Mephibesheth

I suspect that our culture avoids talking about death because the subject causes non-believers substantial anxiety because they fear being held accountable for their sins. I think at some level these people realize that if they gave death serious consideration they would also have to seriously consider repenting from their sins and, since they still like their sin as a source of self-comfort, they are not inclined to seriously consider either matter. I think Peter's description of his body as a "tent" is freeing in as much as it informs the reader that a person is not his body; although our bodies may be discarded such that we may not be found in them, we nevertheless live. I think Peter's description of death is motivating because it reminds the reader that we will soon be judged for what we do; we should, therefore, make the most of every opportunity to do good while we dwell in these bodies, because the very age to which our bodies belong are evil. (Eph 5:15) I believ Peter's reference to his death as an exodus signifies the freedom we will experience at death; our earthly bodies are very limited in their potential to do good in God's eyes and are always at war with our spirits as they attempt to make us serve their sinful desires. Although we gain victory over our flesh through Christ who delivers us from its corruption even while we still live in the body, we will see a greater eternal deliverance from this body of death when we put it aside.

The trials that I have had since presenting my self a living sacrifice have served to make me more dependent on Christ. I have been fortunate to hide most of his words in my heart in a very short period of time and have clung closely to his promises and his commands during many trials that would have led me headlong into destructive sinning prior to my conversion. Some of the trials have even served to cause me to walk in Christian ways that I had not yet known were required of me. I have found that perserverence during trials which satan would delight in, have in fact helped to coax me into closer union with our Lord and a standard of conduct more worthy of Him. For this reason, I can't help but marvel at how severely Christ continues to more than conquer our enemy and in fact uses satan's evil intentions to work good for me and His name's sake. What a sufficient savior we have!

Our resurrection bodies will be 1) immortal, honorable, powerful, and spiritual; 2) similar to Christ's glorified body in as much as we will be able to see Him for who he really is; and 3) will vary from person to person in sufficient degree of glory to identify each body as unique to the person for whom it was given. (See 1 Cor 15 and 1Jn) The reason we will be given bodies is so that we will be able to RELATE to one another and our Father. The kingdom of Heaven is first and foremost about relationship!

A false prophet will draw men to himself so that he may please his own sinful nature. A true prophet will lead men to Christ and will frelly give those men what he has freely received from Christ.

1) It is easy for a newly-born Christian to presume that he is "doing" when he is only "hearing" - until his Father tells him he has been a baby long enough. The word "hearing" comes from a Greek root (akouo) which means to "understand." I had heard the gospel in various parts and in many ways for my entire life, I did not understand, however, it's basic principles until the day before my 37th birthday. Once I understood, I immediately believed because I was always ready to believe in Jesus (I was always taught, it seemed, that the sum total of Christ's work was to provide atonement for my sins; I don't ever remember being taught that I could be sin-free while still on earth or that heaven was available to me today). Virtually immediately after understanding and belief merged, I received new-birth and the indwelling of the Spirit. After that, I saw God's word in an entirely different and awesome light. I was constantly understanding new matters through revelation and it seemed like this was my job as a new creation - to understand all these truths I had not before perceived. I laugh at myself now because during this period it seemed like I had arrived to the end - I had finally after all these years found truth and I was sure Jesus was going to take me home and tell me how proud He was of me for knowing the truth. Then, through the same Revealer of truth I understood that these truths were not the end of the Kingdom of Heaven, but rather the beginning. I liken it to a student going to Law School and learning proudly all the equitable principles of law and not yet realizing that there will be a graduation and a job requiring that these equitable principles be applied to real living facts involving real living people in a real world not made of paper. 2) I am not fully convinced that these two issues are, as a matter of necessity, directly connected or even that they are closely related. This is so because I believe even one who does not understand (let alone believe and do) can prophecy, drive out demons, and perform miracles if it is done in connection with preaching the gospel of Jesus as written. This is so because the gospel itself is the power of God ("I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes" Ro: 1:16). A person who understands and believes the gospel as heard from an audio e-book of the Book of John, for example, can receive revelatory prophecy, be delivered of demonic posession and be healed of disease - even though the computer that spoke the recording neither understood or believed the gospel, to mention nothing of the fact that it was not indwelt with the Spirit of Christ. This is so because the gospel's power is not dependent on the understanding or belief of the messenger, but rather the receiver.

