Let's Study The Holy Bible

[Lorenzo]

Tito Benne,

Shall we continue on? By your lead, Tito.

To Beth,

Thanks for sharing your opinion.



Let us proceed to studies. The next question:

For what reason was Lucifer thrust out of Heaven? What scriptural passage indicates this. What exactly did Lucifer want that warranted punishment? Please add any personal interpretation and or views if you want.

[slackware]

Story of Lucifer â€" His Status
What kind of iniquity was found of him? In the book of Ezekiel, God has let us stand with Him at the very beginning, to see the origin and the creation of Satan. But, why does God say this? What is this iniquity? We must look back to Isaiah 14:12, which tells us of Lucifer/Satan's choice. "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High." Did you notice in this passage all of the "I wills. " He said he would exalt his throne above the stars of God. The word "stars" here does not refer to what we see in the night sky. It refers to the angels of God. In other words, "I will take over heaven, I will be God." That is Lucifer/Satan's sin and that is the iniquity that was found in him. He does not want to be God's servant. He does not want to do what he was created to do. He wants to be served and there are millions who have chosen to do just that; serve him. They have listened to his lies and chosen to follow him. Eve believed the lie that she would be like God. The reason Lucifer/Satan tempted her with that was because it is the very thing that he wants -- to be God.

more details on http://www.allaboutgod.com/story-of-lucifer.htm

sa Islam wala man ang term na fallen angels kay according to The Noble Quran, angels were created by God without the gift of freewill. They only serve and obey the will of God. dili sila maka bo-ot2x ug ilaha. Mas maayo pa ang tao kay naa pay freewill.

[asianfairy]

Ms Beth, I can only say: AMEN!

Bran, thank you for taking your time in answering my question.
You don't have to pick a context from the bible to confirm who wrote it.

Here's the thing that I'm not sure you know and everyone here know about the Bible:

The bible was written hundreds and hundreds of years ago by men, and NO ONE knows who they were. When the CATHOLIC Church knows about it, they call the highest possible leaders of the church and gather around to study about it. They found out that some context were really bad that they literally removed it. And didn't tell anyone about it. So if they were able to do this, that means, they add and remove anything according to their likes and dislikes. So do you think God the Holy Spirit told them to do this?


So now that I'm older and knows a lot of it, I was kind of skeptical about the whole thing. And I will go crazy if I follow it word for word. Or context by context and try to makes some reflections after.

The bible is basically written by men that no one knows who they were. Someone out there hundreds of years ago claimed that it came from the word of God. The Catholic church loves the power and grab every possible thing to let the people know that this is it! The Popes, Cardinals and what have you were the most brutal people I could imagine. They burned people, hang them, cut their heads....I mean....what kind of work is that?
So as not to confuse you guys to where I really stand, for me whatever I believe and do? all I know...God is there and we  all seek to him, it's just that all of us have different roads or path to go and follow Him.
The bible is a book to remind me that God is there but to really read it again and again and again and memorize it, no I think i've done that many years ago already and that was more than enough. It's only a matter of how you interpret it and apply it in our day to day life.
For as long as I live my life peacefully and be good to others as much as they are to me,  God is with me.
I don't have to re-read the bible over and over and tell everyone about it.
Each one of us was given 2 gifts from God.. INTELLECT and FREE WILL. Therefore I use it wisely as much as I can. I don't have to shout the whole world and tell them this is what I do and this is not what I didn't do and for what? let the people judge me?....for short...I don't need anybody to tell me and remind me that God is there and read the Bible...why would I? GOD IS ALREADY WITH ME..I feel his presents in me and that's all I need to know.

So pardon me guys if I'm a little too strong, I do respect all what you are talking about here...some I agree and some I don't, that's normal right!
These are just my opinions.. possibly the first and my last. This is pobably what happen after all what I've been through at an early age, lows and highs and lows and high again...what can I say that's life. And NO ONE knows when will I die, not even the Bible can answer that. And I don't even want to know...I am more than ready anytime God wants me.

Afraid of death is another story. And sad to say some people loves to read the bible, to feel secure and feed their minds because it gives them comfort and divert their attention out of possible death.

[ms da binsi]

Ms Beth, I can only say: AMEN!

I second the motion A.

[benelynne]

I second the motion A.

Belle, didto pohon sa atong Green TubagBohol Village, mag-organize kog choir para sa three-fold Amen composed of you, A and Beth.

[Lorenzo]

Story of Lucifer â€" His Status
What kind of iniquity was found of him? In the book of Ezekiel, God has let us stand with Him at the very beginning, to see the origin and the creation of Satan. But, why does God say this? What is this iniquity? We must look back to Isaiah 14:12, which tells us of Lucifer/Satan's choice. "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit on the mount of assembly on the heights of Zaphon; I will ascend to the tops of the clouds, I will make myself like the Most High." Did you notice in this passage all of the "I wills. " He said he would exalt his throne above the stars of God. The word "stars" here does not refer to what we see in the night sky. It refers to the angels of God. In other words, "I will take over heaven, I will be God." That is Lucifer/Satan's sin and that is the iniquity that was found in him. He does not want to be God's servant. He does not want to do what he was created to do. He wants to be served and there are millions who have chosen to do just that; serve him. They have listened to his lies and chosen to follow him. Eve believed the lie that she would be like God. The reason Lucifer/Satan tempted her with that was because it is the very thing that he wants -- to be God.

more details on http://www.allaboutgod.com/story-of-lucifer.htm

sa Islam wala man ang term na fallen angels kay according to The Noble Quran, angels were created by God without the gift of freewill. They only serve and obey the will of God. dili sila maka bo-ot2x ug ilaha. Mas maayo pa ang tao kay naa pay freewill.

Mao ba, Anastacio? Thanks for the answer, interesting pood ang explanation gi hatag nimo in reference to the Q'uran's stance on the topic.

It is quite puzzling sometimes when one reads Isaiah 14, which states, (In reference to what Lucifer Declared in Heaven) "But you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."

And The Lord responded, as what Isaiah 14:15 reveals to us, "Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit."

For me, reading this particular verse is puzzling. Because one understands that the Angel Lucifer already saw the face of God, and was given the beatific vision. Complete and Ultimate bliss in communion with The Almighty. Yet he was able to turn away from God? He rejected Complete and Eternal Communion with The Most High?

We even witness this in reading Ezekiel 28, "You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there, you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, until unrighteousness was found in you."

as well as in Rev. 12:4, 9, "Even though created beautiful and good, Satan, the top angel of God fell into sin and took a third of the other angels with him."

And it is in this particular passage that we see the entrance of Sin into the world. The Rebellion of Lucifer against The Most High. Lucifer even went far enough to tempt Adam and Eve, whom The Lord created in His own image.

But my question, or rhetorical question if I may, is that why was Lucifer able to reject God? He was given the beautific vision of The Most High. And was the First to be created. What compelled Lucifer to rebel against His Father in Heaven? And, accordingly, why did not The Most High dispose of Lucifer with a mere thought? Did He know that this will come to pass? Does Lucifer and His Legion of Fallen Angels know that their time is nigh? That their doom has been secured by the coming of the Christ?

I do know that after the war in Heaven, after Archangel Michael, the Prince of the Heavenly Host thrust Lucifer, the Most abominable, Most Unclean, Most Unrighteous, Father of Lies, Hate Incarnate, Most Untrue--that all the remaining Angels were given the beatific vision. And therefore are linked to The Almighty. Theirs is the responsibility of Exalting The Most High for Everlasting Time.

Tito Benne, Ma'am Lee, Brod Mike, can you guys please answer some of my questions.

Cheers,

[B:)]

Belle, didto pohon sa atong Green TubagBohol Village, mag-organize kog choir para sa three-fold Amen composed of you, A and Beth.

Nong Benny, I will certainly would love that

[ms da binsi]

Belle, didto pohon sa atong Green TubagBohol Village, mag-organize kog choir para sa three-fold Amen composed of you, A and Beth.

Sure! unsa man ngalan sa Choir?

Amen trio? hahaha

i always love to be in a choir pero wa jud na matuman nga dream.

one day matuman na jud na when you will organize that...

[Lorenzo]

When I read these particular excerpts from Ezekiel and Isaiah, I am left in complete abhoration as well as in discernment. How is it that 1/3rd of all the Angels in Heaven were fooled into the service of Lucifer to rebel against the Throne of The Almighty?

How is it that they, the Hosts of Heaven, were able to rebel and reject Divine Communion with the Almighty?

What was it that allowed them to side with Lucifer against the Name of God? Did they truly believe that they could usurp the throne of God? How can They, in their minds, think that they could depose the Creator of All Things?

Did they not think that they too could be destroyed by the Being that created them with a mere thought? The Almighty Father in Heaven.

