Bible Lesson: Parables'-Our Lord's.
Parable: The Prodigal Son.
Luke 15:10-32 KJV
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
11 And He said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:10-32 NLT
10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons.
12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.
14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve.
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!
18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast,
24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house,
26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him,
29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends.
30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.
32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’
Jesus tells us this story, and it is a story of two sons.
Who are the sons?
Some have speculated that they are the Jews and the Gentiles.
Some have speculated that they are all “self-righteous,” individuals, legalists, as were the Pharisees and Scribes, who said that Jesus received sinners, versus those who received the Lord Jesus as the Christ.
This then is a story of the love of God, the Father.
At one time the brothers worked together in the father's fields.
But, something changes the story, and in effect changes who, the brothers are in respect to their father.
The younger, wishing to be a free spirit, asks for his inheritance, (one third of his fathers possessions, due to his age, being the younger.)
The young son goes into “a far country (Luke 15:13),” representative of sin and it's separating one from the Father.
Isaiah 59:2 KJV
"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you...
Once there he...
Luke 15:13 KJV
“...and there wasted his substance with riotous living.”
His older brother said of him, and perhaps so...
Luke 15:30
“...this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots...”
Some one has said, “a fool and his money are soon parted,” certainly it was so with the young son.
When the money was gone, so to were his friends.
To make matters worse, there arose a famine in the land, and....
Luke 15:14 NLT
“...he began to starve.”
And so ….
Luke 15:15,16 NLT
15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.
16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
Jews were to have nothing to do with swine, as they were an unclean animal, but being in rebellion, and sin, he was forced to feed swine and eat their food.
What a picture of the “rewards of sin.”
The devil is the kind of individual, that you may serve him with “everything you have,” only to have him reward you by throwing you into the mire of his hellish pig pen.
Is this truth hidden, that love and mercy of the father realized, is better than cold religious ritual and legalistic duty?
All was not lost!
The young son's prayer of repentance:
Luke 15:17-20 KJV
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father."
Psalm 40:1-8 KJV (David prayed.)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings.
3 And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Something in the story had changed, and it had changed the sons relationship to their father and to each other, forever.
What once had been a legalistic duty to the father, had now become a call of love from the heart, for the young son.
What had brought about this transformation?
The revelation of the love and mercy of the Father.
For after the young son had prayed his prayer of repentance, and made and “about-face,” to “return” home....
Luke 15:20-24 KJV
20 And he arose, and came to his father.
But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
How blessed is the thought, the very idea, that the Father is and has always looked down the road for us!
Psalm 27:9-11 KJV
9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.
11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path..."
Psalm 28:6-9 KJV
6 Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.
8 The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.
9 Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 36:5 KJV
Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Psalm 78:38 KJV
"But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity..."
Psalm 86:15 KJV
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalm 89:1 KJV
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 103:8,11-13,17 KJV
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear Him.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;
Psalm 130:7 KJV
"...with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption."
Psalm 145:18-20 KJV
18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20 The LORD preserveth all them that love Him
Isaiah 25:9 KJV
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
Isaiah 43:1 KJV
But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.
Isaiah 55:6,7 KJV
6 Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
Jeremiah 31:3 KJV
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Lamentations 3:22,23 KJV
22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Joel 2:12,13 KJV
12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.
Micah 7:18,19 KJV
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger for ever, because He delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Nahum 1:7 KJV
The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust in Him.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 2:4 NLT
Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that His kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
Romans 5:8 KJV
But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Titus 3:5,6 KJV
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
I Peter 2:25 KJV
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I John 3:1 KJV
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.
Back in the arms of his father, rejoicing was the theme of the day.
Luke 15:22-24 KJV
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
The older brother heard all the commotion, and he became angry.
Luke 15:25-32 KJV
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Matthew 9:10-13 KJV (Pharisees and Scribes.)
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto His disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
28 “And he was angry, and would not go in:...”
Again, Jews (Pharisees and Scribes) versus Gentiles.
Ritualistic legalism, versus acceptance by repentance and faith, in the finished work of the Lord Jesus.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 3:28-31 NLT
28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.
29 After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn’t He also the God of the Gentiles? Of course He is.
30 There is only one God, and He makes people right with Himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.
31 Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law?
Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law.
Gentiles, beware, for the day will come, and not that to distant in the future, when these events will be turned about.
For we (Redeemed Gentiles), will have somewhat the position of the elder brother, for all of Israel will come to know the Lord!
Hosea 3:4,5 KJV
4 This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests, or even idols!
5 But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of His goodness.
Romans 12:3-5 KJV
3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.
4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function,
5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Romans 11:1-36 NLT
1 I ask, then, has God rejected His own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 No, God has not rejected His own people, whom He chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said,
3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”
4 And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!”
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—His undeserved kindness in choosing them.
6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
7 So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.
8 As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day He has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.”
9 Likewise, David said,“Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve.
10 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever.”
11 Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But He wanted His own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.
12 Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.
13 I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,
14 for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.
15 For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!
16 And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.
17 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.
18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
19 “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”
20 Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.