1) According to the above verses, we will be "at home" and "with the Lord" when we die. 2) According to scripture, when we die we "fall asleep in him" (1Thess 4:14). In the Gospel of Luke (11:5-8), after Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, he compared asking of God to waking up a man who is asleep in bed with his children. Thus, I suspect immediately after we die we will be at home, with the Lord, and in his bed with our other sleeping siblings until the resurrection. I do not, however, think we will "await" the resurrection in the traditional sense of the word because nobody who is asleep consciously awaits anything. I believe, therefore, that the resurrection will seem to occur immediately after we die in the same sense that morning seems to occur immediately after night began to someone who slept peacefully through the time.

Christian character is an essential indicator of being saved because Christ's promise to save us from our sin includes not only forgiveness, but also purification from sin (1Jn1:12). It is not possible for a man to have his sins removed and not produce Godly fruit because the world is set up in such a manner that we either sow to please our flesh or we sow to please God's Spirit - for this reason God cannot be mocked by those who call themselves Christian but produce no fruit. (Gal 6). I think we need to be careful, however, to look closely for at least some fruit before anyone decide that another is barren, for it is the field that is watered on often that produces much fruit and sowing is by nature an investment. If we see a new Christian with only nominal fruit compared to us "super Christians" but also see them sowing the word in their own hearts through biblical study with humility, we can be certain of Christ's faithfulness that they will bear much fruit.

1) The purpose of Christ's death was to render satan's power over us ineffective and to free us from our fear of death. 2) To those who have put their trust in Jesus for salvation from sin, this mission is accomplished in a real present sense. When I finally understood the FULL gospel of my salvation and believed that Jesus had the integrity and the power to not only offer atonement for my sins, but also to remove my sin nature at the heart level, I was, less than two hours later, slain by the Spirit through the laying on of hands. I remember very clearly the moment my sin nature was circumcised (although I did not know the scripture concerning it) and I remember the drunkenness of being filled with the Spirit as well as being a part of God's own mind. I am missing some time from the experience, but Romans 6 tells me that I was in some way made a part of Jesus' death and burial and resurrection. From that point on I have known that I am God's child and have had no desire to sin. I am not saying that I went and sinned not. In fact, I am still learning through scripture the difference between right and wrong in areas I had never before considered. However, I have not desired to sin and was not compelled to. Rather, I have been like the words of Paul - I am lead into sin, but I do not burn inwardly. When I learn that I have sinned, I have no difficulty turning from that sin. Therefore, Satan does not have me in chains. And because I know my sins are forgiven, I do not cling to my life or the means thereof for fear of death. Rather, I consider any material possessions I have as unowned and unnecessary, because I am not afraid to die - I am only afraid to die before I have done all that my Master has resurrected me to do. 3) Christ's work on the cross is not fully complete in the sense that on this earth, we still see Satan's power effective in the lives of unbelievers. We who have been delivered in such a miraculous fashion have certainty, however, that the day will come on earth when every knee will bow to Him and all who called on His name will have turned from wickedness.

