it's been a while since i posted anything biblical... christianity is not really my cup of tea anymore, except from a purely academic perspective.
however, i just had an interesting thought today.
the jws always say that you should submit your judgment to the organization.
Greetings,
Just as the kings of Israel had become corrupt so that the badness of their dealings corrupted through the inhabited earth, so also have corruption permeated the organization and even the crowd of followers have become filled with their corruption.
i'm sure i probably missed a discussion on this, but isn't this too a good example for the trinity?.
john 10:28 - 30 and i give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.what my father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the father.
i and the father are one.
Dearest LittleToe,
The holy spirit is the "living water" that God gave to his Son and made him the "chosen vessel" to pour out that spirit upon anyone asking, anyone seeking, anyone thirsting, anyone knocking (John 7:37-39; Titua 3:4-7). Through the Son, we recieve the holy spirit, the "living water" of God that grants everlasting life (John 4:10, 14). When we "drink" this spirit, and it remains in us, it bears fruit THROUGH us of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, goodness, kindness, self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). We did not choose the Christ, but he chose us and he appointed us to keep bearing fruit that the holy spirit bears in us and prove ourselves his disciples (John 15:16)
Peace to you,
Aaron :)
i'm sure i probably missed a discussion on this, but isn't this too a good example for the trinity?.
john 10:28 - 30 and i give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one can snatch them out of my hand.what my father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the father.
i and the father are one.
To pc,
In Hebrews it says, "God, who long ago at many times and in many ways spoke to our forefathers by means of the prophets, has at the end of these days spoken to us by means of a Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things and through whom he has made the system of things." (Hebrews 1:1, 2)
The next verses are a "revelation" (disclosure/uncovering) of who Jesus Christ is:
"He is the 'beaming forth from' of his glory and the image IMPRINTED by his very substance, and he sustains all things by the word of his power; and after he had made purification for our sins he sat down at the right hand of the Greatness in lofty places. So he has become so much better than the angels, to the extent that he has inherited a name more excellent than theirs." (Hebrews 1:3, 4, see NWT footnotes)
The Son is the 'beaming forth from' of his glory. This means the very glory (worship) of our Father comes FROM him. It beams forth from HIS body. He is also the image of God, but not only that, but he has been imprinted by his actual SUBSTANCE. This means the very substance/nature of the Father that no other creature in heaven has, is imprinted in the Son. Therefore, the Son is the EXACT image of the Father and speaking or referring to the Son is the SAME as referring to the Father. The Son is not the Father, but shares the unique 'nature' of the Father. Thus, what no one can snatch out of the hand of the Father, no one can snatch out of the hand of the Son. The Father and the Son are one.
The Son, as a spirit, can enter into the body of the Father and become 'one' with the Father. Anyone else who wishes to come to the Father, cannot come to him unless it is through the Son (John 14:6).
there is a scripture, i think in acts, that specifically says not to go from door to door.
i wanted to compare the greek words used there to the ones in other parts of acts that probably should be written "in private homes" that they use to "validify" the preaching work.
i can't for the life of me find where i wrote that scripture down at though... anyone know it off hand?.
The scripture would be in Luke 10:7 where Jesus says:
"So stay in that house, eating and drinking the things they provide, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not be transferring from house to house." Another translation says "Do not be going from house to house."
"In fact, to this course you were called, because even the Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow in his footsteps closely." (1 Peter 2:21)
Did he go door to door?
"Shortly afterwards he went journeying from CITY TO CITY and from VILLAGE TO VILLAGE, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God, and the twelve were with him." (Luke 8:1)
When did he go to a home?
"Now a certain one of the Pharisees KEPT ASKING him to dine with him. Accordingly he ENTERED INTO THE HOUSE of the Pharisee and reclined at the table." (Luke 7:36)
"While he was yet speaking, a certain one of the presiding officer of the synagogue came, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not bother the teacher any longer." On hearing this Jesus answered him, "Have no fear, only put forth faith, and she will be saved." When he REACHED THE HOUSE he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter and John and James and the girl's father and mother." (Luke 8:49-51)
"When he had spoken this, a Pharisee requested him to dine with him . So he WENT IN and reclined at the table." (Luke 11:37)
"Now as they were going their way, he entered into a certain village. Here a certain woman named Martha received him as guest INTO THE HOUSE." (Luke 10:38)
"Now there was a man called by the name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief tax collector and he was rich. Well, he was seeking to see who this Jesus was, but he could not for the crowd, because he was small in size...Now when Jesus got to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and get down, for today I MUST STAY IN YOUR HOUSE." With that he hurried and got down with rejoicing and received him as guest. But when they saw it, they all fell to muttering, saying: "With a man that is a sinner he went in to lodge." (Luke 19:2-7)
"Accordingly Jesus, six days before the Passover, arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus was whom Jesus had raised up from the dead. Therefore they spread an EVENING MEAL for him there, and Martha was ministering, but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with him." (John 12:1, 2)
Jesus went from city to city and village to village. The only reason Jesus went to homes was because HE WAS INVITED as guest to dine with many people. In the same way, when Jesus gave the instructions to his disciples because they too would get invited to homes, he said to them, "Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave. When you are entering into a house, greet the household." (Matthew 10:11, 12) He gave these instructions so that when they were invited, they would know what to do. They didn't go "door to door," they went city to city. Those who invited them in, they stayed at THOSE houses. But they were not to go "house to house."