Truly, this being named Lucifer, was wise and daring enough to temp 1/3rd of all the Angels in Heaven.

If he can do that, easily he can influence the world of men. Who are inferior to the Divine Angels.


Contemplating these words from Holy Scripture sends chills down my spine. And look only to God and His Mighty Power, Archangel Michael for protection. The same Angel that thrust Satan and his Legion of usurpers out of Heaven and into the Pit of Sheol (Hell).

Blessed be God the Mighty and Highest!
Whom All Things are Possible.

[Lorenzo]

Circumcision was part of God's covenant with Abraham and the Jews:

Genesis 17

10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner— those who are not your offspring.

Circumcision was an external sign of a spiritual relationship, which set the Jews apart from the rest of mankind as the chosen people of God. However, history showed that the Jewish people became more and more fixated to the external signs, statutes, and ceremonies rather than their inward spirituality. Of course, this tendency is not peculiar to the Jews but resonates to human nature in general. Rather than facing our frailties, we explain away our violative tendencies through legalism.

The dispensation of grace, as contrasted to that of law, ushered in by Christ in the New Testament restores the pre-eminence of our relationship to God in our practice of spirituality. For instance, Christ has redefined the legalistic frames of such common offenses as "adultery" and "murder." We commit adultery not only when we lie in bed with someone not our spouse but also when we look at another person with lust. We commit murder not only when we kill a person by intent but also when we harbor deep hatred in our hearts towards him.

Thus, as with the Jews, we can no longer use physical circumcision as a blanket affirmation of our belongingness to God. Note that even in the Old Testament, physical circumcision was meant to come together with circumcision of our hearts, as was commanded in Deuteronomy 10 and 30. Unless our hearts are marked as of God, it does not matter much if we are externally marked as God's people in circumcision. We cannot use religious appearances in place of real spirituality of the heart.

Paul preached this in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 2
29No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

Therefore, physical circumcision is not a necessary and essential condition for salvation, but spiritual circumcision is.

Excellent points, Tito Benne.

I actually stumbled on a particular passage in Jeremiah 9:24-25 which literally dictates the worthless nature of circumcission. It supports your points, Tito.

The passage itself, "See, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will demand an account of all those circumcised in their flesh. Egypt and Judah, Edom and the Amonites, Mab and the desert dwellers who shave their temples. For all these nations, like the whole house of Israel, are uncircumcised in heart.


The WORD of the Lord

[Lorenzo]

Let's get back to discussions.


What does ‘born of Him’ mean? (1 John 2:29) From 1 John 2:29 show the connection John is making between being born of God and what kind of life he should live because of that new birth. How is this connected to 1 John 3:9? Put this verse in your own words.

[Way Nada]

Excellent points, Tito Benne.

I actually stumbled on a particular passage in Jeremiah 9:24-25 which literally dictates the worthless nature of circumcission. It supports your points, Tito.

The passage itself, "See, days are coming, says the Lord, when I will demand an account of all those circumcised in their flesh. Egypt and Judah, Edom and the Amonites, Mab and the desert dwellers who shave their temples. For all these nations, like the whole house of Israel, are uncircumcised in heart.


The WORD of the Lord

Circumcision is a Jewish tradition. This rite of circumcision is a mark that you are a Jew. In olden times people are uncircumcised so the Jews to distinguish themselves as the chosen people of God so they branded themselves by circumcision. This look like paganistic because you are  hurting a person but now we Christians accept this tradition or else you will be a 'baho ug oten kay wa kay tuli daghan ka ug tiktik'.

[Lorenzo]

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Mt 14:22-33


What are the symbolisms of the wind, and other factors?

[Lorenzo]

What does the Bible say about God's Promise to Israel in regards to the Holy Land?

[Bad Godesberg]

God has given us promises that we can rely on when we are in need of comfort
and assurance. These promises were made by a loving Heavenly Father and it is
very comforting to know that God loves us and He ALWAYS keeps His promises. When
praying to the Father, take His promises before Him.



Matthew 11 : 29   
    Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart:
    and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

+JLY

[Lorenzo]

What does the Bible say about God's Promise to Israel in regards to the Holy Land?

Solid answer to this question can be found in Jeremiah 31.

I will share it:


    The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will seed the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.
28
    As I once watched over them to uproot and pull down, to destroy, to ruin, and to harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.
29
    In those days they shall no longer say, "The fathers ate unripe grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge,"
30
    but through his own fault only shall anyone die: the teeth of him who eats the unripe grapes shall be set on edge.
31
    The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
32
    It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
33
    But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34
    No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
35
    Thus says the LORD, He who gives the sun to light the day, moon and stars to light the night; Who stirs up the sea till its waves roar, whose name is LORD of hosts:
36
    If ever these natural laws give way in spite of me, says the LORD, Then shall the race of Israel cease as a nation before me forever.
37
    Thus says the LORD: If the heavens on high can be measured, or the foundations below the earth be sounded, Then will I cast off the whole race of Israel because of all they have done, says the LORD.
38
    The days are coming, says the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt as the LORD'S, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
39
    The measuring line shall be stretched from there straight to the hill Gareb and then turn to Goah.
40
    The whole valley of corpses and ashes, all the slopes toward the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of the Horse Gate at the east, shall be holy to the LORD. Never again shall the city be rooted up or thrown down.

--Jeremiah 31: 27-40

[Way Nada]

Solid answer to this question can be found in Jeremiah 31.

I will share it:


    The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will seed the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.
28
    As I once watched over them to uproot and pull down, to destroy, to ruin, and to harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.
29
    In those days they shall no longer say, "The fathers ate unripe grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge,"
30
    but through his own fault only shall anyone die: the teeth of him who eats the unripe grapes shall be set on edge.
31
    The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
32
    It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
33
    But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34
    No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.
35
    Thus says the LORD, He who gives the sun to light the day, moon and stars to light the night; Who stirs up the sea till its waves roar, whose name is LORD of hosts:
36
    If ever these natural laws give way in spite of me, says the LORD, Then shall the race of Israel cease as a nation before me forever.
37
    Thus says the LORD: If the heavens on high can be measured, or the foundations below the earth be sounded, Then will I cast off the whole race of Israel because of all they have done, says the LORD.
38
    The days are coming, says the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt as the LORD'S, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
39
    The measuring line shall be stretched from there straight to the hill Gareb and then turn to Goah.
40
    The whole valley of corpses and ashes, all the slopes toward the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of the Horse Gate at the east, shall be holy to the LORD. Never again shall the city be rooted up or thrown down.

--Jeremiah 31: 27-40

Lorenzo,

This prophecy of Jeremiah is not yet fully fulfilled. The realization in the fulfillment of this prophecy is to wipe out the people living in Jerusalem or be converted to Judaism and the mosque or the Dome of the Rock should be destroyed and be replaced by the third temple. 

[Lorenzo]

Way Nada,

We have to take into consideration the historiography of the setting and time when this written. Prophet Jeremiah lived in around 600 BC, and during that time, Israel was sacked and invaded by Babylon under the reign of Emperor Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians, upon storming through the gates of Jerusalem not only eradicated the defense, but also leveled the Jewish Temple that was constructed by Kings David and Solomon.

It is apparent to us that Prophet Jeremiah was sent to the people of Israel, to lament over the sins of Israel to warrant the judgment of God. Yet, in accordance to the said and aforementioned scriptural reference, they were set free.

The rule of Babylon and its yolk over Judea ended by the coming of King Cyrus the Great of Persia, which was mentioned in scripture:

And I quote from two specific verses in scripture:

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of The Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath The Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up."
(2 Chronicles 36:22-23)

and

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of The Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of The Lord God of Israel, He is the God, which is in Jerusalem."
(Ezra 1:1-3)

---

The temple was rebuilt again, Way Nada, after the liberation of Israel from Babylon under the will of Cyrus the Great, who was, as relegated in scripture, the anointed of the Most High.

As for your mentioning of the needing to level the Dome of the Rock and the conversion of peoples to Judaism. That is not necessary.

It is important to note that the arrival of Christ, who is The WORD of God and IS God, completed that prophecy and finalized it.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who is THE WORD, and is God Made Flesh, himself prophesied:

    Jesus answered and said to them,  "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
    The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?"
    But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
    Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
--John 2: 19-22


Christ's death on the Cross destroyed the Jewish Temple, and his rising on the 3rd day solidifies His promise that was ushered by Jeremiah, and again in John 2, which was also the construction of the new Temple. This was made so in the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus, Our Lord on the 3rd day. And on the following days of Pentecost.