1) I suppose people who imagine "agape love" as easier than loving church members do so because they imagine persecution from one not a church member as being less hurtful at the heart level, since the person doing the persecuting is imagined to be not of God's family. Such a person has forgotten that his sins were forgiven and that he too was once an enemy of God and has forgotten his first love. In addition, such a person must not be aware of the fact that when we are persecuted for righteousness we have a great reward in heaven - and that great reward is the person who persecuted us. I suspect that a person without "agape love" is altogether unable to win converts for Christ, because they lack the motivation of heart sufficient to perservere under persecution and do not see or believe God's promise of converting those who persecute us into God's family. 2) If we reject our brothers for any reason, we drink condemnation on ourself. This is true because we have the same Father. For instance, in the natural realm, a child born to his parents is quite literally his parents; he has both his mother and his father in him. Because of this, a child cannot reject either of his parents without rejecting himself since his parents are in him, and if he rejects himself then he must reject both parents. The converse is true relative to parents; if one spouse rejects another spouse, he necessarily rejects his child who has the rejected spouse in him and since he rejects his child, he necessarily rejects himself since he is in his child. The same is true of siblings! A person cannot reject his brother or sister without also rejecting his own parents, since his own parents are in his sibling and, since his parents are in him also, he necessarily drinks condemnation on himself. Therefore, since "both He who makes men holy and they who are made holy are of the same family, Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers" - and we must not be ashamed of our brothers and reject them, for to do so is to reject Jesus who is in them. And since Jesus is in us too, we would drink condemnation on ourselves. Rather, we must overlook the offense in love and win our brother back.

Hello. I am Tom from Michigan. I received the Spirit on Sep. 08, 2006 and have loved studying scripture ever since.

There is more to this matter than meets the eye and perhaps more than is anticipated by the questions relative thereto. However, I will assume the questions anticipate some of these matters and attempt to parse out some of the issues. 1) In the purely physical, people need not be Christians to be joined as one flesh. Children are a physical manifestation of the joining of two persons into one flesh, because physically, a child is the parents in one flesh. Since not all children are born physically of persons born of the Spirit, it is not necessary for people to be Christians to be joined as one flesh as purely physical matter. 2) In the spiritual, the making into "one flesh" need not be accomplished by a religious ceremony nor its physical manifestation of children of the flesh. This is true because spirit inhabits flesh and "the life of a thing is in its blood" (Leviticus). During intercourse, there is a commingling of the blood of two persons and, therefore, a sharing of spirits (holy or unholy). It is for this reason that persons born of the Spirit are commanded not to be sexually immoral or to eat meat from a strangled animal or meat with its lifeblood still in it (i.e., eating an animal still alive) or to taste blood. These were the commands given by the Apostles after the meeting of the Jerusalem council and which pleased not only the Apostles, but the Holy Spirit as well (see The Book of Acts). It is for this reason that a person born of the Spirit must not lay with a person not born of the Spirit, since to do so would be to invite demons to eat at the same table as the Lord. A person who does this AND knows what he is doing and intends to do so, rejects Jesus who cannot eat at the same table as demons. However, a person born of the Spirit who is married to a non-believer must lay with his or her spouse as part of his or her marital duties without such fears, because the non-believing spouse is sanctified by God for the sake of the believing spouse (in other words, the Lord banishes the evil spirits from the non-believing spouse) in order that their children may be made holy (read Paul's 1st letter to the Corinthians on matters regarding sexual immorality and marriage and divorce; it may also be helpful to read his instructions regarding the eating of meat offered to idols in the same letter and in Romans for related issues). 3) Of those who have entered into a first marriage (or any subsequent marriage or who have commingled blood during intercourse whether or not married), 100% have been spiritually "joined together" by God, assuming they have known eachother (carnally), since it is by God's law that they share spirits during intercourse - whether they are Christians or not!