Those who are anointed do the same today. They go from city to city, village to village, and when ones invite them in to stay, they go and stay.
"o the happiness of those that are merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
" (matthew 5:7).
"o the happiness of those who are pure in heart, since they will see god.
To SaintSatan,
Peace be with you.
you quoted: "Deuteronomy 17:12 The man who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God must be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. "
Ones who show "contempt" or "insolence" toward a priest are 'harboring' a form of hatred against that priest. The Law was given both to make transgressions manifest, and also to protect Israel from themselves. If the people had no "instruction" they would hate one another and devouring one another and even annihilate one another (Galatians 5:15). The Law was to protect them from that. Ones who showed contempt against a priest or acted presumptuously against a minister of JAH and was unwilling to repent; if left unchecked, would result in the demise of the minister of JAH. So, to "protect" the ministers and anyone else whom this one may have contempt against, God had orders to put such one who was unwilling to repent and show love... to death. Our Lord did not harbor resentment against the priests, they harbored resentment against him because of his miracles and the things he spoke (Matthew 26:4; John 11:47, 48, 53).
you quoted: "Hosea 4:4 "But let no man bring a charge, let no man accuse another, for your people are like those who bring charges against a priest. "
Looking at the previous verses, he says, "There are the pronouncing of CURSES and practicing deception and murdering and stealing and committing adultery that have broken forth, and acts of bloodshed have touched other acts of bloodshed. That is why the land will mourn and every inhabitant in it will have to fade away with the wild beast of the field.." (Hosea 4:2, 3) Men who have no truth in themselves and do not have loving kindness within them should not "bring a charge" nor "accuse" anyone because with evil intent they do so. These have become dangerous to the people even ones around them as seen in Hosea 4:2. It is for this reason they will be removed from the land because their corruption is harming themselves and those whom they share their domain with.
you said: "You see, when the priests killed jesus for speaking against them, the priests were obeying the loving laws of god. "
No, they were not. For Jesus was not pronouncing curses on anyone, nor did he kill anyone, steal, commit adultery, nor shed innocent blood. Everything he did was in kindness and rather than killing people, he brought them from death to life and even healed the ear of one of his transgressors. They wanted to kill him because they were afraid that all in the nation would believe in him and leave the "temple" in Jerusalem. This is why they killed him.
LittleToe:
How are you! Long time no see. Peace to you!
Aaron
to those who do not partake of the memorial emblems..... the jws feel that the ones that partake (remaining 144,000) are the ones that jesus establishes the new covanant with then what covanant is the great crowd in?
to be in union with christ and to have everlasting life jesus said to eat and drink of his body and blood ( john 6:54-56).
so to eat of the bread ( his body) and to drink of the wine ( his blood) why not eat and drink to be in union with him.
To be "in union" means "to become (one)." Jesus said, "He that FEEDS (continuously) on my flesh and DRINKS (continuously) my blood remains in union with me and I in union with him." (John 6:56).
Jesus prayed, "I make request, not concerning these only, but also concerning those putting faith in me through their word; that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in union with me and I in union with you, that they may also be in union with us, in order that the world may KNOW you sent me forth" (John 17:20, 21). He wanted ALL to partake so that ALL would be in union with him and he in union with them so that the world (those who do NOT partake) may know that the Father sent his Son forth, and "we" bear witness to him (John 15:27).
It was said, "Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please him well, for he that approaches God must first believe that he is and that he is the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Jesus said, "He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood remains in union with me and I in union with him." (John 6:56). If we "believe" this and partake, we WILL by means of feeding on him, remain in union with him and HE in union with us. Some call the bread and wine "communion" because it is an act of "coming [into] union."
"i am the light of the world.
he that follows me will by no means walk in darkness, but will posses the light of life.
" (john 8:12).
"I am the light of the world. He that follows ME will by no means walk in darkness, but will posses the LIGHT of life." (John 8:12)
"O the happiness of the man that has not walked in the counsel of the wicked ones, and in the way of sinners he has not stood, and in the seat of ridiculers he has not sat. But his delight is in the law of JAH, and in his law he reads in an undertone day and night." (Psalms 1:1, 2)
Our Lord is he who is the light of the world and the man who was happy because he has not walked in the counsel of the wicked ones. His delight is in the words of JAH and his law is in his INWARD parts (Psalms 40:8). Therefore anyone who follows him will be called "happy" because they too will "not walk in the counsel of the wicked ones, and in theway of sinners they will not stand." And our Lord is the "tree of LIFE" that is "planed by streams of LIVING water, that gives its own fruit in its season, and the foilage of which does not wither, and everything that he does will succeed" (Psalms 1:3).