Yours In Christ,
Lorenzo

[Lorenzo]

After he had fed the people, Jesus made the disciples get into a boat
and precede him to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.
After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
When it was evening he was there alone.
Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore,
was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it.
During the fourth watch of the night,
he came toward them walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified.
“It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear.
At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.
But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;
and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter,
and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
After they got into the boat, the wind died down.
Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying,
“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Mt 14:22-33


What are the symbolisms of the wind, and other factors?

There is beauty and completeness in this biblical reference. The waves and the wind represents the authority of the Powers, Principalities, Cherubim and other fallen angels that were cast down along with Lucifer, May The Lord God Rebuke him.

Christ's calming of the waves, the storms, and the wind by a mere word solidifies His Power. The WORD made Flesh. He who had authority to cleanse the possessed from spirits and demons, had the the same authority to command the storms to stop, for fishes to be caught on nets, and ultimately, the raising of Lazarus from the dead.

No prophet has such power. Christ was not a prophet. Christ Jesus, was the Word of God. And IS God.

JESUS CHRIST, Our Lord, explicitly said this.

Remember:

Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.
So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."


-John 8: 54-58

[Way Nada]

Quote from two specific verses in scripture:

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of The Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath The Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up."
(2 Chronicles 36:22-23)

and

"Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of The Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? His God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of The Lord God of Israel, He is the God, which is in Jerusalem."
(Ezra 1:1-3)

Lorenzo:

I agree with you! I think Jeremiah's prophecy you quote yesterday was the emancipation of the Israelites from exile in Babylon.

Lorenzo opined:

"The temple was rebuilt again, Way Nada, after the liberation of Israel from Babylon under the will of Cyrus the Great, who was, as relegated in scripture, the anointed of the Most High.

As for your mentioning of the needing to level the Dome of the Rock and the conversion of peoples to Judaism. That is not necessary."

Reply:

The conversion to Judaism refers to the lost tribe of Israel. For us Christian the re-building of the temple is not necessary but for the Jews the re-building of the third temple is an obsession as it is the center of their religious life, culture and the history of the Jewish people.

During the 7 days war of 1967 when the Israeli Army conquered Jerusalem, a coronel and his men communicated with Moshe Dayan the chief of the Israeli Army, telling him that he and his men are atop the Temple Mount. Moshe Dayan called up Golda Meir the Prime Minister of Israel at that time, telling her about the situation at the Temple Mount. Golda Meir ordered the Army to stay put. It was understood that the coronel and his men were waiting the order to blow up the Dome of the Rock.

It was politics that prevented the event to happen.

Lorenzo opined:

"It is important to note that the arrival of Christ, who is The WORD of God and IS God, completed that prophecy and finalized it.

The Lord Jesus Christ, who is THE WORD, and is God Made Flesh, himself prophesied:

    Jesus answered and said to them,  "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."

    The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?"

    But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
    Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.
--John 2: 19-22

Reply:

These passages in the bible is an allegorical story. This was written for the purpose of doctrinal teaching and to give strength of the idea in the divinity of Christ. This is an allegorical story because the verses you are quoting were from John which was written 7 to 8 decades after death of Christ. When Christ rebuked the Jews in the temple and said; "Destroy this temple", the literal temple was really destroyed because it was razed to the ground by the Roman soldiers in 70 AD. This means the story of Jesus came later than the destruction of the temple. It's John making a parallel story of the temple.     

Lorenzo opined:

Christ's death on the Cross destroyed the Jewish Temple, and his rising on the 3rd day solidifies His promise that was ushered by Jeremiah, and again in John 2, which was also the construction of the new Temple. This was made so in the Transfiguration of Christ Jesus, Our Lord on the 3rd day. And on the following days of Pentecost.

Reply:

This opinion is like the "Theology of Replacement".

WN

[Lorenzo]

Way Nada:

The emancipation of the Israelites from Babylon bears spiritual as well as theological consequence, and in modern perspective in studying biblical prophesy and the Word of God, timeless.

Be it in in Exodus where the House of Israel was freed from bondage of Egypt, to Jeremiah where Israel was freed, yet again, from the yolk of Babylonian oppression under the auspices of Cyrus.

Note that there is a constancy in cause and effect. The cause being the sins of Israel bearing judgment from the Most High; and the effect: The Most High's fulfillment of His Promise to the people of Abraham. And ultimately, forgiveness.

You brought up a good point, in the year AD 70, Rome put an end to the Jewish resistance and razed the city of Jerusalem, sending the Jewish people in diaspora throughout the 4 corners of the Roman world. Hence the Jewish presence in Europe.

But what I take into consideration is the words from Jeremiah 31 regarding the Israeli people. The fullfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

This was realized yet again in 1947 when all of Israel was yet again established in the land of Canaan. Their ancestral land, a land that was given to them not only by the sword, but by the Order of God.

The defeat of the Arab nations to Israel in the Arab-Israeli Wars and the 7 Day War only solidifies the claim.

Let us yet again remember the Word of The Lord God;

   
"I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God."

-Genesis 17:7-8


God Bless,
Lorenzo

[Lorenzo]

I extend this question to all of you guys:

What does The Gospel say about handling correction from our parents? And in a general sense, being corrected.
Please share a verse in scripture that associates with this question.

All are welcome, to share in this thread. Please join me in opening our bibles and searching the Word of God.

All are welcome to join in this discussion.
Okay ha?

[buwadsanga]

pastilan, way magdaug ani labina ug gilalisan bibliya. hangtud karon wa gihapon mo kabawo?

[Way Nada]

Biblical trivia:

1. What is the old name of the city of Jerusalem?

2. What was the burial ceremony done to the bodies of Jacob and Joseph in Egypt?

3. What was the name of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a spear?

4. Why is it that there are only four gospels?

5. Judas Iscariot... did he hanged himself or did he suffered another kind of death?

[Lorenzo]

Biblical trivia:

1. What is the old name of the city of Jerusalem?

2. What was the burial ceremony done to the bodies of Jacob and Joseph in Egypt?

3. What was the name of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a spear?

4. Why is it that there are only four gospels?

5. Judas Iscariot... did he hanged himself or did he suffered another kind of death?

1. The old city of Jerusalem was once known as Salem during the times of the Prophet Abraham.

"And he passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria: and he dwelt by the town:  And he bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem for a hundred lambs. 20 And raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty God of Israel."
-Genesis 33: 17-20

2. The bodies of Jacob and Joseph, literally, their bones were carried with them when Egypt was released from the bondage of Egypt. See Exodus.

3. Scripture does not name the man, however, it is only said that it was a Roman soldier that pierced the side of Christ. Again, I think it is unnecessary to know that man's name. But please read John 19: 30-35:

" So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe."

4. There are only 4 gospels (Mark, Luke, Matthew and John) because they were written within 80 years of Christ Our Lord's death.

5. There are two verses in Sacred Scripture that answer this question, one in Mathew Chapter 27 and Acts Chapter 1:

"Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" 5And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself."
-Matthew 27: 3-8

and

"Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17"For he was counted among us, and received his portion in this ministry. Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness; and falling headlong."
-Acts 1: 16-19

[Bad Godesberg]

  Saints Joachim & Anne
Parents of the Virgin Mary and Protectors of our Order
July 26: Celebrated as a Memorial with proper texts.
   
   An old tradition going back to the second century gives these names to the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The veneration of St Anne dates from the sixth century in the East and spread throughout the West in the tenth century; that of St Joachim is more recent. Along with St Joseph they are protectors of our Order.

   Prayer
  Lord, God of our fathers,
you bestowed on St Joachim and St Anne
this singular grace that their daughter, Mary,
should become the Mother of your Son, Jesus Christ.

  Grant, at their intercession,
the salvation you promised to your people.

   We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Scripture Readings

Ecclesiasticus 44:1, 10-15; Gospel - Matthew 13:16-17.

[Bad Godesberg]

The True Meaning of Lent
What is Lent? Why is it so widely practiced by “Christians” of this world? Is it because the Bible commands it? Did Christ or any of His apostles observe Lent? What about the first century Church? What does the Bible teach about Lent?



Let’s examine Lent, its practices and customs, its historic and religious origins, and its true meaning from the Bible’s perspective, not from the “traditions of men” (Mark 7:7-9).

+JLY

[Lorenzo]

The True Meaning of Lent
What is Lent? Why is it so widely practiced by “Christians” of this world? Is it because the Bible commands it? Did Christ or any of His apostles observe Lent? What about the first century Church? What does the Bible teach about Lent?



Let’s examine Lent, its practices and customs, its historic and religious origins, and its true meaning from the Bible’s perspective, not from the “traditions of men” (Mark 7:7-9).

+JLY

Lent is indeed biblical. And purely scriptural as well as traditional.

Lent was in practice since the days of the Early Church Fathers.