21 For if God did not spare the original branches, He won’t spare you either.
22 Notice how God is both kind and severe. He is severe toward those who disobeyed, but kind to you if you continue to trust in His kindness. But if you stop trusting, you also will be cut off.
23 And if the people of Israel turn from their unbelief, they will be grafted in again, for God has the power to graft them back into the tree.
24 You, by nature, were a branch cut from a wild olive tree. So if God was willing to do something contrary to nature by grafting you into His cultivated tree, He will be far more eager to graft the original branches back into the tree where they belong.
God’s Mercy Is for Everyone
25 I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.
26 And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say,“The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and He will turn Israel away from ungodliness.
27 And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”
28 Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
29 For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.
30 Once, you Gentiles were rebels against God, but when the people of Israel rebelled against Him, God was merciful to you instead.
31 Now they are the rebels, and God’s mercy has come to you so that they, too, will share in God’s mercy.
32 For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone.
33 Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!
34 For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice?
35 And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back?
36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.
Dear friend, the heavenly Father has been looking for you!
Will you return?
Will you seek His love and mercy?
Will you repent of your sin and seek His face?
He longs to receive you into His arms, of love and goodness.
Revelation 22:17 NLT
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.
Salvation Prayer:
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Bible Questions Answered: Election
Bible Questions Answered:
God does elect us this is true?
Tumelo/ Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Bible Answer:
God, does not arbitrarily elect souls to be saved, and souls to be damned.
Some have taught, because of Almighty Power, and Right, God chooses some souls to be saved, while choosing other souls to be lost, what insanity!
Is there “election?”
Yes!
Blind election, such as described above? Never!
What kind of “election,” could possibly be the alternative?
Election, by “Foreknowledge!”
Romans 8:28-30 KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He did foreknow*, He also did predestinate* to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He did predestinate*, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.
*Foreknow: Greek-Proginosko (Prog-in-oce-ko): To know beforehand, i.e. forsee, foreknow (ordain) Know (before). All translations “Abingdon/Strong.”
*Predestinate: Greek-Proorizo (Pro-or-id-zo): To limit in advance, predetermine, determine before, ordain, Predestinate.
God's Election, is based on His perfect foreknowledge, He knew before the foundations of the world, those who would, and those who would not turn to Him!
For those who would turn their heart and lives to Him, He charted their lives for blessing and eternal life.
Psalm 37:23,24 KJV
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.
Psalm 23:37,38 NLT
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Proverbs 16:9 KJV
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
God's Foreknowledge:
Isaiah 42:9 KJV
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:
Daniel 2:27,28 KJV
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Matthew 24:36 KJV
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Acts 2:22-23 KJV
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate* counsel* and foreknowledge* of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
*Determinate-Greek-Proorizo (Pro-or-id-zo): To limit in advance, predetermine before, ordain, predestinate.
*Counsel-Greek-Boule (Boo-lay): Volition, Advice, purpose, advise, counsel, will.
*Foreknowledge-Greek-Prognosis (Prog-no-sis): Forethought, foreknowledge.
Acts 3:18 KJV
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.
Acts 15:18 KJV
Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
Romans 11:2 NLT
"No, God has not rejected His own people, whom He chose from the very beginning..."
I Peter 1:1,2 KJV
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect* according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
*Elect-Greek-Eklektos (Ek-lek-tos): Favorite, chosen, elect.
Does it need explanation, that God's favorites, God's chosen, would be those who would turn to Him, with all their hearts, and that He in His Foreknowledge, would elect them to His blessings?
Second Proof:
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
How many does God, want to be saved? All!
II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
How many does our God, wish to be lost? None!
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13 KJV
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:14-21 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
God does elect us this is true?
Tumelo/ Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Bible Answer:
God, does not arbitrarily elect souls to be saved, and souls to be damned.
Some have taught, because of Almighty Power, and Right, God chooses some souls to be saved, while choosing other souls to be lost, what insanity!
Is there “election?”
Yes!
Blind election, such as described above? Never!
What kind of “election,” could possibly be the alternative?
Election, by “Foreknowledge!”
Romans 8:28-30 KJV
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He did foreknow*, He also did predestinate* to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the Firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He did predestinate*, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also glorified.
*Foreknow: Greek-Proginosko (Prog-in-oce-ko): To know beforehand, i.e. forsee, foreknow (ordain) Know (before). All translations “Abingdon/Strong.”
*Predestinate: Greek-Proorizo (Pro-or-id-zo): To limit in advance, predetermine, determine before, ordain, Predestinate.
God's Election, is based on His perfect foreknowledge, He knew before the foundations of the world, those who would, and those who would not turn to Him!
For those who would turn their heart and lives to Him, He charted their lives for blessing and eternal life.
Psalm 37:23,24 KJV
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and He delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with His hand.
Psalm 23:37,38 NLT
23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Proverbs 16:9 KJV
A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
God's Foreknowledge:
Isaiah 42:9 KJV
Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:
Daniel 2:27,28 KJV
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Matthew 24:36 KJV
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
Acts 2:22-23 KJV
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate* counsel* and foreknowledge* of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
*Determinate-Greek-Proorizo (Pro-or-id-zo): To limit in advance, predetermine before, ordain, predestinate.
