Let's Study The Holy Bible

The Lord Jesus Christ tells us there would be few who will find salvation, many loose their way, many fall into their sins, many have lost their will to find HIM.

Is it too late? Of course Not! Repent and Be Saved!

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12Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

 13Enter 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:

 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

-Matthew 7:12-14

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Question: "What is true friendship according to the Bible?"


Answer: The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you" (John 15:13-15). Jesus is the pure example of a true friend, for He laid down His life for His "friends." What is more, anyone may become His friend by trusting in Him as his personal savior, being born again and receiving new life in Him.

There is an example of true friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathan, who, in spite of his father Saul's pursuit of David and attempts to kill him, stood by his friend. You will find that story in 1 Samuel chapter 18 through chapter 20. Some pertinent passages are 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19: 4-7; 20:11-17, 41-42.

Proverbs is another good source of wisdom regarding friends. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). The issue here is that in order have a friend, one must be a friend. "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6). " As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" (Proverbs 27:17).

The principle of friendship is also found in Amos. "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3 KJV). Friends are of like mind. The truth that comes from all of this is a friendship is a relationship that is entered into by individuals, and it is only as good or as close as those individuals choose to make it. Someone has said that if you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand, you are blessed. A friend is one whom you can be yourself with and never fear that he or she will judge you. A friend is someone that you can confide in with complete trust. A friend is someone you respect and that respects you, not based upon worthiness but based upon a likeness of mind.

Finally, the real definition of a true friend comes from the Apostle Paul: "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:7-8). "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." (John 15:13). Now, that is true friendship!

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Let us now examine the notion of selectivity and totality in regards to Scriptural Studies.

I personally am not comfortable when I discuss scripture with individuals who are so selective in scriptural references. Amen, I listen to their examples, but selectivity in verses and not reading the entire verse; before said verse and after said verse is something that gets me.

As I have told to my fellow Christian brothers whom I have had the pleasure in studying the Blessed Word with, it is best to study Scripture in its totality and in reading not only the words and taking the message, but also reading 'in between the lines'.

When you read and study the Holy Bible, read the whole book. And contemplate every single verse, every single passage, every single chapter, every single book.

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Revelation 22:18-19 "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book; if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."



Yours In Christ,
Lorenzo

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Brothers, Sisters,

Let us now examine the topic of REPENTANCE.



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The Bible speaks about repenting from sin. To repent means to change one’s mind, to turn from, and turn to God. Here mind is referred to but the heart is implied. John the Baptist came crying Repent! Repent! Jesus Christ began His ministry with a call to repentance in Matt 4: 17. This call is not to the nation of Israel or nation but it is now the call of repentance to the individual. When we repent and turn to God for Salvation we must exercise or use our faith to receive Salvation.

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There are two types of repentance and we can see both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. I will call them this way throughout this text.

1. WORLDLY REPENTANCE

2. TRUE REPENTANCE

What does it mean when I say True Repentance or spiritual repentance?

What does it mean when I say Worldly Repentance?

Let us look at both ways through the word of God:

1. WORLDLY REPENTANCE

Turn your Bible to Exodus Read Chapter 9:

9:1 This was the fifth time God impelled Moses back to Pharaoh with this demand, “Let my people go!” Moses may have been tired and discouraged, but he continued to obey. Is there a difficult conflict you must face repeatedly? Don’t give up, don’t quit, when you know what is right to do. Moses discovered, persistence and patience is a virtue of God and God will reward obedience.

9:12 God gave Pharaoh numerous opportunities to observe Moses’ warnings. But in the end God seemed to say, “All right, Pharaoh, have it your own way,” and Pharaoh’s heart developed into permanently hardened. Did God deliberately harden Pharaoh’s heart and make null and void his free will? No, he merely confirmed that Pharaoh wholeheartedly chose and preferred a life of resisting God. Likewise, after a lifetime of resisting God, people may possibly find it impossible to turn to him. Don’t delay until just the right time before turning to God. Act now as you still have the opportunity. If you persistently ignore God’s voice, eventually you will be unable to hear God’s call at all.

