1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Some Corinthian believers were saying that there is no resurrection of the dead! Just as some believers today say that once you're dead that's it, you can't be saved unless you made prior arrangements. But Paul concludes that if there is no resurrection of the "dead"... then Jesus is'nt raised. He clinches his arguement by saying. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." The same amount of people who die shall be made alive. Paul repeats this astounding claim three more times in Romans.
Ro 5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. - Here the word many is used both for those who die, followed by "much more" for those who get the free gift. But just in case there is any doubt, Paul goes on...
Ro 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. - All!
Ro 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. - How many were made sinners? All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All! How many SHALL be made righteous??? The same many at least for the next verse states:
Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did MUCH MORE abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
I believe in the resurrection of the dead as well as the living.
Ro 14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
That they may be one...
"It is a tragedy that Christians unite on doctrinal or creedal bases when there can be no absolute certainty about them. The basis for fellowship ought rather to be in the realm of love, commitment, and trust than in systematized doctrines, codified beliefs and intellectual thought. Should any grounds for fellowship be more important than faith and love in relation to our Lord Jesus Christ and a patient on-going quest for truth? Love, prayer, worship, praise, study, questioning, and discussion can all be part of fellowship one with another. Believers should be encouraged to question and discuss among themselves the most profound topics of the Scriptures as freely as they talk about the weather or the World Series in sports. there should be no strife, contentions, factions, no fear of recrimination or embarrassment or of being branded a heretic." (Daniel Andersen. Bible Study - A personal quest, page 22
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
the righteous purpose of God's judgment
FREE Book Download!
"In essentials, Unity;
in non-essentials, Liberty;
in all things, Love."
A Call To Unity
By Gerry Beauchemin
"[Be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ep. 4:3
Our tradition has indoctrinated us to reject anything outside our theological "boxes." Everything outside is labeled heresy. It’s the same with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christian denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc.). We are all locked into systems, and only when we question and investigate our beliefs, do we find truth and even life beyond them. The Lord commanded us to judge for ourselves what is right. (Lu. 12: 57) And the Apostle Paul exhorts us to test all things ( 1Th. 5:21). Will we obey the Lord and not allow the fear of man to influence or control our convictions? (See Ga 1:10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
For the rest of this article click here.
FREE Book Download!
"In essentials, Unity;
in non-essentials, Liberty;
in all things, Love."
A Call To Unity
By Gerry Beauchemin
"[Be] diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Ep. 4:3
Our tradition has indoctrinated us to reject anything outside our theological "boxes." Everything outside is labeled heresy. It’s the same with Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christian denominations (Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Non-Denominational, etc.). We are all locked into systems, and only when we question and investigate our beliefs, do we find truth and even life beyond them. The Lord commanded us to judge for ourselves what is right. (Lu. 12: 57) And the Apostle Paul exhorts us to test all things ( 1Th. 5:21). Will we obey the Lord and not allow the fear of man to influence or control our convictions? (See Ga 1:10) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
For the rest of this article click here.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
God Presents Himself To Us According To Our Disposition
2Sa 22:26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
As we develop to me more like Christ, God reveals Himself to us more as He is. This could be why most "christians" think God will carry out the execution and permanent torture of most of His creation. This also would explain why those who cannot see God as successfully reconciling every last person to Himself, are not phased by the abundant scriptural and linguistic evidence plainly saying so.
If 2Samuel 22:26 and 27 mean what they plainly say, an open minded Bible believer who believes God is going to some day involve Himself in eternal cruelty, should examine himself to see if he is lacking in mercy, uprightness and purity in Christ.
The phrase "with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury." uses "froward" to translate <`iqqesh> which according to Strongs means, "distorted". One who is distorted has less than a clear understanding, which is why they cannot decide if God is Sovereign or if He is controlled by our Will. The debate rages on for them because in this distorted understanding, Sovereign God who is Love, created most of the human race to be in His image, but also to be tortured forever... well, this seems wrong, so introduce free will, dumping the responsibility on man... but of course, that doesn't really work either. Distortion. God claims He works all things after the counsel of His will. Free will claims God's will that none should perish is thwarted by man's will to reject Jesus even though many die without hearing about Jesus. Contradiction/distortion.
To the distorted, thou wilt shew thyself to be unsavoury, which is morally tortuous, (twisted).
If your image of God is that of a being who is twisted, (a loving Father who is going to torture and torment his children forever and ever...while telling us to love our enemies...) then I recommend you check your own mercy level. When we are merciful, God will present Himself to us as merciful. You will then be able to see a more accurate image of who God really is.