The practice stems back to the old christian church in Rome when Blessed Peter the Apostle (the 1st bishopric of Rome and 1st Pope) preached the word of God to the peoples of Rome.

It is also important to note that other early christian churches such as the Coptic Churches in Egypt and old orders of Orthodoxy maintain the practice of Lent.

Please note that these said churches, ALONG with the Holy Roman Catholic Church have been in EXISTENCE since the days of Our Lord. Established by the Apostles, the disciples of Christ OUR Lord.



Yours In Christ,
Bran Lorenzo

[Bad Godesberg]

John Chapter 8 - 51
  Amen, amen, I say to you: If any man keep my word, he shall not see death for ever.



+JLY

[Way Nada]

Biblical trivia:

1. What is the old name of the city of Jerusalem?

Answer: Jebu is said to be the old name of Jerusalem. Salem is not described as Jerusalem but in Canaan. Canaan will encompass the province of Syria in biblical times.

2. What was the burial ceremony done to the bodies of Jacob and Joseph in Egypt?

Answer: They were mummified.

3. What was the name of the Roman soldier who pierced the side of Jesus with a spear?

Answer: In the apochrypal writing of Pontius Pilate the soldier's name is Longhinus.

4. Why is it that there are only four gospels?

Answer: Bishop Iraneous who decided what is inspired by God and what is not... argued, and to paraphrase his words he said; "Since there are four corners of the world as there are four winds of the earth so much so are the gospels. In today's world order Iraneous can be classified as an editor of the bible. He had the final judgment what scripture is to be considered as part of the bible. All the others are heretical writings.

5. Judas Iscariot... did he hanged himself or did he suffered another kind of death?

Lorenzo your answers are correct!

WN

[Lorenzo]

Way Nada, there are also other non-canon books that talk about the name of Longinus.

Interestingly enough, in Medical Anatomy, we have a term called the Longinus technique, which is utilized when an anatomist/surgeon takes a 3/4th inch scalpel and makes a diagona incision through the insertion of the Rectus Abdominis muscle.

Ah, it makes sense now why they call it the Longinus technique, since it pierces through the side.

Amazing that even in anatomical science, they utilize Christian reference.

Thanks Way Nada!

[Lorenzo]

My question:

Why was Moses not allowed to enter and see the Promised Land?
When Moses first saw God Almighty, and asked for His name, what was God's answer to Moses? What did God refer to himself as?

[Bad Godesberg]

Answer: In Numbers 20:8, the Lord told Moses, "Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink." Numbers 20:9-11 records Moses' response: "So Moses took the staff from the LORD's presence, just as He commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, ‘Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?’ Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank." Numbers 20:12 gives us the Lord's response, "But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

What did Moses do that warranted such a severe penalty from the Lord? First, Moses disobeyed a direct command from God. God had commanded Moses to speak to the rock. Instead, Moses struck the rock with his staff. Second, Moses took the credit for bringing forth the water. Notice how in verse 10 Moses said, "must we (referring to Moses and Aaron) bring you water out of this rock." Moses took credit for the miracle himself, instead of attributing it to God. Third, Moses did this in front of all the Israelites. Such a public example of direct disobedience could not go unpunished. Moses’ punishment was that he would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:12).  

+JLY

[Lorenzo]

Excellent answer, Ellen.

[Lorenzo]

Also,

When Moses first saw and talked the Lord God of Israel in the Mount. When the prophet Moses asked the Lord God for His Name, the Lord God referred to Himself as, "I AM"

    When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am."
5
    God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.
6
    I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
7
    But the LORD said, "I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering.
8
    Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey, the country of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
9
    So indeed the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them.
10
    Come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt."
11
    5 But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?"
12
    He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain."
13
    "But," said Moses to God, "when I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' if they ask me, 'What is his name?' what am I to tell them?"
14
    God replied, "I AM WHO AM." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you."

-Exodus 3: 4-14

[Lorenzo]

And when we read the verse from Exodus 3: 4-14, we are told that The Lord God referred to Himself as "I AM WHO AM"

That is not only a definite statement but categorically, the supreme o supreme answers.
The Most High does not give himself lofty titles, but addresses Moses' simple question with DEFINITE and CORRELATIVE answer.

And we sometimes have to think about the relationship between Old Testament and Old Testament.


In regards to Christ Jesus, he HIMself reiterates the same message--the very message the He told Moses, some thousands of Years earlier. And those before Moses, Abraham even.


Read:

The Jews asked Jesus, "Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died?
Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?"
Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, 'He is our God.'
You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him,
I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word.
Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.
So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM."


-John 8: 54-58

[Lorenzo]

Let us analyze this verse, especially during Holy Week.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

-John 3:16

[tagalomanoy]

Lofenz,

PUEde ba ikaw among maestro.  Count me as one of your student in Bible study.  I want to know more of my God.  God bless

[Lorenzo]

Mr. Alejandro Tagab Laganson Sr.,

Count me as your brother in Christ.
Yes, let us learn together, and as we read the bible page by page,
and analyze the WORD of GOD, let his spirit pour forth into our hearts,
and capture our Love.

We learn together, we read together, we WORSHIP together.

Yes, I to want to know more of OUR God.

God Bless,
Lorenzo

[Lorenzo]

I extend this question to all of you guys:

What does The Gospel say about handling correction from our parents? And in a general sense, being corrected.
Please share a verse in scripture that associates with this question.

All are welcome, to share in this thread. Please join me in opening our bibles and searching the Word of God.

All are welcome to join in this discussion.
Okay ha?

I will answer this,

First and foremost, it is evident to us that our LORD GOD loves us, and HIS love is shown in his reproofs and his disciplinary actions. So too, as our Heavenly Father disciplines us, so too will our own earthly fathers. They discipline us because they love us, because they want to correct us.
We, the children, the fruit of the womb, are subjected to it.


Please read and remember:

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

-Hebrews 12: 5-11


There is righteousness in discipline and knowing the right from wrong!!:

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

-Hebrews 12: 11

and

Children should remember their place, and the role of our parents.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
-Colossians 3: 20


The Role of a Father is mandated, discplining his child is not bad, but is work towards wisdom and righteousness !

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

-Ephesians 6:4

[Lorenzo]

Lets move on to a new topic.

Let us talk about Anger.

My question to you, my blessed Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus is:

What the Bible says about anger, ours and God's. How to deal with sinful anger.

[Bad Godesberg]

There is only one reason God becomes angry. Sin. It is truly that simple. Where sin is absent, God's anger is absent. Unfortunately, "this present evil age" (Gal 1:4) is a cauldron of it. Not only are there thousands of different kinds of sins ... there are billions of individuals committing them. And there are varying degrees of culpability for each sin committed. For example, under the Law, the sacrifices were for sins done in ignorance. There were no sacrifices for deliberate sin - just prescribed punishment. Fortunately, the One sacrifice that can actually expunge human sin (to Whom the entire sacrificial system pointed) includes the power to pay for deliberate sins. This one little difference in the sacrifices, is the difference between eternal life ... or death.

"His anger is but for a moment, (but) His favor is for a lifetime" (Ps 30:5).



+JLY

[Lorenzo]

Amen, Ellen. Your answer is complete.

The anger of the Lord God was extinguished with the ultimate sacrifice. Man's death started with the fall of Adam, yet man's rise and salvation came with the resurrection of Christ.

That whosoever believes in Him (Christ Jesus), would be raised on the last day. And not be cast into everlasting Fire.

[Lorenzo]

Describe, through biblical passages, the righteousness of the Lord God.

How was the Lord righteous to those whom he loved, and those whom cherished him and kept HIS Name their hearts?

[Bad Godesberg]

If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1.9




+JLY

[tagalomanoy]

My friend Lorenz,

Other relgious sect believed that Jesus has brothers and our religion taught us He is the only Son.
While our belief in God is not be debated, but to be lived well in His Will, however, I need your able assistance. Thanks

[Lorenzo]

My friend Lorenz,

Other relgious sect believed that Jesus has brothers and our religion taught us He is the only Son.
While our belief in God is not be debated, but to be lived well in His Will, however, I need your able assistance. Thanks

Mr. Laganson,

There will always be people that will try to pick and dig into the what ifs in scripture, but for us, it is best to retain the yolk of the Word. Even if Christ Jesus had brothers and sisters by blood (just for sake of argument), that still does not change His Role in Salvation History.

If Christ Our Lord had mortal brothers and sisters, a product of the union between Blessed Virgina Mary and her spouse, Joseph, that still does not change Christ's role.

Christ our Lord was the only begotten Son of the ETERNAL, the ONE, and LIVING God.
The Mighty and Everlasting Father.

Eternally begotten of the Father, inseparable, and at the same time, One in the Father. From the Father, and the Son, comes the Holy Spirit.