Focus: 9:27-34 After promising to let the Hebrews go, Pharaoh immediately broke his promise and brought even more trouble upon the land. His actions reveal that his repentance was not real. We do damage to ourselves and to others if we pretend to change but don’t mean it

Pharaoh represents the world’s type of repentance. Pharaoh cried out to Moses’ and said he repented but as soon as the plague or hardship was removed he returned to the same sin. How many times have been guilty of refusing to obey God’s word and asking for forgiveness and shortly after the hardship is over we return to the same sin or thing that brought us into bondage in the first place. Pharaoh experienced the power and might of the one true living God and the world of Pharaoh would learn about the Lord through these experiences. Pharaoh represents the natural or physical mans reasoning against the word of God or the spiritual conflict between man and God. Natural disasters can cause us to call out in fear and helplessness; along with hardships or difficulties man cries out but this is not the same as true repentance but arises from the terror of the difficulty or hardship. Man will return to his sin when this type of repentance or bargaining is done. Pharaoh feared the hardships of the plagues but he did not fear or turn to the Lord with a true heart repentance.

Review:

1. Pharaoh did not acknowledge his sin or tendency to do wrong.
2. The nation and Pharaoh did not realize his sin was rebellion against God.
3. They never admitted their sin to God and turned from it.
4. Pharaoh never trusted in God’s willingness to forgive although God demonstrated his patience and Willing to relent.
5. Pharaoh never accepted forgiveness because the hardness of his heart.



2. TRUE REPENTANCE:

Turn your Bible to verses Ezra10 and read.

10:1-2 Focus verses: 3-4-11 Ezra prayed earnestly from the heart. A large crowd wept with him. The hearts turned to repentance and turned to God.

10:3 Why were the reasons these men were commanded to send away their wives and children? Even though the measure was extreme, intermarriage to pagans was strictly forbidden and outlawed (Deut. 7:3-4), and even the priests and Levites had intermarried. This might be compared today as to a Christian marrying a devil worshiper. Although a hardnosed solution, it only involved 113 of the approximately 29,000 families. These marriages were outside the law with pagans who served other gods. They were not covenant marriages. Even today, many are not in covenant marriages. They were believers marrying unbelievers.

Ezra’s strong action, although very difficult for some people, was necessary to preserve and protect Israel as a nation dedicated to God. Some of the exiles of the northern kingdom of Israel had lost both their spiritual and physical characteristics through intermarriage. Their pagan spouses were the root the people worshiping idols. Ezra did not desire this to happen to the exiles of the southern kingdom of Judah.

10:3-4, 11 Following, Ezra’s earnest heart rendering prayer, the people confessed their sin to God. They asked for direction and the God’s way and will in restoring their relationship with God. True repentance does not end with words of confession; this would be mere lip service. Repentance must lead to corrected behavior, actions and changed attitudes. When you sin and are truly sorry or remorseful, confess your sin to God, ask His forgiveness, and accept His grace, mercy and forgiveness. Then, as an act of appreciation for your forgiveness, make the needed corrections. 1 John 1:9 (KJV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10:11 As believers in Jesus Christ, all our sins are forgiven. Christ Jesus’ death cleansed us from all sin. Why do we still confess our sins? Confession is more than appropriation of Christ’s forgiveness for what we have done wrong, and we do not have to re-confess sins that were previously confessed. Confession is agreeing with God that our thoughts, words, attitudes and actions are wrong and contrary to God’s will. It is recommitting ourselves, to do his will and to renounce any acts of disobedience. Confession is turning away from sin and asking God for fresh power to live for him.

Focus verses: 3-4-11

Ezra prayed earnestly from the heart. A large crowd wept with him.

The people repented from the heart but repentance did not stop with confession. The people turned from their sin, wrong deeds and actions or deeds. True repentance will not stop at confession or it is only lip service. Confession is agreeing with God that our thoughts, actions, behaviors and attitudes are opposing to his word and will. True repentance will lead to change. Confession and repentance brings about recommitting to God’s will and word, and renouncing our disobedience to God. Disobedience is rebellion and the Bible or word says this is the same as witchcraft. Disobedience brings death. Obedience brings life.

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Let us talk about Our Father's Love.

Brothers, Sisters, what do you think about our Heavenly Father's Love?
What does Scripture say about HIS Love for Us?
Give personal and scriptural points.

hehehe!



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Lorenzo says: Guys, remember that wherever we are, or whoever we are with,
do things for the Glory of the Lord and do not offend those around you.
Let us be like Christ and imitate him, despite our personal iniquities.

Brother Lorenzo, pagka-chada sa mensahe sa Holy Spirit nga mikunsad nimo (read above).
God is truly using you. Keep it up, Bro. God bless you.

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Good afternoon, bro!
ma lipay pood ko that these messages helped, bro.
Mo post rapood ko after biblical contemplation, salamat sa blessings nimo, bro.
And May the Lord God Bless You too! Bless all of us!

Please join me in this thread, bro.

We are reminded, bitaw, that we are the Temples of the Holy Spirit.
For we all have been purchased at a price. Which is Christ on the Cross.