*Counsel-Greek-Boule (Boo-lay): Volition, Advice, purpose, advise, counsel, will.
*Foreknowledge-Greek-Prognosis (Prog-no-sis): Forethought, foreknowledge.
Acts 3:18 KJV
But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled.
Acts 15:18 KJV
Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.
Romans 11:2 NLT
"No, God has not rejected His own people, whom He chose from the very beginning..."
I Peter 1:1,2 KJV
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Elect* according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
*Elect-Greek-Eklektos (Ek-lek-tos): Favorite, chosen, elect.
Does it need explanation, that God's favorites, God's chosen, would be those who would turn to Him, with all their hearts, and that He in His Foreknowledge, would elect them to His blessings?
Second Proof:
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
How many does God, want to be saved? All!
II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
How many does our God, wish to be lost? None!
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13 KJV
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
John 3:14-21 KJV
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's-The Lost Coin
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Lost Coin
Text:
Luke 15:8-10 KJV
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
As with the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12,13/ Luke 15:4-7), this parable also deals with the value of the lost soul.
In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine and goes out after the one lost lamb.
The Good Shepherd, gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:15 KJV
As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Our Saviour, so values us as His people, He was willing to give His life for us.
Luke 15:7 KJV (Jesus)
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
In the parable of the lost coin, again we see the value of the lost coin/ the lost soul.
Here a woman is seen as having lost the coin. Many have speculated as to just what this coin represents.
Was the coin simply a part of her headdress, or part of her dowry, no matter, it was of great wealth to her.
She, represents the Church of Jesus Christ (Aka, as the Bride of Christ).
The lost coin represents, souls, that though in the church are lost.
Is it possible to be in the church, and lost?
Yes, if the church you are in is a false church, preaching a false gospel of works, instead of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.
Yes, if the church you are in preaches the truth, but you never apply it to your own life.
It is the duty of the church, to be in the “Soul-Saving,” business. Jesus called His people to be “Fishers-of-Men.”
Matthew 4:19 KJV
And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
As Christians, we have a responsibility, to win the lost!
Romans 10:10 KJV
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10 NLT
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Peter confessed:
Matthew 16:16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 6:69 KJV
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Nathanael confessed:
John 1:49 KJV
Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Woman of Samaria confessed:
John 4:29 KJV
Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Martha confessed:
John 11:27 KJV
She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Thomas confessed:
John 20:28 KJV
And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My LORD and my God.
Ethiopian Eunuch confessed:
Acts 8:36,37 KJV
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Mark 16:15,16 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19,20 KJV
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:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The work of Christian people, in the church, and out of the church is....
Witnessing
Evangelism
Missions.
Dear friend, are you witnessing for your Lord?
Matthew 10:32,33 KJV
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
Luke 12:8,9 KJV
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Philippians 2:11 KJV
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I John 2:23 KJV
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
II Timothy 2:11,12 NLT
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us.
Luke 15:10 KJV
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The soul-winning church, is a joyful church, and the angels of God, rejoice with them.
Ask the Lord today, to make you a soul winner.
Proverbs 11:30 KJV
"...he that winneth souls is wise."
Daniel 12:3 NLT
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
Matthew 9:36-38 KJV
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
Do you see the fields, ripe unto harvest? There in your own church, on your job, among your friends, the people you meet on the street.
Today, you may, save a soul from hell, and bring Joy to the Lord, by bringing some dear soul to the Saviour!
John 4:35,36 KJV
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Parable: The Lost Coin
Text:
Luke 15:8-10 KJV
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
As with the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew 18:12,13/ Luke 15:4-7), this parable also deals with the value of the lost soul.
In the parable of the lost sheep, the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine and goes out after the one lost lamb.
The Good Shepherd, gives His life for the sheep.
John 10:15 KJV
As the Father knoweth Me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down My life for the sheep.
Our Saviour, so values us as His people, He was willing to give His life for us.
Luke 15:7 KJV (Jesus)
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
In the parable of the lost coin, again we see the value of the lost coin/ the lost soul.
Here a woman is seen as having lost the coin. Many have speculated as to just what this coin represents.
Was the coin simply a part of her headdress, or part of her dowry, no matter, it was of great wealth to her.
She, represents the Church of Jesus Christ (Aka, as the Bride of Christ).
The lost coin represents, souls, that though in the church are lost.
Is it possible to be in the church, and lost?
Yes, if the church you are in is a false church, preaching a false gospel of works, instead of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son.
Yes, if the church you are in preaches the truth, but you never apply it to your own life.
It is the duty of the church, to be in the “Soul-Saving,” business. Jesus called His people to be “Fishers-of-Men.”
Matthew 4:19 KJV
And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.
As Christians, we have a responsibility, to win the lost!
Romans 10:10 KJV
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10 NLT
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.
Peter confessed:
Matthew 16:16 KJV
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
John 6:69 KJV
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
Nathanael confessed:
John 1:49 KJV
Nathanael answered and saith unto Him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
Woman of Samaria confessed:
John 4:29 KJV
Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
Martha confessed:
John 11:27 KJV
She saith unto Him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Thomas confessed:
John 20:28 KJV
And Thomas answered and said unto Him, My LORD and my God.