We need to remember that Christ, is the physical manifestation of the Lord God. GOD in the flesh. For the main reason to save the world. He came down from Heaven to earth to share in our humanity, he died for our sins, so that we, his children, could also partake of his divinity, and that is in the Kingdom of Heaven.

[Lorenzo]

If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sin, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1.9




+JLY

Sister Ellen,  correct!

[Lorenzo]

Lets begin another discussion, more so on the topic of repentance.


The following questions are multi-layered. But do think about it, and give your best answer. Provide scriptural reference, as well as provide your own personal interpretation, if you want to.

1. What does repentance require?

2. What four sins (transgressions) was Isaiah talking about ?

3. Who do you think this person was that Daniel saw in the vision ?

4. How does David's attitude compare to the attitude of God's people in Isaiah's day?

5. What are four benefits of repentance?

6. Do you have a repentant heart? Do you want one?

[fdaray]

You are here: God >> How To Be Saved

How to be saved -- Why does man need to be saved?
How to be saved is the most important quest of any human life. This quest begins when a man or woman first realizes their true state before a holy God.

The intimate and sweet fellowship that the Father longed for with man, the crown of His creation, was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandment in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their right to eat of the tree of life which would have enabled them to live forever. They were expelled from the garden and as such denied the loving relationship that God desired to have with them. Their sinful state made them unfit to linger in the presence of God. Far from being a minor event, this Fall and expulsion of man was the cataclysmic turning point of history and set humanity on a descent which continues to this day.

Man without God makes his own plans, follows his own counsels and lives by his own rules. Nevertheless, because man was created for fellowship with God, there remains a dissatisfaction and longing within man that can only be fulfilled by God Himself. As man is now hopelessly decadent and God is perfectly holy, there exists the need for God and man to be reconciled so that the fellowship may be restored.

How to be saved -- What has God provided for man’s salvation?

How to be saved has been outlined for every man in the preaching of the Gospel. The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. . .” (2 Corinthians 5:19). God, fully knowing that man would fall, provided a means of reconciliation for man; He knew that there was nothing that a man could do to make mankind acceptable to God.

God sent Jesus Christ, who provided restoration for man with God by giving His own life, shedding His own blood. There was no other way to eradicate the effect of sin except by blood. “. . .Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22). This shedding of blood indicated that the penalty for sin had been paid; a life had been sacrificed for the lives of all who have sinned. Jesus Christ’s willing submission to the massacre on the cross paid the price for our sins and affected the means of reconciliation. “Because one person disobeyed God, many people became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many people will be made right in God's sight” (Romans 5:19).

How to be saved -- What must a man do to be saved?
How to be saved is within the reach of every human being on the face of the earth. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He provided salvation for all. “‘And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.’ He said this to indicate how he was going to die” (John 12:32-33). Salvation has been provided; it now must be accepted. Once a man or woman recognizes the need for salvation and realizes that God has provided for their salvation through Jesus Christ, he or she must go on to embrace it.

Salvation is simply a process of confessing and believing. A man must confess that Jesus is Lord, which signifies his realization that Christ must have full rule over his life with all of His righteous requirements. This confession of Christ as Lord also assumes that it is Christ who will work and fulfill His own righteousness within man.

Next, he must believe that God has raised Jesus Christ from the dead. This belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus carries with it the realization that the penalty has been paid for sin and power is provided for man to live a life free from sin. Thus man’s relationship to God is restored. “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 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. As the Bible tells us, “For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 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” (Romans 10:9-11). Do you feel unworthy to “go to heaven”? Peace with God is within your reach.

Do you understand that you are a sinner, and you believe that Jesus Christ came as the one and only Redeemer of sin? Are you ready to receive God’s gift of His Son, Jesus Christ? If so, believe in Christ, repent of your sins, and commit the rest of your life to Him as Lord:

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)

If you decided receive Jesus today, welcome to God's family. Now, as a way to grow closer to Him, the Bible tells us to follow up on our commitment.
Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
Find a local church where you can worship God.

[babeinthecity]

I need you brother to qoute me one verse in your bible that Jesus said I am God or worship me?

almost every single of your paragraph it mention Lord ,God Lord God. Im asking who is this Lord God? Jesus? please i want to know.

[Lorenzo]

I need you brother to qoute me one verse in your bible that Jesus said I am God or worship me?

almost every single of your paragraph it mention Lord ,God Lord God. Im asking who is this Lord God? Jesus? please i want to know.

Let me ask you a rhetorical question, my dear friend.
Where in Holy Sacred Scripture is it that the Lord Jesus Christ Who Is Lord, denies His Father ?
Where in Scripture does Christ Our Lord denies His Divinity?



Christ Jesus is THE LORD.
The only begotten Son of the Lord God

The entire continuity of The New Testament is written by the apostles of Christ, that bears witness to His rising of the dead, of His Divine Nature and unity with the Father.

Please Read,

And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
â€"1 John 5:11-12


again,

The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM."
-John 8:57-58

again,

"I and the Father are one." The Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?" The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."
-John 10:30-33

And Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. I have come as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in darkness."
-John 12:44-46

AND AGAIN

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?"
-John 14:6-9



God Bless You!

[Lorenzo]

Today's Mass Reading:


Peter said to the people:
"The God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,
the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus,
whom you handed over and denied in Pilate's presence
when he had decided to release him.
You denied the Holy and Righteous One
and asked that a murderer be released to you.
The author of life you put to death,
but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.
Now I know, brothers,
that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;
but God has thus brought to fulfillment
what he had announced beforehand
through the mouth of all the prophets,
that his Christ would suffer.
Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away."
-Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

[Lorenzo]

2nd Reading of The Day

My children, I am writing this to you
so that you may not commit sin.
But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous one.
He is expiation for our sins,
and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.
The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep
his commandments.
Those who say, "I know him," but do not keep his commandments
are liars, and the truth is not in them.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.

-I John 2: 1-5

[Lorenzo]

Gospel Reading Of The Day

The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way,
and how Jesus was made known to them
in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this,
he stood in their midst and said to them,
"Peace be with you."
But they were startled and terrified
and thought that they were seeing a ghost.
Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled?
And why do questions arise in your hearts?
Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones
as you can see I have."
And as he said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed,
he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"
They gave him a piece of baked fish;
he took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them,
"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,
that everything written about me in the law of Moses
and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
And he said to them,
"Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer
and rise from the dead on the third day
and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins,
would be preached in his name
to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things."

Luke 24: 35-48

[Bad Godesberg]

Mga Buhat 1:6-11

6 Ug unya sa nagkatigum sila, gipangutana siya nila nga nag-ingon, "Ginoo, niini bang panahona karon igapahiuli mo ang gingharian ngadto sa Israel?" 7Ug siya mitubag kanila, "Dili itugot kaninyo ang pagkasayud sa mga panahon o mga kahigayonan nga gitudlo sa Amahan pinaagi sa iyang kaugalingong kagahum. 8Apan kamo magadawat hinoon ug gahum sa diha nga kakunsaran na kamo sa Espiritu Santo; ug kamo mao unya ang akong mga saksi sa Jerusalem ug sa tibuok Judea ug Samaria ug hangtud sa kinatumyan sa yuta." 9Ug sa nakasulti na siya niini, samtang nanagtan-aw sila, naisa siya sa kahitas-an ug gibayaw sa usa ka panganud hawa sa ilang mga mata. 10Ug samtang nanagtutok pa sila sa langit sa nagpaingon siya sa itaas, tan-awa, nagtindog tupad kanila ang duha ka tawo nga nagbistig maputi, 11ug miingon kanila, "Mga tawong Galileanhon, nganong nagatindog man kamo dinhi ug nagatutok sa langit? Kining maong Jesus nga gikuha gikan kaninyo ngadto sa langit, mobalik ra unya sa paagi nga sama sa inyong nakita sa iyang pagsaka sa langit." 


+JLY

[Way Nada]

Pangutana:

Ngano mang gipangutana diha sa Buhat 1:6-11 nga kung maibalik ba ang gingharian ngadto sa Israel. Unya mismo ang mga Kristohanong nasud ila mang gipanghimaraut ang mga Hudeo bisan ngadto sa kinatumyan sa mga yuta?

Salamat

WN

[Lorenzo]

That was a beautiful verse in scripture, Ellen. Verses 6-11 in Acts Chapter 1.

It states, and I reiterate for those who cannot understand or have difficulty understanding the Cebuano wordings.

"6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
-Acts 1: 6-11

Pangutana:

Ngano mang gipangutana diha sa Buhat 1:6-11 nga kung maibalik ba ang gingharian ngadto sa Israel. Unya mismo ang mga Kristohanong nasud ila mang gipanghimaraut ang mga Hudeo bisan ngadto sa kinatumyan sa mga yuta?