Yours in Christ,
Lorenzo

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A member asked me a question, regarding the quote from St. Vincent De Paul,
""Strive to live content in the midst of those things that cause your discontent. Free your mind from all that troubles you, God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this [choice] without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires" (St. Vincent de Paul, Letters).

This member asked me what St. Vincent De Paul meant by this quotation? What is the biblical complement to this quotation and what should we take from this said verse?

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My response:

Glory be to the Lord God: The Eternal Father, The Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit--who proceeds from the Father and the Son. Whose righteousness is from everlasting to everlasting. Whose wisdom speaks and pierces through every soul it seeketh and wills to awaken. Blessed be God in The Highest! Bless His Name!

Brother, thank you for your question and for addressing this quotation from St. Vincent De Paul, who is the patron of the sick and the impoverished. When we analyze the life of Blessed Vincent De Paul, we realize and understand that his life was that of a follower of Christ. And we are reminded through his works in helping, feeding, clothing, and praying for the poor and ill that it was Christ who willed us to be compassionate towards those who were poor, afflicted, dying, and needy. For we are reminded that it is works that illustrates our faith that we profess with our mouths.

James 2:20-22
Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.

Our works of faith completes and illustrates/ validates ones' faith. Faith is completed in good works.
One cannot have the other, as we are reminded in:

James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.


Brother, this resounds back to the message given to us by St. Vincent De Paul in his phrasing, ""Strive to live content in the midst of those things that cause your discontent. Free your mind from all that troubles you, God will take care of things. You will be unable to make haste in this [choice] without, so to speak, grieving the heart of God, because he sees that you do not honor him sufficiently with holy trust. Trust in him, I beg you, and you will have the fulfillment of what your heart desires"

We must strive to live in holy trust with God, and to live peacefully within our own soul and in complete trust in GOD. Even if there is discord amongst brethren that look down on us, say ill things about us behind our backs, because of our trust in God or in completing a task and action that we know that God is in support and in defense of.
Remember, brother, that nothing in this life is ever popular, especially the RIGHT things. This world that we live in is ruled by the devil, and his demons. His lies and his perverse satisfaction in causing discord amongst brothers; and in making what is wrong popular and what is RIGHT subject to criticism.

We are reminded to live in faith in GOD and in upholding our HOLY TRUST in God by showing our Good works.
For we are reminded in Matthew that we are a light upon the house, and that we should shine forth our good works so that others will see our good works and GLORIFY OUR ETERNAL FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

Matthew 5;16
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."


Trust In God. In Everything you do Glorify Him. For it is said that, "WE CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS US." In GOD, all things are possible. ALL THINGS.


GOD BLESS YOU BROTHER!
Yours In Jesus Christ,
Lorenzo



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Bro Lorenz,

Thanks for the enlightenment.
Taas kaayo ang imong mensahe nga di ikalimod nag gigahinan gyud nimo'g panahon.
Abi nako ug mag doctor lang ka, mag Pari pud diay...hehehehe
Salamat Bro.

Bugsay

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The simple  of meaning of repentence: turning away from sin and ask forgiveness to God.

 
1 john 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness


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Bro Lorenz,

Thanks for the enlightenment.
Taas kaayo ang imong mensahe nga di ikalimod nag gigahinan gyud nimo'g panahon.
Abi nako ug mag doctor lang ka, mag Pari pud diay...hehehehe
Salamat Bro.

Bugsay

Brother,

To The Lord God be the Glory, Honor and Praise. To HIM and all to HIM.
Praise be to GOD who through the grace of the Holy Spirit--who proceeds from the Father and the Son--willed it that you ask that question--for it is proof and manifest of your hunger and thirsting after Righteousness of GOD'S WORD.

Praise be to GOD for all things.

May Our Lord Jesus Christ who is LORD be with you.
May the Grace of Our Lord--which is a Gift of Divine Providence--always abound in your life and in the lives of your children.

Your Brother in Christ,
Lorenzo

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Piety, Persistence, Penitence, and Prayer



Read Luke 18.


1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ “ 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” 15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

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In studying Luke chapter 18 it may be good to pause and look back on the gospel of Luke from the vantage point of the Book of Acts. Dr. Luke wrote both of these books as companion volumes. We seldom study or teach them as such, although we probably should. These books were written a number of years after the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord. They were written at a time when the church was born and was rapidly growing. It was also a time when the church was predominantly Gentile, but when the Judaizers were working very hard to make law-keeping Jewish proselytes out of Christians and treating them as second-class citizens in the kingdom of God. Furthermore, it was a time when the first generation of believers, including the apostles, were about to pass from the scene.