All who follow after him will posses his light and partake of the tree of life that imparts EVERLASTING LIFE to ANYONE eating his leaves, "for his leaves is the curing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2).
Thus, Jesus cries out and says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him COME TO ME, and anyone who puts faith in me, let him DRINK, just as the scripture says, "Out from his inmost parts, streams of living water will flow." (John 7:37, 38)
Thus, let "anyone hearing, anyone thirsting" "Come! Take life's water, holy spirit, FREE!" (Revelation 22:17)
to partake or not to partake that is the question!
i need some questions answered maybe you all can help.
is it because they wish to be of an earthly resurection?
Greetings eby,
In response to the WT articles 1990, 1986:
the WT said: " 14 Jesus was not then discussing the emblems used in the Lord?s Evening Meal. That new celebration for Christians was not instituted until a year later, so even the apostles who heard Jesus in 32 C.E. knew nothing of it."
Just because Jesus didn't 'explain' it until a year later does not mean he didn't have it in mind when he said it. Many times he spoke things that are not, as though they were (Romans 4:17). There were many things our Lord said at present, the disciples did not understand until years later (Luke 9:48; Luke 22:26, 27; Luke 9:22; Luke 24:21). In the same way, when Jesus spoke of the eating his flesh and drinking his blood, a year later he SHOWED them that the flesh they eat is the bread (the bread of LIFE he mentioned in John 6:48) and the blood they drink is the red wine, not his physical flesh and blood (John 6:60). Thus, they understood that they were to do this in rememberance of him, and that this was the TRUE manna from heaven that he spoke of a year later. When Jesus was resurrected, they remembered that he used to say these things (John 14:26; John 15:27; John 2:22; John 12:16).
the WT said: "Only through forgiveness on the basis of Jesus? blood can we live forever."
This is true about the wine used at the Lord's evening meal. He said, "Drink out of it, all of YOU, for this is my blood of the covenant which is to be poured out in behalf of many for the FORGIVENESS OF SINS." (Matthew 26:28) The blood that Jesus spoke of in John 6:53 that the WT admits is the blood that forgives our sins is the wine that Jesus spoke of that anyone drinking it may have "the forgiveness of sins."
The time difference of a 'year' means nothing. Jesus is "the SAME yesterday, today, and FOREVER." (Hebrews 13:8). What he says now, is fulfilled later (John 14:29). What he said a year ago (John 6:53) is fulfilled a year later (Matthew 26:26-28).
the WT said: "Here, the ?vast mixed company? that shared with the Israelites in eating the manna in the wilderness foreshadow the great crowd of Jesus? ?other sheep? who, along with the anointed remnant of ?the Israel of God,? are now eating Jesus? flesh in a figurative sense. This they do by exercising faith in his sacrifice.?Galatians 6:16; Romans 10:9, 10."
The 'vast mixed company' that shared in the eating of the manna in the wilderness also entered INTO the covenant WITH Israel at Mount Sinai (Deuteronomy 29:10-12). Therefore, the great crowd also "enter into the [new] covenant" WITH Israel [of God] by partaking of the flesh of the Son of Man and drinking his blood.
to partake or not to partake that is the question!
i need some questions answered maybe you all can help.
is it because they wish to be of an earthly resurection?
To etan,
You speak the truth.
Jesus said, "Most truly I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh and DRINK the blood of the Son of Man, you have NO LIFE in youselves." (John 6:53)
"He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day." (John 6:54)
"For my flesh is TRUE food and my blood is TRUE drink." (John 6:55)
"He that feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood REMAINS IN UNION with me and I IN UNION with him." (John 6:56)
Thus, "the SPIRIT and the bride KEEP ON SAYING 'Come! Take life's water FREE!" (Revelation 22:17)
"what is truth?
", pontius pilot asked.
after all my reading of the bible, this has to be the best question anyone ever asked.
Peace to you,
He already answered the question:
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one can come to the Father but through me." (John 14:6)
Jesus said to Pilate: "You yourself are saying that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this [purpose of being king] I have come into the world, that I should bear witness TO THE TRUTH. Everyone who is on the side of the truth listens to my voice." (John 18:37)
He is the truth, and all who 'listen' only to his voice are "of the truth." If we know (him) then he will set us free. Thus, all who are in religion should come out from among them and separate themselves.. and seek to only know the Christ because he IS the only truth (2 Corinthians 6:17, 18; John 8:31, 32, 36).
Aaron