Hi Tony! ;)
27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
As we develop to me more like Christ, God reveals Himself to us more as He is. This could be why most "christians" think God will carry out the execution and permanent torture of most of His creation. This also would explain why those who cannot see God as successfully reconciling every last person to Himself, are not phased by the abundant scriptural and linguistic evidence plainly saying so.
If 2Samuel 22:26 and 27 mean what they plainly say, an open minded Bible believer who believes God is going to some day involve Himself in eternal cruelty, should examine himself to see if he is lacking in mercy, uprightness and purity in Christ.
The phrase "with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury." uses "froward" to translate <`iqqesh> which according to Strongs means, "distorted". One who is distorted has less than a clear understanding, which is why they cannot decide if God is Sovereign or if He is controlled by our Will. The debate rages on for them because in this distorted understanding, Sovereign God who is Love, created most of the human race to be in His image, but also to be tortured forever... well, this seems wrong, so introduce free will, dumping the responsibility on man... but of course, that doesn't really work either. Distortion. God claims He works all things after the counsel of His will. Free will claims God's will that none should perish is thwarted by man's will to reject Jesus even though many die without hearing about Jesus. Contradiction/distortion.
To the distorted, thou wilt shew thyself to be unsavoury, which is
If your image of God is that of a being who is twisted, (a loving Father who is going to torture and torment his children forever and ever...while telling us to love our enemies...) then I recommend you check your own mercy level. When we are merciful, God will present Himself to us as merciful. You will then be able to see a more accurate image of who God really is.
Hi Tony! ;)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Love Story
She is confused, but he see's through her confusion. Her hair is a mess, but he see's her potential for beauty. She is rejected by false lovers who only really love themselves, but he loves her unconditionally with a true interest in her. She is poor, but he has wealth untold. She comes from a family that has a bad reputation, his reputation is flawless. She is feeble and sickly, his health and strength know no equal. She is ignorant and unlearned, he is a teacher. She lives in a poor neighborhood, he has houses and lands and good servants who love him.
She, is you and He, is the Lord Jesus! He has proposed to you, you will accept his proposal and because he first loved you, you will love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Song 5:2 I slept, but my heart was awake. Hark! my beloved is knocking. "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night."
3 I had put off my garment, how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet, how could I soil them?
4 My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.
5 I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened to my beloved...
In this account, she heard him knocking but she waited too long. Her hesitation caused her to miss a blessing. I encourage you to listen diligently and be ready to open your soul to Him whenever He knocks. Receive Him unconditionally, surrender to His will. Know Him. He is your lover.
She, is you and He, is the Lord Jesus! He has proposed to you, you will accept his proposal and because he first loved you, you will love him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Re 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Song 5:2 I slept, but my heart was awake. Hark! my beloved is knocking. "Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is wet with dew, my locks with the drops of the night."
3 I had put off my garment, how could I put it on? I had bathed my feet, how could I soil them?
4 My beloved put his hand to the latch, and my heart was thrilled within me.
5 I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, upon the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened to my beloved...
In this account, she heard him knocking but she waited too long. Her hesitation caused her to miss a blessing. I encourage you to listen diligently and be ready to open your soul to Him whenever He knocks. Receive Him unconditionally, surrender to His will. Know Him. He is your lover.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Reflections and Considerations
Jesus shared a message that He knew would be rejected by most. He also knew that the religious establishment would be His greatest opponents but He preached the gospel anyway! Knowing that most would reject Him and shun Him for the message He was sent to share, He shared it anyway. The message He shared, the claims He made, paved the way for His crucifixion, yet He continued speaking the truth. That, my friends, is love!
Now we have an opportunity to share in the fellowship of His sufferings. We can cover the truth, keep it concealed believing that it won't be received by most or we can share it. Mr 4:21 ¶ And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Lu 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Mt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Lu 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Mt 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Lord Jesus, give us the grace, knowledge, wisdom and love to share your Good News with everyone in the house. May your blessings be on us in a way that is evident and in ways that are not seen as well.
Now we have an opportunity to share in the fellowship of His sufferings. We can cover the truth, keep it concealed believing that it won't be received by most or we can share it. Mr 4:21 ¶ And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
Lu 6:22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
Mt 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Lu 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Mt 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Lord Jesus, give us the grace, knowledge, wisdom and love to share your Good News with everyone in the house. May your blessings be on us in a way that is evident and in ways that are not seen as well.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
from 'Christ Triumphant" by Thoma Allin
I would sum up by repeating the three propositions already stated... (I.) Christ's Purpose of salvation was deliberately formed to include the whole of our race, and no less. (II.) He received for this end ALL POWER, i.e., power over all wills, all evil, all obstacles, whatsoever and wheresoever. (III) The Bible claims; the Prophets claim; the Evangelists claim; the Apostles claim; Christ claims absolute success in this task.
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Ro 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Ro 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
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