The Books of Luke and Acts made a great contribution to the church in many ways, but pause with me to consider two specific areas which will shed light on what we are about to study in Luke. First, it was becoming evident that the kingdom of God was not likely to commence as quickly as some thought and hoped. As we now well know, there was to be some period of delay between the first and second comings of our Lord. The kingdom of God would be established, but not immediately. When Luke wrote this gospel the saints were coming to this conclusion, and Luke’s writing was intended to demonstrate that this delay was hinted at, indeed clearly implied, by our Lord’s words to His disciples. Our text in verses 1-8 points to this delay and to its implications.

Second, the church Luke described in the Book of Acts was constantly hounded, resisted, and rejected by the legalistic Jews who wished either to Judaize Gentile saints and the church or to keep them at arm’s length as second-class citizens of the kingdom of God. This opposition to the church by the Judaizers is a frequent theme in Acts, and Luke sets out to describe its roots and its remedy in the gospel account which he penned. By describing the opposition to our Lord by the Pharisees in the gospels, Luke prepares us for the opposition to the church by the Judaizers in Acts. Just as the Pharisees looked down on Jesus and the “sinners” He attracted and received in the gospel of Luke, the Judaizers looked down on Paul and the Gentile Christians. Why, after reading Luke, should we be shocked to see the opposition of the Jews to the church in Acts? Furthermore, in his gospel Luke sets out to show us very clearly that while the Pharisees (not to mention the Jews in general, including the disciples) rejected and resisted the grace of God being bestowed on Gentiles (especially Samaritans!—cf. Luke 4:16-30; 9:51-56), Jesus from the very outset purposed to save them, and He would not be hindered from doing so (cf. Luke 4:24-27).

My point is to establish that we are intended to understand this passage in Luke and, indeed the whole gospel, not only in the light of what has gone before but also in the light of what is going to happen (which is dealt with in the Book of Acts). We should understand the Book of Acts in the light of the preparatory writing of the gospel of Luke. Thus, Luke is indeed a prerequisite to understanding Acts. Much of the error in interpreting Acts may be the result of an inadequate grasp of Luke and its preparatory message.

Our text contains two major paragraphs. One unifying element is the common ingredient of prayer, which is a theme in both paragraphs. In the first (verses 1-8), we have the prayer or petition of the persistent widow which is constantly put before the unjust judge. In the second paragraph (verses 9-14), we have the prayer of the self-righteous Pharisee contrasted with the penitent prayer of the tax-collector.

Take note that in our text the Lord Jesus is teaching His disciples two lessons in contrast. The first lesson, that of perseverance in prayer, is taught by contrasting God, the righteous Judge who will speedily bring justice to the earth, with the unrighteous judge who reluctantly and only under duress gives the persistent widow the vindication and justice for which she petitioned. In the second paragraph, Jesus taught the attitude which is prerequisite for all prayer—humility. Thus, we see the smug self-righteousness of the Pharisees contrasted with the repentant contrition of the tax-collector. The underlying spirit of both is revealed by their prayers.

In this text we can learn much about ourselves from our prayer life. We will also find that Jesus has much to teach us about the kind of prayer befitting the saint who awaits the coming kingdom. We should consider carefully these words spoken by our Lord and recorded under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by Luke for our instruction and edification so that we may live in a way that is pleasing to Him, by His grace.

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The Context of Luke 18;


The gap between Jesus and the Pharisees began early in Luke’s gospel (chapter 5) and has been ever widening as the ministry and the message of the Lord Jesus Christ has unfolded. The Pharisees have already decided that Jesus will not be their Messiah, and thus they have begun to seek various occasions to renounce Him publicly (11:53-54). Their opposition to Jesus has progressed from questioning (11:53-54, etc.) to grumbling (15:1-2), to outright scoffing (16:14). Jesus has not been taken back by this nor has He in any way let up on them. He has already spoken some scorching words, directly renouncing their pride and hypocrisy (cf. 11:37-52). But in addition, He has spoken numerous parables which put the Pharisees in a bad light (cf. chapters 15 and 16).