Ethiopian Eunuch confessed:
Acts 8:36,37 KJV
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Mark 16:15,16 KJV
15 And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19,20 KJV
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:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The work of Christian people, in the church, and out of the church is....
Witnessing
Evangelism
Missions.
Dear friend, are you witnessing for your Lord?
Matthew 10:32,33 KJV
32 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven.
33 But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.
Luke 12:8,9 KJV
8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
Philippians 2:11 KJV
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I John 2:23 KJV
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John 4:15 KJV
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
II Timothy 2:11,12 NLT
11 This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with Him, we will also live with Him.
12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us.
Luke 15:10 KJV
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
The soul-winning church, is a joyful church, and the angels of God, rejoice with them.
Ask the Lord today, to make you a soul winner.
Proverbs 11:30 KJV
"...he that winneth souls is wise."
Daniel 12:3 NLT
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
Matthew 9:36-38 KJV
36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.
Do you see the fields, ripe unto harvest? There in your own church, on your job, among your friends, the people you meet on the street.
Today, you may, save a soul from hell, and bring Joy to the Lord, by bringing some dear soul to the Saviour!
John 4:35,36 KJV
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Bible Questions Answered: God's Grace And God's Mercy
Bible Questions Answered:
I get God's grace and his mercy, mixed up, how are they anything different?
Randolph, Freeport, Illinois
Bible Answers:
Grace: Hebrew-Chen (Khane): Kindness, favor. (All Greek/ Hebrew definitions: Abingdon/Strong)
Genesis 6:8 KJV
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Grace, given freely.
Psalm 84:11 KJV
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Grace: Greek-Charis (Khar-ece): Acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace, liberality.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Grace, is the loving kindness, the Gift of God, to men.
Romans 11:6 NLT
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—His undeserved kindness in choosing them.
6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works.
For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
Just as light is the antithesis of darkness/ so to grace is the antithesis of works.
If it is by works, then it is not by grace.
If it is by grace, then it is not by works.
Salvation is by grace, as it is the very “gift of God.”
Acts 15:11 KJV
"But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved..."
Romans 3:24 KJV
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 5:15 NLT
But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11 KJV
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 3:7 KJV
That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Mercy: Hebrew-Checed (Kheh-sed): Pity, kindness.
Psalm 86:15 KJV
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalm 78:38 KJV
But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.
Psalm 78:38 NLT
Yet He was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all.
God's mercy, is without limit.
Psalm 103:11,17 KJV
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;
Mercy: Greek-Eleos (El-eh-os): Compassion.
Luke 1:50 KJV
And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world (God's Mercy), that He gave (God's Grace) His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 9:16 KJV
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Titus 3:5 KJV
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
I get God's grace and his mercy, mixed up, how are they anything different?
Randolph, Freeport, Illinois
Bible Answers:
Grace: Hebrew-Chen (Khane): Kindness, favor. (All Greek/ Hebrew definitions: Abingdon/Strong)
Genesis 6:8 KJV
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Grace, given freely.
Psalm 84:11 KJV
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
Grace: Greek-Charis (Khar-ece): Acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace, liberality.
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Grace, is the loving kindness, the Gift of God, to men.
Romans 11:6 NLT
5 It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—His undeserved kindness in choosing them.
6 And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works.
For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
Just as light is the antithesis of darkness/ so to grace is the antithesis of works.
If it is by works, then it is not by grace.
If it is by grace, then it is not by works.
Salvation is by grace, as it is the very “gift of God.”
Acts 15:11 KJV
"But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved..."
Romans 3:24 KJV
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 5:15 NLT
But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11 KJV
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Titus 3:7 KJV
That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Mercy: Hebrew-Checed (Kheh-sed): Pity, kindness.
Psalm 86:15 KJV
But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
Psalm 78:38 KJV
But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned He His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath.
Psalm 78:38 NLT
Yet He was merciful and forgave their sins and did not destroy them all.
God's mercy, is without limit.
Psalm 103:11,17 KJV
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's children;
Mercy: Greek-Eleos (El-eh-os): Compassion.
Luke 1:50 KJV
And His mercy is on them that fear Him from generation to generation.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world (God's Mercy), that He gave (God's Grace) His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Romans 9:16 KJV
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
Titus 3:5 KJV
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Bible Lesson: Thankful-Reasons For Being
Bible Lesson: Thanksgiving.
The Word of God, tells us as Christians, that we of all people, should be a Thankful, people!
* What should we give thanks for?
I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ephesians 5:20 KJV
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Everything? What about the tragedies?
Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Isaiah 55:8,9 KJV
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11:33,34 KJV
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor?
Psalm 145:17 KJV
The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
Hebrews 10:35-39 KJV
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
* Give thanks for God's mercy.
Where, would we be, if it were not for the mercy of God?
Psalm 107:1 KJV
O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
6 For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:5-7 NLT
5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
I Peter 1:3,4 NLT
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
* We must give thanks to God, for His “unspeakable Gift.”
II Corinthians 9:15 KJV
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 4:10 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God:
* Let us give thanks that we have been made, partakers.
