in recent years but have to admit that there are some real weaknesses here that the enemy could easily exploit if I am off guard.
Such madness of course in my own situation as many may know led to my wife excusing her own actions in getting involved with a long term friend at work (which probably commenced long before I realized it). My former Pastor had the wisdom when I was going through the separation to advise me NOT to be alone with a woman in a car or similar situation as I was still a married man but didn't seem to mind when the divorce was final. My belief holds firm about remarriage being wrong when a former spouse is alive but that isn't the focus here. Such vigilence that my former Pastor had is similar to what Billy Graham did not allowing himself to be in an elevator alone with a woman. "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" ( Job 31:1).
I am of the firm belief that fornication and adultery are two chief ways that men will "drown in perdition" ( 1 Timothy 6:9). There are other sins related here such as covetousness; which I may go into more detail in the next post.
When temptation calls; flee.
2nd Where does it say if you even think to LY then in Gods Mind you have Broken all His Laws
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."
We need examine v.30 in detail since the gospel presented the doctrine of God in the Man. John testified that he was the Word (he 'was made flesh) "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father. God is a Spirit so his glory in the world of the Spirit was translated when he delivered the Sermon on the Mount, in real time so to speak. John also refers the glory of the Word, "full of grace and truth."
So what shall we make of the mountain in the back drop? ("And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain.") This mountain is set as an emblem indicating the glory of the Word which is eternal. The cloud of witnesses attest that he presented the doctrine of God in his Person. It is truth. "(Thy word is truth") His voice likewise carried the voice of the Lord, full of grace. It is very similar to the voice from heaven witnessing. "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."(17:5).
Jesus compares the witnesses in the cloud as angels of God in heaven. In the transfiguration Jesus made manifest the spiritual body he carried in his Person which was to come into its own after his resurrection. He wanted his disciples to keep it a secret. Without death there was no resurrection/ It applied to his humanity. The glory of God in his resurrection therefore had bearing on the cloud as well as on his disciples. His doctrine gives us few examples. God is the God of the living. Death belongs to the world of the flesh and blood.
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
"Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her./ Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."
When the Scriptures speak of everlasting covenant death as an entity is not recognized by both parties to it. The world of the Spirit recognizes only life and it is for this reason the Spirit calls Jesus Christ as the Prince of life. "And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."(Ac.3:15) Simon Peter as a witness in the world of the body refers to death which has only relevance because of sin. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"(Ro.5:12) Salvation Program of God consequently entailed sending his only begotten Son to which Simon refers as a witnesses.
It is thus we allow as the Spirit has set down in many places, the cloud of witness closely associated with this covenant. Heresy of churches of today owe to the misreading of the Scriptures and it only takes cognizance of the world of here and now. Prosperity as taught by false shepherds give glory in a success of abundance of worldly goods and impute it to God's favor. Jesus tells them as he tells the Sadducees."Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." Without being part of the life that Jesus signifies where his life, his truth and the way must be where we put ourselves we are deceiving ourselves.
"For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."(v.30). Everlasting Covenant, in the world of the Spirit refers to Christ as the head of the body, the church. "What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."(19:6). This is the correct approach and not what is instituted for the flesh. So Moses had to take note of the hardness of their heart. (19:7-8)
Before we come to coinage that runs through hands and make a sound of splash when it is put on the counter there comes up a question, "Is this legal or is it counterfeit? Jesus wanted to make sure when a penny was brought to him, "Whose is this image and superscription?" It is so elemental that we buy and sell without realizing the entire authority of the powers- that-be has made it valid. So much so for a world given to changes. God has invested in faith so everlasting covenant validates our interaction with our brethren as well as with God. Blood of Jesus validates our act of faith so when we say Amen at the end of the Lord's Prayer we are making our requests in his Son.
We read of God tempting Abraham and Isaac because of this covenant existing between God and his Son. As the name says this value shall never change. Both sides of the coin are placed on the line before God. When the Spirit writes, "And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth." (Ge.9:16) it is not about memory but the covenant between heaven and the earth already in existence. His blessings running on continually ever since the sixth day is manifestation of His holiness. God is love. It also tells the perverseness of imposter church to exegete passages without sticking to this covenant where both sides, world of the Spirit and of the body has to be addressed. So my faith is addressing my Father which art in heaven in his Son. Without it it is neither here nor there.