One of the problems of Pharisaism was that it was hypocritical (12:1, etc.). Their hypocrisy was rooted in a desire to please men rather than God, which resulted in a conformity to human standards and values rather than God’s law (16:14-18). This resulted in an emphasis on appearances rather than on the attitudes of the heart (16:15). Thus those whom Pharisaism and others would have praised, Jesus cast in a very different light. Of those who would have been condemned on the basis of external appearances, Jesus spoke favorably. Talbert points out the way in which our Lord has consistently been overturning the contemporary value system, as outlined by Luke:

“The story fits into the general theme of status reversal in the third gospel. The New Age will overturn the values and structures of the present evil age. We meet this theme in the birth narratives (1:51-53) and in the Sermon on the Plain (6:20-26). In the travel narrative (9:51–19:44) Jesus’ teaching anticipates this eschatological reversal even now in overturning the estimate of what is virtue and what is vice. Consider 10:29-37 (good Samaritan/bad priest and levite); 10:38-42 (good inactive Mary/bad active Martha); 11:37-41 (good unclean/bad clean); 12:13-34 (good poor/bad rich); 14:7-11 (good humble/bad exalted); 15:11-32 (good prodigal/bad brother); 16:19-31 (good Lazarus/bad rich man); 18:18-30 (good poor/bad rich). Into this thematic context 18:9-14 fits (good tax collector/bad Pharisee) as another example of Jesus’ reversal of values. How can it be? What is wrong with so obviously good a man as the Pharisee? What can be right about so obviously perverse a person as the publican?”27

In the 17th chapter of Luke’s gospel, the focus has changed to the coming kingdom of God, introduced by the question of the Pharisees concerning the timing of the coming of the kingdom (17:20). Jesus briefly answered their question and then turned His attention to His disciples, instructing them concerning the kingdom. The topic is still the kingdom of God when we come to chapter 18. Verses 1-8 have to do with the disciple’s need to persist in praying for the coming of the kingdom (even though its arrival may appear late), and adversity, persecution, and injustice may suggest that the coming of the kingdom and the establishment of justice on the earth therefore seems unlikely. The second paragraph in chapter 18 turns from prayer for justice to prayer for mercy. Here, the self-righteous prayer of the Pharisee is contrasted with the penitent prayer of a tax-collector. Jesus turned the tables once again by saying that it was the penitent tax-collector who went away justified, rather than the pious-appearing Pharisee.

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"What does the Bible say about jealousy?"


Answer: When we use the word “jealous,” we use it in a sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. This kind of jealousy is a sin and is not characteristic of a Christian; rather, it shows that we are still being controlled by our own desires (1 Corinthians 3:3). Galatians 5:26 says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”

The Bible tells us that we are to have the perfect kind of love that God has for us. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The more we focus on ourselves and our own desires, the less we are able to focus on God. When we harden our hearts to the truth, we cannot turn to Jesus and allow Him to heal us (Matthew 13:15). But when we allow the Holy Spirit to control us, He will produce in us the fruit of our salvation, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Being jealous indicates that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. The Bible tells us to be content with what we have, for God will never fail or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). In order to combat jealousy, we need to become more like Jesus and less like ourselves. We can get to know Him through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with mature believers. As we learn how to serve others instead of ourselves, our hearts will begin to change. “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

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I shall put this on the floor for anyone to answer, a question was asked, "What are the things that the Lord hates and specifically detests, and what are the ways for us to receive redemption to save us from being thrown into hell because of it?"




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A question was asked,:


But surely you must admit that the origins of Christmas, especially the symbolism and ceremonies associated with it, are rooted in Paganism.  How do you answer this?



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Stop and take a breath.  Okay, let's review what we know about the origin of the annual celebration of Christmas.

 

First, we have reliable records from the middle of the fourth century indicating that Christians celebrated Christmas in the churches of Rome.  The earliest record of Christ's birth being celebrated on December 25th is A.D. 354 in a work called Chronography.  The Chronography documented the various seasons and festivals of the churches in Rome, most of them commemorating the death of Martyrs. By A.D. 398 Christ's birth was being celebrated on December 6th all across the empire--except in Armenia (January 6th).

 

Second, the story of how December 25th was chosen has been caricatured for many years.  The Christian leaders who gave us the great Trinitarian and Christological Creeds of the fourth and fifth century were not so theologically naïve as to simply import a pagan feast into the church wholesale in order to pacify some recently baptized and nominally Christian pagans.  This is absurd.

 

On the contrary, the facts suggest it was the pagan Roman emperor Aurelian in A.D. 274 who introduced the pagan feast of the "invincible Sun" (sol invictus) in order to counteract the influence of the growing Christian population and their celebration of the birth of Jesus during this time of the year.  Pagans were imitating and aping Christians, not visa versa.  If you want to learn more about this, read William J. Tighe's excellent article Calculating Christmas: The Story Behind December 25.  His summary is worth quoting:

 

Thus, December 25th as the date of the Christ's birth appears to owe nothing whatsoever to pagan influences upon the practice of the Church during or after Constantine's time. It is wholly unlikely to have been the actual date of Christ's birth, but it arose entirely from the efforts of early Latin Christians to determine the historical date of Christ's death.