Colossians 1:12 KJV
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians 1:12 NLT
Always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.
Colossians 3:15 NLT
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Psalm 61:5 NLT
For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
Acts 20:32 NLT
And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.
* Give thanks that God hears and answers prayer!
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Isaiah 58:9 NLT
"Then when you call, the Lord will answer.‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply..."
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Zechariah 13:9 KJV
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Psalm 4:3 KJV
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him.
Psalm 18:6 KJV
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.
Psalm 34:17 KJV
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Proverbs 15:29 KJV
The LORD is far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Micah 7:7 KJV
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
* Thanks to God for victory.
I Corinthians 15:57 KJV
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Romans 8:35,37 KJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
* Thanks to God, who causes us to triumph
II Corinthians 2:14 KJV
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
II Corinthians 2:14 NLT
But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 50:14 KJV
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High:
Psalm 92:1 KJV
IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:
Psalm 100:1-5 KJV
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
Colossians 3:17 KJV
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
The Word of God, tells us as Christians, that we of all people, should be a Thankful, people!
* What should we give thanks for?
I Thessalonians 5:18 KJV
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Ephesians 5:20 KJV
And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Everything? What about the tragedies?
Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Isaiah 55:8,9 KJV
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
Romans 11:33,34 KJV
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor?
Psalm 145:17 KJV
The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.
Hebrews 10:35-39 KJV
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
* Give thanks for God's mercy.
Where, would we be, if it were not for the mercy of God?
Psalm 107:1 KJV
O give thanks unto the LORD, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.
Ephesians 2:4-7 NLT
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much,
5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
6 For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.
7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of His grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all He has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:5-7 NLT
5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.
He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.
6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
I Peter 1:3,4 NLT
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
* We must give thanks to God, for His “unspeakable Gift.”
II Corinthians 9:15 KJV
Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift.
John 3:16 KJV
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 4:10 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water.
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God:
* Let us give thanks that we have been made, partakers.
Colossians 1:12 KJV
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Colossians 1:12 NLT
Always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people, who live in the light.
Colossians 3:15 NLT
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
Psalm 61:5 NLT
For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
Acts 20:32 NLT
And now I entrust you to God and the message of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself.
* Give thanks that God hears and answers prayer!
Philippians 4:6 NLT
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Isaiah 58:9 NLT
"Then when you call, the Lord will answer.‘Yes, I am here,’ He will quickly reply..."
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Zechariah 13:9 KJV
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
Psalm 4:3 KJV
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for Himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto Him.
Psalm 18:6 KJV
In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry came before Him, even into His ears.
Psalm 34:17 KJV
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Proverbs 15:29 KJV
The LORD is far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Micah 7:7 KJV
Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
* Thanks to God for victory.
I Corinthians 15:57 KJV
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 44:5 KJV
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
Luke 10:19 KJV
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Romans 8:35,37 KJV
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
* Thanks to God, who causes us to triumph
II Corinthians 2:14 KJV
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place.
II Corinthians 2:14 NLT
But thank God! He has made us His captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.
------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 50:14 KJV
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High:
Psalm 92:1 KJV
IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH:
Psalm 100:1-5 KJV
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
Colossians 3:17 KJV
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Bible Questions Answered: Sins-What God Does With Them
Bible Questions Answered:
If God puts our tears in his bottle, what does he do with our sins?
Shelia/ Great Falls, Montana
Bible Answer:
Psalm 56:8 KJV
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Disposition of sin:
Two thousand years ago, God the Father, laid all our sins upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 5:21 KJV
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Isaiah 53:6 KJV
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
I Peter 2:24 KJV
Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Our Lord has taken all our sins away.
John 1:29 KJV
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Our Saviour Has forever removed them from us.
Psalm 103:12 KJV
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
Forever our sins have been “blotted out.”
Isaiah 44:22 KJV
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.
Never to be seen again.
Isaiah 38:17 KJV
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Forever forgotten.
Hebrews 8:12 KJV
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Ezekiel 33:16 KJV
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Our sins have been buried.
Micah 7:19 KJV
He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Free from sin, we are forever covered.
Psalm 32:1 KJV
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 85:2 KJV
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If God puts our tears in his bottle, what does he do with our sins?
Shelia/ Great Falls, Montana
Bible Answer:
Psalm 56:8 KJV
Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Disposition of sin:
Two thousand years ago, God the Father, laid all our sins upon the Lord Jesus Christ.
II Corinthians 5:21 KJV
For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Isaiah 53:6 KJV
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
I Peter 2:24 KJV
Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Our Lord has taken all our sins away.
John 1:29 KJV
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Our Saviour Has forever removed them from us.
Psalm 103:12 KJV
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us.
Forever our sins have been “blotted out.”
Isaiah 44:22 KJV
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.
Never to be seen again.
Isaiah 38:17 KJV
Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Forever forgotten.
Hebrews 8:12 KJV
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Ezekiel 33:16 KJV
None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
Our sins have been buried.
Micah 7:19 KJV
He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Free from sin, we are forever covered.