Look at Science? Without including God as the creator what it speaks is merely how things work in such and such manner. After Galileo everything must be proved by hypothesis. So steady state theory of cosmology may give over to something else. It is how flase shepherd have treated the word of God. Why things work can only be made real by faith."Thy word is truth."
" But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Jesus could track their motive to the source and it was nothing new. Satan tempted Jesus as he had embarked on his earthly ministry and he concealed his intent by citing the word of God. He had no intention of giving up his stance or acknowledging the truth. Similarly the Pharisees would thwart the triumphal march of the Son of man, not fully realizing its significance. "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk." Same trickery that could only set the interlocutors as egged on by Satan. He did not quit at the first time. As we read he waited for his opportunity."And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season."( Luke 4:13)
The Spirit informs us that God had also tempted or tested Abraham. "And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham" (Ge.22:1) and Isaac was his heir of promise and not Eliezer, it was made clear to him. God cannot deny his holiness. "And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir."Abraham received it and it formed the basis for the blessing God spelt out in Ge.12:3. "And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness." (Ge.15:6) So testing of Abraham meant something else. In the Abstract God blessed man on the sixth day and it was validated in heaven as well as on earth. So all families will be blessed through Abraham. So Abraham and Isaac were testimonial in the Word of the Spirit as God and the Son framed the everlasting covenant. Thus Abraham and Isaac serve after a similitude to the Father Son relationship. The testing was only in as far as faith was concerned. "Without faith it is impossible to please God".(He.11:6) Whosoever came as heirs were to prove this in their lives. The cloud of witnesses made the covenant proper.
This Parable is noteworthy since this along with the previous one are two of a kind. "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."(21:45) The householder in the previous parable lets out his vineyard (the earth) to husbandmen (nations) and expects fruits in return. Here the king commands his subjects to be present during the marriage of his Son. In both cases the nation of Israel were included among nations obligated to perform. Whether as tenants or as subjects their places are outside the holy city of God. "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it."(Re.21:25) Those who belonged to New Jerusalem was called the Bride. "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me," ( Luke 22:28-29). The parable is about the righteousness which is freely provided on the House. All that the guests required was to take the trouble of exercising faith trusting in the one who promised entry. All His promises are yea in his Son.
"And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:/ And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless."(vv.11-12). He did not think it was worthwhile to ask what was ready for him. It was as trifle in his sight as the nation of Israel taking the King'd invitation lightly. "But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city./Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy".(vv.7-8)
Similarly we could speak of the manner the churches approach the word of God arbitrarily without comparing the spiritual with spiritual.
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof./ And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder./ And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them."
'A nation bringing forth fruits' is not any specific nation but children of light collectively called a nation, and its hallmark is determined by fruits. "Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit."(12:33). Do we see any nation producing fruits that may be called as good?
Re.21:23 presents us nations walking under the holy city which is set up in mid-air so 12 foundation mentioned earlier gives us a rainbow as token of the everlasting covenant renewed between God and Noah, "for perpetual generations"(Ge.9:17).This is the sign now established by their own merits to which Jesus and his disciples serve for signs and wonders.(Is.8:18). Zion is above and not on the earth. Only those whose names 'are written in the Lamb's book of life,'(21:28) shall have access to it.
"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: and the Lamb is the light thereof".
However the pure water of life cannot be hanging in the midair but serves a purpose. There shall be no more curse but healing of nations would require the tree of life. "And on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations".(Re.22:1-3)
"And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."(Ze.14:17) Gates to New Jerusalem are open (21:25)
"By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
The triumphal entry of Jesus moved the city of Jerusalem and the commotion brought chief priests and elders to see it for themselves. "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?"(13:55) In his own country the townsfolk were offended and in Jerusalem he was all the more a question mark. "Who gave thee this authority?"
Jesus could have given the same answer he gave John, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see/ The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them."(11:4-6) What blessedness was in reducing the power and glory of God into some theorem to be proved? It is what serpent gave Eve asking her to prove God by some established truths. Knowledge of good and evil without the truth was neither here nor there. Ever since the world has been wrestling with it and to what purpose?