 

And the pagan feast which the Emperor Aurelian instituted on that date in the year 274 was not only an effort to use the winter solstice to make a political statement, but also almost certainly an attempt to give a pagan significance to a date already of importance to Roman Christians. The Christians, in turn, could at a later date re-appropriate the pagan "Birth of the Unconquered Sun" to refer, on the occasion of the birth of Christ, to the rising of the "Sun of Salvation" or the "Sun of Justice."

 

Third, there is sufficient historical evidence that the church's choice of December 25 as the festival of Christ's nativity was reached by independent calendrical calculation on the part of Christian scholars and pastors.  It was chosen for symbolic and chronological purposes as believing scholars reflected on the symbolism of the seasons and the chronological information available to them.

 

They believed that God initiated the new creation on the same day in which the old creation was made and redeemed the world on the same day as well (Spring).  The new creation began with the incarnation of the Word at the annunciation (March 25).  Add nine months to this and you get December 25th.

 

Whatever you think about this line of reasoning, it is anything but pagan!   The church deliberately chose December 25th because 1) they believed that Jesus was born sometime in the winter, and 2) having Christmas around the time of the winter solstice would enable the church to highlight the themes of darkness and light so prominent in the Gospel records.  The pagans did not own the seasons; they tried to commandeer them from God and his people.  And so in order to reclaim the seasons from the pagans, the church chose December 25th.  This would counteract whatever pagan winter festivals were out there that honored various sun gods and turn people instead toward "the Sun of righteousness arising with healing in his wings" (Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:78).  We have sermons from this time (Augustine's #202, for example) that argue this way.

 

Now, again, whatever you think of the early church's reasoning, it is distinctively Christian and not in any way a syncretistic incorporation of paganism.  The idea that Christians in the fourth and fifth century were so compromised and stupid that they just thought up a way to bring a pagan celebration into the church so as to keep the nominally baptized pagans happy is a vicious lie.

 

The early church Fathers were not as dumb as we often think.  Ponder what has happened since that time. For centuries every year throughout the world the story of Jesus' incarnation and birth has been told.  And the old sun gods (Sol, Osiris, Horis, and Mithra) are forgotten.  Does anyone think that we are still commemorating these false gods?  Phooey.  Even if December 25th was a date that pagans in pre-Christian history worshiped some sun god or other, does it matter one wit?  Does it mean that we still worship them?  That Christmas is a pagan holiday?  The true Sun of Righteousness has vanquished the old, impotent gods.

 

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Okay, but you didn't deal with all the pagan symbolism used in Christmas celebrations, especially the Christmas tree??

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This is ludicrous.  Jeremiah condemns gilded, carved images that are erected for idolatrous worship.  There is nothing here about using trees to decorate one's home during a holiday.  The prophet condemns "carved images" (pesel, 10:14).  The "axe" used by the workman (10:3) on the tree refers to an instrument to carve the wood, a chisel. Literally v. 3b says that the tree is "worked by the hands of an engraver with a tool."  Using this carving tool the worker makes an idol in the likeness of men and beasts, which is then "clothed with violet and purple" (10:9, 14).  They cannot walk or speak and have no power to do good (10:50).  Jeremiah 10 is a sarcastic indictment of pagan idolatry along the lines of Psalm 115 and Isaiah 40 and 44.  The prophet says absolutely nothing about the modern practice of using cut fir trees to decorate one's home.

Well, then, do we Christians "know why we have trees in our homes"?  Is it to worship them?  Do they ward off witches, evil spirits, and ghosts during the Christmas holidays?  I want to say, "of course not," but I suppose that there may be someone out there who brings an evergreen tree into their home in order to perform such rituals.  If so, then that person is using the tree in an idolatrous manner.

 
But there is a difference between symbolism and idolatry.  In the light of Jeremiah 10 and the danger of "carved images," it is instructive to note that God ordained all sorts of carved and embroidered images for the Tabernacle and Temple--even trees!

 
Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms
(1 Kings 6:29).

Moreover, these carved trees are plated with gold!

He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees
(1Kings 6.32).

If any Christian bows down to the tree, seeks advice from it, attempts to communicate with God or the devil through it, or worships it or God through it as a medium, then that Christian is an idolater.  But using a tree for such things is a far cry from the way Christmas trees function in a faithful Christian's home.  Christians decorate trees with lights and ornaments because it brings them joy and delight as they commemorate the birth of Jesus.  If you don't like it, then don't buy a tree.  But don't accuse another believer of idolatry based on the supposed pagan origin and function of Christmas trees.