Psalm 32:1 KJV
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psalm 85:2 KJV
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
I John 1:7 KJV
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's- The Lost Sheep
Bible Lesson: Parables-Our Lord's
Parable: The Lost Sheep
Text:
Luke 15:1-7 KJV
1 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And He spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The claim of the Pharisees was, “...This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” and they were correct.
Were would we be if He did not?
Revelation 3:20 KJV
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
John 6:37 KJV
All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.
People in this parable are referred to as sheep, common in scripture.
Psalm 100:3 KJV
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Isaiah 53:6 KJV
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD (God the Father) hath laid on Him (Christ Jesus, His Son) the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6 Septuagint Bible
All we as sheep have gone astray; every one has gone astray in his way; and the Lord gave Him up for our sins.
Men and women are like sheep, because, they easily get lost, need guidance, protection, pasture, and a shepherd.
Luke 15:20 (Parable of the Prodigal Son.)
And he arose, and came to his father. (A sinners call to his heavenly Father.)
But when he was yet a great way off, (Our God, ever listening, ever searching for His children.)
his father saw him,
and had compassion,
and ran,
and fell on his neck,
and kissed him.
John 3:15,16 KJV
15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 10:28 KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
One of the gravest sins of all, is self-righteousness.
Psalm 130:3 KJV
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
Proverbs 12:15 KJV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 30:12 KJV
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Isaiah 14:13-15 KJV
13 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:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Obadiah 4 KJV
Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
Matthew 9:10-13 KJV
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 23:12 KJV
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Romans 3:19 KJV
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
II Corinthians 10:12 NLT
Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
Despite the “feelings,” of humanity, despite its intellectualism, ingenuity, and ritualistic piety, mankind is lost, lost in sin.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12 KJV
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Matthew 7:13 KJV
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Oh the love of the Shepherd!
Psalm 23:1-6 NLT
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Isaiah 40:11 KJV
He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
John 10:11 KJV
I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 2:25 KJV
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Romans 2:4 KJV
"...the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance"
Our Great Shepherd, rejoices over finding a lost lamb, and He is not alone...
Luke 15:7 KJV
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Friend, this Great Shepherd, calls your name, He knows how far away, out on the hills, you are. He knows your pain, and loneliness.
Call out to Him today.
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Isaiah 44:22 KJV
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.
Salvation Prayer
Parable: The Lost Sheep
Text:
Luke 15:1-7 KJV
1 Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear Him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And He spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
The claim of the Pharisees was, “...This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them,” and they were correct.
Were would we be if He did not?
Revelation 3:20 KJV
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
John 6:37 KJV
All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me; and him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.
People in this parable are referred to as sheep, common in scripture.
Psalm 100:3 KJV
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Isaiah 53:6 KJV
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD (God the Father) hath laid on Him (Christ Jesus, His Son) the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6 Septuagint Bible
All we as sheep have gone astray; every one has gone astray in his way; and the Lord gave Him up for our sins.
Men and women are like sheep, because, they easily get lost, need guidance, protection, pasture, and a shepherd.
Luke 15:20 (Parable of the Prodigal Son.)
And he arose, and came to his father. (A sinners call to his heavenly Father.)
But when he was yet a great way off, (Our God, ever listening, ever searching for His children.)
his father saw him,
and had compassion,
and ran,
and fell on his neck,
and kissed him.
John 3:15,16 KJV
15 That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 10:28 KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.
Hebrews 7:25 KJV
Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.
One of the gravest sins of all, is self-righteousness.
Psalm 130:3 KJV
Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?
Proverbs 12:15 KJV
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 30:12 KJV
There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 KJV
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Isaiah 14:13-15 KJV
13 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:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Obadiah 4 KJV
Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.
Matthew 9:10-13 KJV
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, He said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Matthew 23:12 KJV
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Romans 3:19 KJV
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
II Corinthians 10:12 NLT
Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!
Despite the “feelings,” of humanity, despite its intellectualism, ingenuity, and ritualistic piety, mankind is lost, lost in sin.
Jeremiah 17:9 KJV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 14:12 KJV
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Matthew 7:13 KJV
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Oh the love of the Shepherd!
Psalm 23:1-6 NLT
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Isaiah 40:11 KJV
He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.
John 10:11 KJV
I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
Hebrews 13:20,21 KJV
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
I Peter 2:25 KJV
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Romans 2:4 KJV
"...the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance"
Our Great Shepherd, rejoices over finding a lost lamb, and He is not alone...
Luke 15:7 KJV
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Friend, this Great Shepherd, calls your name, He knows how far away, out on the hills, you are. He knows your pain, and loneliness.
Call out to Him today.
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 4:12 KJV
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Isaiah 44:22 KJV
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.
Salvation Prayer
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Bible Questions Answered: Prayer Cloths
Bible Questions Answered:
Is it OK to use altar, or prayer mantles, for the sick? Do they contain miraculous power of God?
Klaudia/Otwock, Poland
Bible Answer:
Intrinsically, no, spiritually, yes.
Mark 5:25-34 KJV
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?
31 And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.
34 And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
This Jewish lady, had been twelve years Levitically unclean. Unable to attend her synagog, and or the company of her loved ones.
Leviticus 15:25 KJV
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
Earlier, Jesus had allowed the throngs of people to touch Him.