Salamat

WN

The reason why the witnesses went back to Jerusalem was because they were called by Peter and the other apostles, all of them including: Peter, Johyn, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Mathew, James, Simon and Judas son of James devoted themselves to prayer. They were there to choose the successor of Judas. And by the Grace of Holy Spirit, Mathias was counted as one of the 11 apostles.

The Lord told them to proclaim the message of Christ through all the 4 corners of the earth, in this particular verse.

And we see a continuing and manifestation of His Will when we read Acts Chapter 2, because we see the coming of the Holy Spirit, which came down on all the Apostles at the days of Pentecost.
It was in this time that all the Apostles were given the gift of Wisdom of the Tongue. They were, by the Power of the Most High, able to speak in different tongues, either it be Cretan, Greek, Arab, Parthian, Medes, Elamites etc, they were professing the Good News.

And if we read the continuation, we observe that all the Apostles were called out to different regions of the world to proclaim the good news. Many of them converted many gentiles, many died in their works, but nontheless, they fulfilled the Will of the Most High. They spread the faith thorugh the 4 corners of the world.

Blessed Paul, being the first Apostle to arrive in Rome, started the wildfire of men's hearts--which was Christ's Love. In 3 centuries, Rome would become Christian. And from that, all of Europa followed suit.

[Bad Godesberg]

I Believe There Is More  
I really do believe God has more for you to do. He has more for me to do. We have to be willing to step out by faith into the “new thing”, whatever it is that God has put in your heart. This certainly does not mean what you have done to this point is insignificant. I believe it was all preparation. God is NEVER finished with us and no matter what the enemy tries to tell you, God has more for you to do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBcuw3hE_g&feature=PlayList&p=4733A6C2370C4FE9&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=52

+JLY

[Lorenzo]

Let's proceed, shall we.

I ask this to everyone, what is the biblical and church doctrine in regards to the laying of ashes on the forehead in Ash Wednesday? Give scriptural reference for the act, historical premise etc.

[Lorenzo]

Is the Jew (circumcised) and the Gentile (not circumcised) justified and saved in the same way or in different ways ?

Consider: Romans 3:25b-31

[Lorenzo]

Let's proceed, shall we.

I ask this to everyone, what is the biblical and church doctrine in regards to the laying of ashes on the forehead in Ash Wednesday? Give scriptural reference for the act, historical premise etc.

The answer to this question requires one to read Old Testament. It's a beautiful search, imho. To God Be The Glory!

Job's contemporaries would have immediately recognized the meaning of some of his behaviors that seem strange to us today: tearing his cloak, shaving of his hair, prostrating himself on the ground, siting amidst ashes (read Job 1:20-21; 2:8 ).
Many ancient cultures interpreted all these actions as gestures of mourning. They were an exterior form of expression for an interior grief.

Sometimes the mourning ritual reflected sorrow over personal loss, as it did at first in Job's case. He had just received terrible news about several calamities, including the sudden death of all his children (Read Job 1: 13-19).

At other times, these were gestures of remorse--that is, of sorrow over sin. In this case, the wearing of sackcloth and ashes in particular became a common ritual of penance before God and petition for his forgiveness and help (read Daniel 9:3). job later used ashes in this way as awell, when he felt sorrow for questioning God and decided to "Repent In Dust and Ashes" (Job 42:6)

Catholics, Anglicans, Orthodox, Coptic Christians and older churches maintain this practice because the ash symbolizes 'dirtiness'. They humble us by reminding us that however proud we may be of ourselves, our accomplishments, and our professions, n the end (as the words of the Ash Wednesday rite recall), we are dirty, and to dirt we shall return (Read Genesis 3:19). At the same time, having dirty faces reminds us that sin stain us, and we need to be cleansed of it through God's Grace.
(please read Psalm 51;3-5, 9, 11-12)

It reminds us that though how sinful we are, while we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus came and died for our sins.

It is the beauty, and magnanimity of Our Lord God.

Can you believe, that while we were yet sinners, HE died for our sins.

That, my friends, is awesome Love. A Father's Love.


God Bless~

[Lorenzo]

A question to my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ:



What did Jesus tell us regarding to difficulties in the present times, and how can we surmount difficulties? Who can we turn to?
[Please provide scriptural verses, to supplement]


Thanks!

[grazie7y]

A question to my beloved brothers and sisters in Christ:



What did Jesus tell us regarding to difficulties in the present times, and how can we surmount difficulties? Who can we turn to?
[Please provide scriptural verses, to supplement]


Thanks!

In times of difficulties, I always turn to Him.  I lift it all up to him as he promised to give me rest when the load is heavy. 

I hope it's ok to share with you one of my favorite songs to sing especially when time is tough.  By Basil Valdez, Lift Up Your Hands

Life is not all that bad, my friend, hmmm
If you believe in yourself
If you believe there's Someone
Who walks through life without you
You'll never be alone
Just learn to reach out,
And open your heart
Lift up hands to God,
And He'll show you the way.

And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me
Those who are heavily laden,
Come to Me, all of you who are tired
Of carrying heavy loads,
For the yoke I will give you is easy
And My burden is light,
Come to Me and I will give you rest."

When you feel the world
Is tumblin' down on you,
And you have no one
That you can hold on to,
Just face the rising sun
And you'll see hope,
And there's no need to run
Lift up your hands to God,
And He'll make you feel all right.

And He said, "Cast your burdens upon Me
Those who are heavily laden,
Come to Me, all of you who are tired
Of carrying heavy loads,
For the yoke I will give you is easy
And My burden is light,
Come to Me and I will give you rest."

[jeraldybelleta]

I agree with you Mr. Lorenzo that we should do everything for the glory of God. He is the king of all kings. We must give back all the praises and the glory to God..Thanks God for everything..
God Bless guys...

Sports News Headlines

[analynsarte]

Yeah...
Everything comes from God and for God.
Life is too short, nothing will last except the one that we've done for God.
He is not just our portion but our everything!
He's death is the ultimate expression of His to all of us.
Nothing compares to Him!
He is beautiful, marvelous, wonderful, magnificent amazing God.

Science News and Reasearch

[fdaray]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qINNR0Oblsc

       Let us sing this beautiful song

[Lorenzo]

I agree with you Mr. Lorenzo that we should do everything for the glory of God. He is the king of all kings. We must give back all the praises and the glory to God..Thanks God for everything..
God Bless guys...

Sports News Headlines

Amen, brother.

Romans 11: 33-36,
33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

[Bad Godesberg]

We thank you Lord for blessing us Peace , Prosperity, Good Health
and the Grace to love God above all !

[Bad Godesberg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ag_OeL3z_P8



+JLY

[Lorenzo]

We thank you Lord for blessing us Peace , Prosperity, Good Health
and the Grace to love God above all !

Amen.

[Lorenzo]

Scripture tells us and talks about the specific things that the Lord God Hates.

What are these particular mandates, and provide the scriptural verses to support it.

You may provide personal insight as well, let it fall in line with biblical study, however.

[Lorenzo]

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

There are specific things that The Lord Our God Hates.

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.


---

1. Haughty Eyes = Looking Down on Others if they are lower in economic, political, wealth status.

-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.


2. A Lying Tongue: Liars.
-Revelation 21:8 ...and all liars â€" 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.You destroy those who tell lies.

3. Hands That Shed Innocent Blood = MURDERERS
-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.

4. "A HEART that DEVISES WICKED SCHEMES"
= Two Faced Individuals; people who kiss you with sweet words, but curse you behind your back.
-Jeremiah 17:9-  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

5) "Feet that are QUICK to rush INTO EVIL" â€"

    •• 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" â€"

    •• “False witness” â€" 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" â€"

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

[Lorenzo]

The issue I want to bring up is the issue of Gossip. Or in Filipino terms, "Chismiss"

It is an issue that Scripture is antagonistic towards, and so should we be all.

Do not gossip. Nor should you spread false rumors and lies.

===

"The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor"
-Proverbs 11:9


"A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different"
-Ecclesiastes 10:11

[Lorenzo]

How To Deal With Gossip/ Back-Talkers/ Liars/ Two Faced Individuals:


Scripture tells the answer:

Dealing With Gossiper:
19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.
--1 Timothy 5:19

===

Don't take part of it. And if people gossip about you, spread lies about you.
Just bless them. Pray for them. Because theirs is the act of falsehood.
Pray for them, and release everything lang to Jesus.

And move on.

[Lorenzo]

This resounds back to the preachings of John the Baptist. And by the ministry of Jesus Christ after the death of John.

When John the Baptist ministered in the Jorden, baptizing those who seeked repentance, there were those--the pharisees--who spread lies about him. Though the lies were untrue. That is an example of gossippers.