Man raises razor-wire fencing to keep migrants out while within wildfires menacingly spread into an inferno does man see any connection? Of course not. His mind has been corrupted by undue stress on reason to see his folly from evidences. Minds that devise nuclear bombs to halt a war in far-off Pacific theater of war may not have foreseen space based nuclear weapons but it has become the reality.
The chief priests without faith could not determine if John's baptism was from heaven or not. They also wanted to please man so they were stumped by the question of Jesus. They were like the proverbial salt having lost savor was good for nothing. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."(He.11:6)
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
'All things' are included here. Worlds framed by the word of God are heaven and the earth that is the world abides forever so blessings of every one who is adopted the fellowship of God and the Son is entitled to it. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"(Ro.8:32) As children of light we ought to be circumspect to seek not the selfsame things as the ungodly in a frenzy rush in madcap adventures that eventually drive them to their destruction. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:/Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world."(2 Pe.1:3-4)
"And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?"
Jesus cites from Psalm 8 the glory set above the heaven and it refers to the throne of God. When Jesus said on an earlier occasion,"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven" he referred to the glory which had ordained strength (19:14) in them 'because of thine enemies' and it was demonstrated along the march. "And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest./And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved."(vv.9-10) We shall refer the Lucan gospel, "And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples./ And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out."( Luke 19:39-40).
God gives each body its character " But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him" (1 Co.15:38). These bodies do differ but in terms of glory it points to God whether inanimate or not. It is why Jesus referred to the stones. If the enemies of God were to deny the Son the glory due the stones shall nevertheless take it up for perfecting the praise due to Him. The point is that glory of God when understood correctly is an indication that the body is one with God. This shall also explain why the fig tree withered away. (vv.18-20). Jesus hungered and went to the tree. It failed to see the God of glory. In failing to perfect praise the tree straightaway withered away.
Compare the saying of John the Baptist," And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."(3:9)
"Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?/So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."
God is the householder and when we have become the many sons of God we may say we are of his house and our rights and privileges are that conferred by his Son. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."( Luke 12:32). This aspect of kingdom building is what we considered in the earlier posts. We ministered with the Son who showed with his life as to how. "And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." (20:27) Holiness of God is made manifest because He sent his own Son whose humanity showed what was good.
In the Parable of the Laborers the willing hands were for hire and nothing else they brought into the vineyard. All they had in mind was merely a penny as the day's wages. They were hireling while Jesus as the Good Shepherd is not working for his hire but he seeks to promote the interest of his Father. He knows the sheep by name so his interests and of his Father are in lockstep. "And know my sheep, and am known of mine./ As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. ( John 10:14-15) Kingdom building cannot be left to the hirelings because they are not trustworthy if left to themselves. An hireling "seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep./The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep."(vv.12-13). For this reason the Householder calls their eye is evil. Their heart is not right since they are in the vineyard for the penny they agreed upon. Salvation is likened to a day's wages.
v.14 Hierarchy on the basis of hours is a lie if the contract stipulated day's wages only. Similarly the Pope and the sexton can only be paid what is agreed before hand.
" Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (v.28)
It is a categorical statement and rules of engagement in the Kingdom of his dear Son vastly differs from that of the pagan world. We shall see the damage done already by the miry clay so the strength of iron has become as oppressive as the weakness of clay has made their creed,-the liturgical worship of the congregation akin to the mumbo jumbo to which Jesus alluded,"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." This vain repetition consequently has made the faith they rely on to none effect. The same Scripture the imposter church follows as a believer yet so many doctrinal heresies would require so many denominations ,-and the religious wars of the past and inquisition with its instruments of cruelty that one may ask, "Is Christ so divided among you?" Jesus set an example but still the princes of the Holy See and TV celebrities overlord their flock as though they were entitled to have different rules than they impose on other. Jesus has clearly shown us an example.
"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them./ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;/ And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant."
Humility of the suffering Servant was not for himself but to give life as ransom for many. Jesus explained the reward of following him through thick and thin. They shall "inherit everlasting life.(19:29). Hope of 'every one that hath forsaken houses' is eternal habitations. "In my Father's house are many mansions". He has also given them a route map. "I am the way." ( John 14:2-6)