Mark 3:10 KJV
For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues.
I Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
Now what had healed this lady, was it the cloth of Jesus' garment?
No.
Mark 5:30 KJV
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue* had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?
*Virtue: Greek-Dunamis (Doo-nam-is): Miraculous power, ability, abundance, meaning, might, miracle, power, strength, violence, mighty-wonderful-work.
In answer to the faith of this woman, miraculous power, flowed from the Lord Jesus, to her.
Mark 5:34 KJV
And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
The ancients of Israel, well regarded with virtue, the garments of it's prophets, e.g. second kings chapter two.
In the book of Acts we read of the works of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 19:11,12 KJV
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 19:11,12 NLT
11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.
12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
And of Peter.
Acts 5:14-16 KJV
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
The common denominator in these events is faith.
Mark 11:22 KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Dear friend, whatever you do, if God's Word, promises it to you, believe it, have faith in God!
Luke 17:6 KJV
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith.
Is it OK to use altar, or prayer mantles, for the sick? Do they contain miraculous power of God?
Klaudia/Otwock, Poland
Bible Answer:
Intrinsically, no, spiritually, yes.
Mark 5:25-34 KJV
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched His garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?
31 And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.
34 And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
This Jewish lady, had been twelve years Levitically unclean. Unable to attend her synagog, and or the company of her loved ones.
Leviticus 15:25 KJV
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean.
Earlier, Jesus had allowed the throngs of people to touch Him.
Mark 3:10 KJV
For He had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon Him for to touch Him, as many as had plagues.
I Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.
Now what had healed this lady, was it the cloth of Jesus' garment?
No.
Mark 5:30 KJV
And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue* had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press, and said, Who touched My clothes?
*Virtue: Greek-Dunamis (Doo-nam-is): Miraculous power, ability, abundance, meaning, might, miracle, power, strength, violence, mighty-wonderful-work.
In answer to the faith of this woman, miraculous power, flowed from the Lord Jesus, to her.
Mark 5:34 KJV
And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
The ancients of Israel, well regarded with virtue, the garments of it's prophets, e.g. second kings chapter two.
In the book of Acts we read of the works of the Apostle Paul.
Acts 19:11,12 KJV
11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Acts 19:11,12 NLT
11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles.
12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.
And of Peter.
Acts 5:14-16 KJV
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
The common denominator in these events is faith.
Mark 11:22 KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Dear friend, whatever you do, if God's Word, promises it to you, believe it, have faith in God!
Luke 17:6 KJV
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Bible Questions Answered: Stigmata
Bible Questions Answered:
I have heard much talk about stigmata, and how those bleed the real blood of Jesus, what does the Bible say on this?
Cristina /, Abruzzi, Sulmona, Italy
Bible Answers:
One case was...
Ezekiel 9:1-11
God commanded judgment upon all, who were not His (marked) people.
Another was...
The story of Cain.
Genesis 4:1-16 NLT
1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
What was wrong with Cain's sacrifice?
It was an abomination to the Lord, because it was human endeavor in place of obedience.
From his parents, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, had learned all to well, that only a special sacrifice would ever be able to atone for sin.
First promise of redemption:
Genesis 3:14,15 NLT
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.
He (The “seed, of the woman,”) will strike your head, and you will strike His heel (Calvary).”
Man's attempt at sin covering was...
Genesis 3:6,7 NLT
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
But, this kind of sacrifice, was an earthy salvation of works, by sinful man, which could never satisfy a Holy and Almighty God.
Genesis 3:21 NLT
And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Blood was shed, by the hand of God, so that Adam and Eve would have a covering for their sin.
That story had been handed down father to son, so that Cain and Abel both knew the type of sacrifice God expected.
And He expected a bloody sacrifice, because it pointed to and was a type of Calvary.
Cain, was the first Anti-Christ.
Obviously, Cain did not know of Christ, but he did know of a bloody sacrifice, for the atonement of sin, which he disrespected.
I John 4:2,3 KJV
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The result:
Genesis 4:15 NLT
“ the Lord put a mark on Cain...”
Stigma: (New World Dictionary of American English.)
1.)A distinguishing mark burned or cut into the flesh, as of a slave or criminal.
2.)A Something that detracts from the character or reputation of a person, group, etc; mark of disgrace or reproach.
3.)A mark, sign etc. indicating that something is not considered normal or standard.
4.)A small mark, scar, …
This mark, was not a sign of obedience or of being Godly, it was a mark of rejection!
Genesis 4:16 KJV
“So Cain left the Lord’s presence...”
And now there is the question of stigmata.
Stigmata: (New World Dictionary of American English.)
A spot on the skin, esp. one that bleeds as the result of certain nervous tensions, marks resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, ...persons in a state of ...religious fervor.
Well, isn't stigmata, the “marks of the Lord Jesus, mentioned by Paul?”
No.
The Marks of the Lord Jesus:
Galatians 6:17 KJV
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
See: View a list of subjects
Marks Of The Lord Jesus
Marks Of The Lord Jesus 2
Without any doubt, the stigma, the Apostle Paul referred to were the scars of beatings and scourging he had suffered.