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I shall put this on the floor for anyone to answer, a question was asked, "What are the things that the Lord hates and specifically detests, and what are the ways for us to receive redemption to save us from being thrown into hell because of it?"

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD HATES, seven that are DETESTABLE to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

    •• There are seven things listed that God hates, that He detests.

        • Many mistakenly conclude that God is love only. But this Scripture tells us that there are things — even people! — that God hates.

        • Let’s examine ourselves to see if we are doing any of the things that God is said to hate:



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1) “HAUGHTY EYES”: “a PROUD look” —

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

    •• Shortened by many to “Pride goes before a fall.”

        • A pastor who fell into adultery once told me: “I thought I was doing a good enough job God would overlook it.” Pride before a fall!

        • Another minister was heard to say not long before he fell into sin and disgrace: “This is the most anointed ministry on the face of the earth today.” Pride before a fall!

        • A young man said to a pastor friend of mine, “I’m having trouble with pride.” My friend succinctly and wisely replied, “Why? What do you have to be proud about?”

    •• The fast track to a fall? — Pride

        • Contrast Jesus' Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3).

        • God hates pride.

2) "A LYING TONGUE" —

Revelation 21:8 ...and all liars — their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

    •• God hates lies.

        • Psalms 5:5b-6a ...you hate all who do wrong. [6] You destroy those who tell lies.

        • Parents, teach your kids always to speak truth.

        • Jesus: “I am...the Truth...”

        • Good relationships cannot be built without honesty.

        • Decent societies cannot survive on a foundation of falsehood and lies.

    •• God hates a lying tongue.

3) "Hands that shed INNOCENT BLOOD" —

Joel 3:19 But Egypt will be desolate, Edom a desert waste, because of violence done to the people of Judah, in whose land they shed innocent blood.

    •• God hates the shedding of innocent blood.

    • That is one of the reasons God judged Egypt.

    • Imagine the blood guilt of abortion doctors!

    • Imagine the blood guilt of the judges and politicians who allow the shedding of the blood of innocent, unborn babies!

4) "A HEART that DEVISES WICKED SCHEMES" —

Jeremiah 17:9, KJV The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

    •• Jesus gave a list of sins and said that they proceed “out of the heart” (Matthew 15:19).

    •• Proverbs 4:23, KJV Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

    NIV: “Guard your heart...”

    •• God hates the heart given over to wicked schemes.

5) "Feet that are QUICK to rush INTO EVIL" —

    •• Quote #4 above, about the heart’s tendency to wickedness, has already brought up evil.

    •• The hated conduct here is the quickness to rush into evil.

Titus 2:6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.

    •• Self-control is the antidote to quick falls into temptation.

        • For example, (Proverbs 29:11) “A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”

    •• God hates a swiftness to rush into evil.

6) "A FALSE WITNESS who pours out LIES" —

    •• “False witness” — violates one of the Ten Commandments.

        • God hates those who lie about other people.

        • God hates those who do harm and disservice to His system of justice.

        • I was once selected for jury duty in a trial in which the accused had allegedly been drinking alcohol. In the questioning of us potential jurors, integrity required that I had to speak up about my beliefs and preaching against alcohol. I was admittedly not impartial from the outset, and the judge rightly dismissed me from the jury selection.

    •• God hates a false witness.

        • Notice that this is a person that God hates! I’ve heard Christians say that God hates no one. That sounds noble, but it is anti-Scriptural. Here it is clearly said that “...the Lord hates ... a false witness.”

        • See below for another type of person the Lord hates.

7) "A man who STIRS UP DISSENSION among BROTHERS" —

Titus 3:10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him.

    •• Another PERSON that God hates!

        • A pastor friend of mine was once counseling a very divisive person. The pastor concluded with the startling statement, “...and besides that, GOD HATES YOU.”

        • I imagine that the man he was counseling was shocked. But the Bible clearly declares that “...the Lord hates ... a man who stirs up dissension among brothers”.

        • “...a man...” — that is a person that God hates.

    •• What is a fast track to incurring God’s hatred? — be a talebearer, a gossip, a person who sows seeds of discord.

        • Contrast the Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).

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A question was asked, "Is stealing a sin, and what other forms of theft/ stealing are there?"



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We break this commandment, “Thou shalt not steal,” WHEN WE COMMIT SACRILEGE, that is, when we STEAL FROM GOD. In Malachi 3:8-9, God charged Israel with this crime when He stated: “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.” You see, this is a sin laid at the door of most of the so-called Christians of our day because they have refused to financially support the maintenance of God’s cause on earth. Yes, God’s work goes begging today because church members have spent their money on pleasure—things that are not necessary and vanity; they have spent it on self rather than having honored God with the firstfruits of their increase, their tithes and offerings. My friend, are you stealing from God that which honors Him as the Giver of all things?