When Jesus Christ cured the leprotics, made the deaf hear, cured the lame, cured the possessed, raised the dead and all the miracles to profess the faith and message of God. Yet there sadistic people--unbelievers, pharisees, and gossipers who accused our Lord Jesus Christ. Some even said that Christ used belzeebub to remove demons. Yet Jesus Answered them and rebuked them:

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”
(Mark 3:20-30)
=====

Lesson of the Story: Beware of gossipers, and those that spread false rumors.
Beware and pray for those who are nice to you in your face, but then again, talk about you with words that are destructive and malicious behind your back.

Those kinds of individuals are not friends, nor should we associate with them.

Pray for them na lang.
--

Please read proverbs regarding individuals that are chronic gossipers.
Stay away from them.
For as much as they gossip about other people to you, they too shall gossip about you to other people.

Let us pray for them.

[Lorenzo]

When Jesus came late to heal Lazarus, what were the indications that he did so?
What were the responses of the people of his arrival? And in the rising of the Lazarus, what was Jesus' message to us that resounds Christian Truth?

Provide scriptural verse.

[Lorenzo]

Answer

Lazarus was a good friend of Jesus. His sisters, Mary and Martha, were also devout followers of the Lord. So when Lazarus was ill, they called to Jesus, asking Him to come and heal Lazarus. But Jesus waited. After a couple days, he told the disciples he was going to Bethany. Now Bethany was only two miles from Jerusalem, where there were Jews who wanted to kill Jesus. The disciples felt it was dangerous to go there. But Jesus was not afraid. He knew that God would protect him if he did the Father's will.


When Jesus arrived, Martha met him on the road. She told Jesus Lazarus wouldn't have died if he had come sooner. But she also added that she still believed the Father would do anything Jesus asked of him. Her faith was very strong. Jesus said Lazarus would live again. Martha replied that she knew he would rise again on the last day. Jesus answered, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" Martha said yes, she believed Jesus was the Messiah.


Then Martha went back and sent Mary to Jesus. She also told Jesus that Lazarus would not have died if he had come sooner. The other Jews gathered around wondered why this great healer didn't heal his good friend. Jesus was greatly upset and asked to be shown where Lazarus lay. He told them to take away the big stone that blocked the tomb. Martha protested that it was so late, the body would be decaying already. But Jesus reminded her of the glory of God. Jesus thanked the Lord for answering his prayer, so that the crowd would believe God sent him. And he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" And he came out of the tomb, still wrapped in the burial cloths.



READ: John 11:1-44


Amen!

[Lorenzo]

You know, brothers and sisters, if you read John 11, the following verses really unwinds you, the faithful, to the TRUE LOVE of Christ.

You see, that the LORD JESUS CHRIST, is indeed, touched and moved to tears by the crying and the pains of those who call out to HIM. Asking and wailing in faith, for his provision.

One asks, where is this seen in scripture? It is provided, brethren in Christ!
-----

Jesus Weeps

28 When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29 And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. 31 When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled. 34 And he said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?”


38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”


(JOHN 11: 28-44)

[Lorenzo]

In the question that I asked, "And in the rising of the Lazarus, what was Jesus' message to us that resounds Christian Truth?"

I wanted you all to remember the simple and basic tenet of our faith. Which is? That Christ's Power is Authority Eternal. The Alpha and the Omega.

Christ Jesus solidifies this purely and concretely in his answer to Martha, the sister of Lazarus.

READ:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of The Living God, who is coming into the world.”

(JOHN 11: 21-27)

---


And Martha's answer, is and SHOULD also be our answer.
Her answer to Christ Jesus question, was "Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the CHRIST. The Son of The Living God, who Is Coming Into The World."

AMEN! hehe!


My personal question to you (the reader).
Now do you believe that Christ Jesus is the Lord? The Son of the Living God? Who has Came and has died and risen for the TOTAL remission of Sins and is the very path towards Salvation?

----

I want you, the reader, to think about this. Internally digest it. Answer it in your own mind. Christ will know your answer.

Remember, We should all be like Martha!

God Bless You, guys!

[Lorenzo]

I was moved to tears and to deep contemplation today via the message of a friend of mine, regarding her close friend who is suffering a physical situation. I was brought to tears to the situation of this wonderful and beautiful individual, who is carrying a heavy burden.

Lo, I was moved to tears.

That despite the painful physical situation this individual is in, her beauty in the Spirit has grown!
I may not have known you before, or have talked to each other---but do know that you are in my deepest prayers.

Remember, my friend, that despite the hounds of our lives, despite the waves that come crashing down on us, despite the challenges that deign us to conquor, we have and we do find strength through The Only One Love that can envigorate a troubled soul, a battered body, and a weakened faith. It is to the Love of Jesus Christ, and CHRIST ALONE. I cannot stress enough the saving Grace that is in Total Trust and Surrender to Jesus Christ.

That we may suffer, ache, challenged, and battered by the troubles of life, we find new strength and courage that comes from The Lord Jesus Christ who IS the ALPHA and THE OMEGA. Jesus Christ is the Beginning and the End. The Word, The Eternal Light of Grace, the Face of THE FATHER IN HEAVEN.

Tho our bodies may be weak, we are strengthened in a renewal of Faith.
That, is what I call---SAVING FAITH.

My friend, Find Strength that is in The Word of God.
Join me here. I am happy and honored to know you.


God Bless you.
My thoughts and prayers,
Lorenzo

[Lorenzo]

Reaching Out to Ms. Carmel Marie ,


Dear Carmel Marie,
If you read this thread, please know that I was told of your interest in studying the bible and getting to know more the Word of God. I was deeply touched, and moved to tears.

I would be more than honored to help you read the bible, and open to discussing with you, with all the things you are interested in regarding the Bible and verses that you have in mind.

I was deeply moved to hear your testimony from a mutual friend of ours. Amen! The Lord is glorified in all things, and through all persons who open their ears and eyes to read and listen to His Word.

I am here ha. I want you to know that.

May the love and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ be always with you.
To strengthen you, and to guide you, and to preserve your powerful faith!


Your Brother In Christ,
Bran Lorenz

[Lorenzo]

Carmel Marie,

I want you to listen to this song. This song is a powerful song, a beautiful Worship Song that my friend Job and I sing in the Church Choir on Sundays.

We sing this as the ending hymn, and raise the voices of the church to sing glory to God.
That even tho we, in our own pains and failures, we nonetheless sing Glory to Our Father.
Remember lang that tho our pains be strong, this life, this life called Pilgrimage, is fleeting.
We look forward to the TRUE LIFE, which is in the arm and bosom of Jesus Christ Our Savior Lord. Who raises the dead to life. And I stand firm, and in my belief, that tho we may die, we live Forever in Jesus Christ. hehe.

So come sing with me, Carmel Marie.


Savior, He can Move the Mountains.....
[mp3tube]96dc7569c61446d7b8aa264ad5963cb0[/mp3tube]

[grazie7y]

Dong, I am deeply moved by your posts dedicated for Carmel Marie aka Melmel and sometimes Meow.  Yes, she is one beautiful girl, inside and out.  I am honored to have known her. 

You see, Dong, I only say a little about her and your posts tells me how connected you are already to her and her situation.  Salamat kaayo, Dong, from deepest core of my being! 

[Lorenzo]

I am still struggling and bearing the weight of loss of my own Uncle, who passed on to The Arms of Jesus Christ, and I have spent many nights mourning and crying for my beloved Uncle Roy Rustico. My dear Uncle Bayoyy....

When I read your message, 'te, I was brought to tears because I thought of my own Uncle Bayoy.

And I stand firm, I say to you, there is no real death. The physical death is not the end, but is only the beginning. For those who died in friendship with Jesus Christ, and loved him in life, for sure He is The Loving Savior that will raise them. I believe in this jud. We should not fear the pains that affect the body in the present, sure it hurts, Amen! We pray for the pains. But we are confident---because of the Love that is in Jesus. Who is with us to the ending of the World.

If sakit ang kalibutan, just call on Jesus...



So beautiful...is our faith...

[Lorenzo]

When there are things that trouble us, either it a physical object, a trauma, a situation at hand, or be it a spiritual problem, a strain, a battle in the faith, a temptation of the flesh etc, what are we told---what are we reminded about in regards to strength? How to overcome? What is the methodology? Provide the scriptural verse(s).


Come, let us discuss with one another. 

[MikeLigalig.com]

The proper study of the Word of God is the very manifestation of the elect's soul claiming his eternal salvation, the reward of a Saving Faith. And a yearning to be with the Eternal Living God.

The words of the Holy Bible is the breath of the soul, from which is the very breath of God.

Holy, Holy are you who read and keep it to heart. For nothing can compare to the Word of God.

