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Beloved, doing all diligence to be writing to you concerning the common salvation, I have had necessity to write to you entreating to be contending for the faith once being given to the saints."
Jude was pressed also, that urging them to “contend earnestly” for that faith was imperative.Read More
Zech 2:1-13: “…another angel …said unto [the first angel that spoke to Z] run, speak to [Z] saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls…” “For thus says the LORD (YHWH) of hosts, “After the glory has he sent me to the nations who spoiled you, for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. For behold, I will shake mine hand upon them and they shall be a spoil to their servants, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me. Sing and rejoice O daughter of Zion, for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you,” says the LORD …and many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of you and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you...
Read MoreRepentance is part of the “process” of faith. We not only “believe” Jesus – affirm that He and His words are true – we also “trust” Jesus (interesting that Greek has a verb for “faith”, but English does not; we’re stuck with “trust”) as He Who has borne our sins upon His cross so that we may be forgiven, Who has risen from the grave, opening the graves of men, that we may have everlasting life.
We aren’t going to do that, until we have come to understand:
- Who God and Christ are,
- what our condition and position before God is,
- that we have no remedy in ourselves to overcome our lostness, our guilt, and our condemnation, BUT
- that in Christ, that remedy has been fully provided, through His death & resurrection,
- that we must come to Christ, acknowledging our sin, our powerlessness to remedia...
Nearly every presentation of the gospel in the New Testament includes a call to repent(ance).
Most do not specify in the text what is meant by repent(ance) nor specify to or from what a person should repent.
The majority of passages that do specify, refer to repenting from sinful actions.
One refers to repentance toward God.
Several other passages make reference to turning from sinful actions.
A few passages make reference to turning to God.
Those who argue that because repentance means a “change of mind”, it does not refer to repentance from sin, are imposing their personal doctrinal bias and making assumptions not provided in the text.
Because most references to repent(ance) do not qualify to or from what, we must refer to the passages that do qualify what has been or is to be repented t...
Read MoreYes, John the Baptist believed and knew that Jesus Christ was almighty God.
In the beginning of his ministry, John declared, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Matthew confirmed that John was “he of whom Isaiah the prophet spoke saying, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of YHWH; make His paths straight!”‘” John quoted God’s words through Isaiah the prophet that the One whose way was to be prepared, was YHWH, the almighty God.
Indeed, John told the crowds, including the religious hypocrites who came comparably to those God described to Ezekiel in 33:32, that He Who was coming after John, was mightier, that He would judge and punish, and that John as God’s prophet was unworthy to carry His shoes...
Read MoreEphesians 2:8-9
8 (AV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
8 (ignt) τη γαρ χαριτι εστε σεσωσμενοι δια της πιστεως και τουτο ουκ εξ υμων θεου το δωρον
9 (AV) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
9 (ignt) ουκ εξ εργων ινα μη τις καυχησηται
(for full parsing, please see the following link: https://scripture4all.org/OnlineInterlinear/NTpdf/eph2.pdf)
To what does the word “this”, touto in the Greek, refer in Ephesians 2:8-9? Every pronoun must refer to a noun used in the same context, usually prior to the use of the pronoun, though not universally so, or to a concept expressed in relationship to its use...
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If none of the Bible can be read and understood as it is written, then it cannot be understood at all, and this is impossible. Only if the Bible means what it says, can it be understood, known, and useful for salvation and living a godly life, as Paul and Peter assured their readers that it would.Read More
How shall we know if what we believe is the truth, if we refuse to listen to and test the words of those who tell us that we are in error?
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What is wrong with a generalized instruction to "mark and avoid" those who teach differently from or challenge teachings of a particular leader or group? If we refuse to listen to and test the words of those who disagree with what we have been told is true, we insulate ourselves from the possibility of being shown why our beliefs do not conform to Holy Scripture and finding our way to understanding God's Word more properly.Read More
Certain groups presenting a Christian face and apparent Christian message, admonish their followers to "mark and avoid" anyone who may speak against their key doctrines. Whom did Paul instruct to "mark and avoid", and for what reason were they to do so? Do modern teachers or leaders have the authority of the apostles to be free from question of their teachings or lives, or is such an instruction the mark of a cult?Read More