Listen again! IDLENESS IS A FORM OF STEALING! It is playing the part of the drone, compelling the rest of the hive to support him. This one sin is slowly but surely bringing our nation to economic ruin. All of our social give-away programs to people who are able to work but who are just plain lazy and will not work is making them thieves before God. They are stealing from the people! The Bible says, “Six days shalt thou labour” (Ex. 20:9); and again in II Thessalonians 3:10: “...if any would not work, neither should he eat .”

This is one of the most awful running sores of our government: stealing from people and giving to those who do not or will not work. This sin runs our nation deeper and deeper into deficit spending, thereby causing inflation; so they can sponsor women’s lib, killing of unborn babies and all sorts of programs that lead the people deeper and deeper into sin. And my friend, this is nothing more than the breaking of this 8th commandment: “Thou shalt not steal,” and thereby sinning against God.

I’ll go further. Our elected senators and congressmen, whether on a state or national level, are stealing from the people when they take our tax money and make thieves out of lazy people who will not work. My friend, God does not think lightly of this sin!

Brother, this goes on and on! LYING ADVERTISEMENTS break this 8th commandment. Profiteering is another form of theft, for we read in I Thess. 4:6: “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter. “ Therefore, to make an enormous profit on a person is stealing, which brings down the wrath of God. A person becomes a thief and breaks this commandment when he borrows and does not return what is borrowed. Ps. 37:21 says: “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again...“ Again, a man who transfers property to his wife or someone else just before he goes bankrupt is a thief in the sight of God. Also a man who has declared bankruptcy and later prospers financially but fails to pay his creditors to the full is stealing in the sight of God. Tenants steal from their landowners when they needlessly damage their property and furnishings; those who evade their income tax also break this 8th commandment. All of this brings down the wrath of God!

Another form of stealing and the breaking of this 8th commandment is GAMBLING. Did you know that billions of dollars change hands in our country every year by gambling? God calls this stealing; a man who gambles is a thief because he is obtaining money for which he has done no honest work!

Stealing is usually one of the first sins children commit: stealing in the home from father or mother, from the grocery store, or playmates in school. My little children, I warn you that this is the breaking of God’s holy law, and unless it is repented of, it will send you to hell.
The list goes on: men take tools off the job that don’t belong to them, justifying themselves by saying: “The company is big enough to afford them,” or “Other men are doing it, why shouldn’t I?” This is stealing; and brother, it is stealing when you rob your company of an honest day’s work, or when you lie about an injury to collect workman’s compensation!

Lawyers steal when they take advantage of a client and deal falsely with him. Judges steal when they award enormous amounts of money to people just because the insurance companies have the money. Then they steal from us because our insurance policies go up!

EXTORTION is another form of stealing which brings down the judgment of God: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?...nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners... (I Cor. 6:9-10). People or companies who charge high interest on loans are thieves in the sight of God because they are stealing from the people, as those who bought and sold in the temple (Matt. 21:12-13).

Those who receive stolen goods knowingly are acting as thieves before God because they are accessories to the theft. And dear friend, whether a man steals with his gun in a bank robbery or with his pen in forging a check, his stealing breaks this 8th commandment and he is under the judgment of God.

Our whole nation today is caught up in the sin of stealing by trying to get something for nothing. Our newspapers are filled with stories of white collar crimes of stealing. Our insurance rates have gone out of sight because of the plague of this sin. Prices are raised in most stores to compensate for the billions of dollars lost every year through stealing. Children are taught to steal by their parents, and our jails are filled with criminals whose crime is stealing in one form or another.

This running sore of the sin of stealing today is that which is done by so-called gospel MINISTERS WHO ROB THE PEOPLE OF THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD! The man who claims to be a shepherd but never feeds his people with the true Word of God is a thief and a robber, and stands guilty before God of breaking this 8th commandment. When a man preaches that salvation is by some form of works which we do, he is robbing precious souls of the truth of God’s Word, which says it is “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” (Titus 3:5).

When a man preaches that salvation is only by believing , leaving out repentance, he is a thief because he is robbing precious souls of the truth of God’s Word which says that unless a man repents, he will perish! (Luke 13:3,5). You see, there must be a turning to God from sin; there must be a hatred for sin as being against God; and there shall be fruits suitable for repentance, which is a changed life and walking in righteousness and true holiness.

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