Man, Woman, all things are finite and come and go. Like the dusts of time.
But the Word of God stands Forever.

[MikeLigalig.com]

When there are things that trouble us, either it a physical object, a trauma, a situation at hand, or be it a spiritual problem, a strain, a battle in the faith, a temptation of the flesh etc, what are we told---what are we reminded about in regards to strength? How to overcome? What is the methodology? Provide the scriptural verse(s).


Come, let us discuss with one another. 

Good question. And deserves a response.

There are so many verses in The Holy Bible that reminds a faithful Christian to believe in the Lord's saving grace. One in particular is;

Be content with what you have, for God has said, "Never
     will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  So say with
     confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid."
- Hebrews 13:5,6


And regarding trust. Trust in The Lord.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the
    Lord his hope and confidence.
- Jeremiah 17:7


Have you made The Lord Your Hope?
If you have, God Bless You!

[nilamaw]

Bulak, you are part of it, sis. Any views you have, i-hatag pood kai you know you'll never know that we are thinking of the same thing. Bulak, the Holy Spirit dwells within ALL of us. You, Me, a child, an elderly. Our bodies are His temple, so let us use our mouths to speak a portion of the truth. Okay?

God Bless You!

Amen, amen & amen!!!

[Lorenzo]

Hello Tita!

Amen pood ko! hehehe

[beyotch]

yes...i do believed that god is our only salvation

[Lorenzo]

yes...i do believed that god is our only salvation

Hello, Bey!
Salamat sa imung personal testimony diri. Well appreciated pood lagi. Join us more in our dialogue and study sa Bibliya diri. I personally invite you to more of our dialogue, and to actively read and share with us. hehehe.

To The Lord Jesus Christ be the Glory!

[Lorenzo]

I want you all to read this verse and provide us with your personal interpretation of the meaning:

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. â€"Ephesians 2:10


Sige,
Let us talk.

[Lorenzo]

We are comanded and prepared to walk in good works.

This verse in scripture completes prior verse in Ephesians that demands 'Faith' for Salvation.

God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christâ€"by grace you have been savedâ€" 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
(Ephesians 2: 2-10)

We are reminded that by Faith in Jesus Christ we are saved, but Faith must be completed through your work. Complemented.

Ephesians 2:10 states, "We are HIS workmanship, created in Jesus Christ for Good Works, which GOD PREPARED beforehand that we SHOULD walk in them."

Faith and Good Works.
We cannot be selective in Scriptural Analysis. Ephesians 2 tells us that We are all saved by faith because Christ died for our sins, lest any man should boast. Meaning ani, is that we are saved by Christ's dying on the cross.

But as we were created by God through Christ Jesus--WHO IS THE WORD made FLESH--we were also created to walk in good works.

Ang meaning ani reiterates the same message by the concept of "Being Both Hearers and Doers of the Word." [Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.]
(James 1:22)

[Lorenzo]

The disciples asked Jesus , "Lord, What does one have to do to recieve salvation?"

My question to you all is: What was Jesus Christ's Answer to that question?

Second is: How does one recieve Salvation On High?



Come, brethren, let us break bread together as we discuss this.

[Lorenzo]

Answer!

When God created the world, it was perfect and good. Then he made Adam and Eve and gave them their own free will, so they would have a choice whether to follow and obey God. But they were tempted by Satan to disobey God, and they sinned. This separated them (and everyone that came after them, including us) from being able to have a close relationship with God. He is perfect and holy and must judge sin. As sinners, we couldn't reconcile ourselves to God on our own. So God made a way that we could be united with Him in heaven. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). Jesus was born to die for our sins so that we would not have to. Three days after His death, He rose from the grave (Romans 4:25), proving Himself victorious over death. He bridged the gap between God and man so that we may have a personal relationship with Him if we only believe.

"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3). Most people believe in God, even Satan does. But to receive salvation, we must turn to God, form a personal relationship, turn away from our sins, and follow Him. We must trust in Jesus with everything we have and everything we do. "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference" (Romans 3:22). The Bible teaches that there is no other way to salvation than through Christ. Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Jesus is the only way of salvation because He is the only One who can pay our sin penalty (Romans 6:23). No other religion teaches the depth or seriousness of sin and its consequences. No other religion offers the infinite payment of sin that only Jesus Christ could provide. No other “religious founder” was God become man (John 1:1,14) â€" the only way an infinite debt could be paid. Jesus had to be God so that He could pay our debt. Jesus had to be man so He could die. Salvation is available only through faith in Jesus Christ! “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

[Lorenzo]

Dear Friends, Brothers and Sisteres in Christ,

In our lives we come across people, some good, some bad,
some worthy of our memory, some whom we wish we never met,
but in the end, they nonetheless have affected our lives one way or another.
We all have gone through this stage in life one point or another.

What I want to discuss with you all is the notion of: Friendship.

The meaning of Real Friendship and the things that warrant a person to be considered a true Friend.

Biblically speaking, what does Scripture say about true friends?
Speak your view, provide scriptural reference and even personal anecdotes.


Yours In Christ,
Lorenzo

[Lorenzo]

Answer:

1.  Choose Your Friends Carefully

This first verse is the one that will tell us to choose our friends very carefully in this life. This verse should literally be burned into your memory banks so that you never ever forget this basic fundamental command from the Lord! Here it is:

   "The righteous should CHOOSE HIS FRIENDS CAREFULLY, for the way of the wicked leads them astray." (Proverbs 12:26)

Notice this verse is specifically telling us that if we do not choose our friends very carefully in this life, that we could end up choosing the wrong type of people to become friends with and they can then end up leading us astray from God and with what He wants to do with our lives. Many of God's people have lost their calls in Him because they chose to hang out with the wrong type of people or the wrong crowd.


2.  Benefits of Choosing Good God-Friends

Here are six very interesting verses showing you why God does want you to have other good solid Christian friends to share your walk with.

These six verses will show you that there is safety in the multitude of counselors, that plans can go awry without having other people to hash things out with, that war is waged by wise counsel with others, that learning is increased by listening to wise counsel, and that if you cease to listen to wise counsel - that you will start to stray from being able to acquire more knowledge in God.

   * "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 11:14)
     
   * "A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 24:5)
     
   * "Every purpose is established by counsel; by wise counsel wage war." (Proverbs 20:18)
     
   * "Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established." (Proverbs 15:22)
     
   * "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days." (Proverbs 19:20)
     
   * "Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge." (Proverbs 19:27)

Once you turn the reigns of your life over to God for Him to fully handle, He will now make sure that you get matched up with the right kind of people that you can become true God-friends with.

3.  As Iron Sharpens Iron

This next verse is extremely fascinating as it tells us that two friends can help sharpen each other up as iron sharpens iron. A true God-friend can help keep you sharp in the Spirit, let you know when you are getting too far off track, help you get through and make sense of some of the downswings that can occur in your walk, confirm and help bear witness when you are on the right track, give you pep talks when needed, and help keep you in the game when you start to get too mad and too frustrated when things do not go your way.

You each serve to help keep each other up in the Lord so that you both can continue to stay on the straight and narrow road that God now has you set up on. You can also help each other out if one starts to be tempted to do something they should not be engaging in. Here is the verse:

   "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17)

A true God-friend will always be honest and straight forward with you. You cannot help keep each other up and sharp in the Lord unless you are both willing to be totally honest with one another.

4. Do Not Be Unequally Yoked With Unbelievers

These next seven verses will tell us not to be yoked together with unbelievers, foolish men, dogs, evil workers, those who are disorderly, reckless, contentious and always causing trouble and strife.

There is one verse in particular that tells us that "evil company corrupts good habits." This verse perfectly shows us what can happen to any of your children if they start hanging out with the wrong type of people.

Here are 7 good verses telling us to stay on our side of the fence, and to stay away from all of the bad apples who have no desire for God or anything that He stands for.

   * "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God." (2 Corinthians 6:14)
     
   * "He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed." (Proverbs 13:20)
     
   * "A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is easy to him who understands. Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge." (Proverbs 14:6)
     
   * "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers ..." (Philippians 3:2)
     
   * "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
     
   * "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17)
     
   * "Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God." (1 Corinthians 15:33)

All of these verses are giving us major warnings that we are to stay away from all of the bad apples in this life who will do nothing but try and bring us down to their lower way of living in this life. Many Christians have had their lives totally ruined and destroyed as a result of marrying the wrong people or choosing the wrong kinds of friends to hang out with.

[ms da binsi]

Ang Ginoo di man mamili...He loves everybody. He never discriminate. (i think)

[Lorenzo]

We decide for ourselves the right friends.

And of course the Lord God judges. He is the final judge.

Please open a bible.

I invite you to read the bible more frequently. Lest false teachings permeate.