Can the evil one, produce such marks?
False, evil, supernatural works:
Matthew 12:39,40 NLT
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
Matthew 16:4 KJV
Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”...
Mark 8:11,12 NLT
11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with Him. Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority.
12 When He heard this, He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”
Exodus 7:11 KJV (Evil Supernatural Forces At Work.)
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Matthew 7:20-23 KJV (The religion of works and bestowment.)
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 24:24 KJV
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 KJV
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what (who) withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He (God-The Holy Spirit) who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Revelation 13:13;16-18 KJV
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 16:13,14 KJV
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 19:20 KJV
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
I Peter 5:8 KJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 6:11 KJV
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
Salvation Prayer
I have heard much talk about stigmata, and how those bleed the real blood of Jesus, what does the Bible say on this?
Cristina /, Abruzzi, Sulmona, Italy
Bible Answers:
One case was...
Ezekiel 9:1-11
God commanded judgment upon all, who were not His (marked) people.
Another was...
The story of Cain.
Genesis 4:1-16 NLT
1 Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the Lord’s help, I have produced a man!”
2 Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.
3 When it was time for the harvest, Cain presented some of his crops as a gift to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought a gift—the best of the firstborn lambs from his flock. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift,
5 but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected.
6 “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected?
7 You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
8 One day Cain suggested to his brother, “Let’s go out into the fields.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother, Abel, and killed him.
9 Afterward the Lord asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” “I don’t know,” Cain responded. “Am I my brother’s guardian?”
10 But the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground!
11 Now you are cursed and banished from the ground, which has swallowed your brother’s blood.
12 No longer will the ground yield good crops for you, no matter how hard you work! From now on you will be a homeless wanderer on the earth.”
13 Cain replied to the Lord, “My punishment is too great for me to bear!
14 You have banished me from the land and from your presence; you have made me a homeless wanderer. Anyone who finds me will kill me!”
15 The Lord replied, “No, for I will give a sevenfold punishment to anyone who kills you.” Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn anyone who might try to kill him.
16 So Cain left the Lord’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
What was wrong with Cain's sacrifice?
It was an abomination to the Lord, because it was human endeavor in place of obedience.
From his parents, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, had learned all to well, that only a special sacrifice would ever be able to atone for sin.
First promise of redemption:
Genesis 3:14,15 NLT
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursed
more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring.
He (The “seed, of the woman,”) will strike your head, and you will strike His heel (Calvary).”
Man's attempt at sin covering was...
Genesis 3:6,7 NLT
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.
7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.
But, this kind of sacrifice, was an earthy salvation of works, by sinful man, which could never satisfy a Holy and Almighty God.
Genesis 3:21 NLT
And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.
Blood was shed, by the hand of God, so that Adam and Eve would have a covering for their sin.
That story had been handed down father to son, so that Cain and Abel both knew the type of sacrifice God expected.
And He expected a bloody sacrifice, because it pointed to and was a type of Calvary.
Cain, was the first Anti-Christ.
Obviously, Cain did not know of Christ, but he did know of a bloody sacrifice, for the atonement of sin, which he disrespected.
I John 4:2,3 KJV
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The result:
Genesis 4:15 NLT
“ the Lord put a mark on Cain...”
Stigma: (New World Dictionary of American English.)
1.)A distinguishing mark burned or cut into the flesh, as of a slave or criminal.
2.)A Something that detracts from the character or reputation of a person, group, etc; mark of disgrace or reproach.
3.)A mark, sign etc. indicating that something is not considered normal or standard.
4.)A small mark, scar, …
This mark, was not a sign of obedience or of being Godly, it was a mark of rejection!
Genesis 4:16 KJV
“So Cain left the Lord’s presence...”
And now there is the question of stigmata.
Stigmata: (New World Dictionary of American English.)
A spot on the skin, esp. one that bleeds as the result of certain nervous tensions, marks resembling the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, ...persons in a state of ...religious fervor.
Well, isn't stigmata, the “marks of the Lord Jesus, mentioned by Paul?”
No.
The Marks of the Lord Jesus:
Galatians 6:17 KJV
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.
See: View a list of subjects
Marks Of The Lord Jesus
Marks Of The Lord Jesus 2
Without any doubt, the stigma, the Apostle Paul referred to were the scars of beatings and scourging he had suffered.
Can the evil one, produce such marks?
False, evil, supernatural works:
Matthew 12:39,40 NLT
39 But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.
40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.
Matthew 16:4 KJV
Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.”...
Mark 8:11,12 NLT
11 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with Him. Testing Him, they demanded that He show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove His authority.
12 When He heard this, He sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.”
Exodus 7:11 KJV (Evil Supernatural Forces At Work.)
Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
Matthew 7:20-23 KJV (The religion of works and bestowment.)
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 24:24 KJV
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.
II Thessalonians 2:1-12 KJV
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto Him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what (who) withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only He (God-The Holy Spirit) who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Revelation 13:13;16-18 KJV
13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 16:13,14 KJV
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
Revelation 19:20 KJV
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
I Peter 5:8 KJV
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Ephesians 6:11 KJV
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
Salvation Prayer
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