The death that Christ tasted may not have been merely physical, but spiritual as well. The wage of sin which God forewarned to Adam and Eve was death. This death was certainly a spiritual death because God said they would die when they ate of the forbidden fruit, not hundreds of years later. Christ was made sin on the cross, therefore he must have died spiritually and been seperated from God. Indeed, Christ cried out "My God, My God why hast thou foraken me." I believe it was his tasting of spiritual death that allowed Him to say "forgive them Father, for they don't know what they are doing." In doing this, He was reporting to God what it was like to be spiritually dead - Jesus was saying "these people who are crucifying me dont see what they are really doing because they dont know you in this spiritually dead condition - don't hold them responsible because they wouldn't do it if they really knew you." Christ's taste of death was dependent upon God's grace because Jesus was not obligated to die, since He himself had not sinned against God. We (Adam) were obligated to die and could do nothing to win back our spiritual life. The implication of substitutionary atonement for me is spiritual life. Christ died so that I may live. He paid my debt of spiritual death and my sins have been forgiven. What is more, the spiritual life He gives me comes with a removal of the old sinful nature by circumcision performed by the Holy Spirit, as well as power to do good deeds so that the Majestic Glory may be trusted and praised by those who do not yet known Him

1) My devotional life is important to me because I want to keep what I have attained in Him and press on to acquire even more. I have happiness and peace in His will, and this is the most valuable of all things to me. The bible is filled with warnings concerning satan, who is subtle and cunning, and seeks to steal and destroy what I have. Therefore, I live a disciplined life, like a good soldier in training, in order to be able to serve my Master effectively. 2) In the twenty months since I received His Spirit, twice I failed to study His word for a full day and part of a second day, and both times I noticed a lack of peace and joy. I was irritated and asked myself why. I realized each time that I did not have Him in the forefront of my thoughts. I don't remember if I commited sin during these times, but I am sure that noone would have asked me to explain the reason for the hope in me - because they would not have seen it. 3) When I am not working, I am studying the scriptures. When I am working, I am listening to the scriptures on my ipod (I am a house painter and have the advantage of being able to perform my job with headphones). I have learned, however, that His Spirit reveals God to me in the scriptures more often and more powerfully when my physical person is tired. So, I fast often and make sure that I am always working until bedtime. I don't watch t.v. or otherwise permit my mind to be amused because I want to make sure that I obtain my refreshment and renewal from God. I find myself looking forward to the next time my mind and body cry uncle because I know a revelation is coming. Also, I pray. However, I have noticed that it seems the only time I pray in the Spirit is when I just don't feel like praying because I am "burned out"; more often than not, I pray merely with my mind. When I pray in the Spirit, however, it is God who is really doing the praying and I have noticed that these are the prayers that are bold, specific and always come true. So in essence, when I pray in the Spirit I am being told of the future. So, it is true that I study and pray, but it is fasting that makes these disciplines fruitful.

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1) What does it mean to bring many sons to glory? I think this means that Jesus is leading us who trust Him to His glorified position. In other words, we will be glorified, even as He is glorified. 2) Jesus was made perfect through suffering by putting his pure spiritual and moral character up against the test of the most powerful and corrupt physical pressures without trading any part of His character in order to obtain relief from physical pressure. He won the battle! 3) The implication of Christ's victory for us who have received His life as a result of His victory, is the ability to withstand the same pressures He withstood, so that we may be where He is.

1) I relate the word "suffering" to "perserverence." Perserverence means to remain under God's authority in all circumstances. It means, to not sin, regardless of the cost. Because Christ never sinned, he always suffered in this world. He did not accept the comforts of this world in exchange for His godliness; for to do so, would have put a plank in His eye such that He could not lead us to God. Thus, Christ did not sell His inheritance for food or clothes or homes or even his physical life. 2) If we who have received His Spirit are to be obedient to Him, we also must suffer as He did. For instance, we cannot be obedient to His command to love one another and live luxuriously, ill-content with merely food and clothes, while those whom we are commanded to love are cold and hungry. Nor can we preach the gospel to the unsaved, as we are commanded to do, and not expect to be torn to pieces. 3) The value of suffering is the joy of our salvation, for those whom Jesus has set free from self-interest through circumcision of the Spirit, there is nothing to lose. Such a person cannot be killed twice, be he can lead those who seek to kill what cannot be killed to Him who gives life - if he does so, he has won a brother to the eternal family and covered a multitude of sins. Indeed, we can be assured of this victory because Christ Himself said to rejoice when persecuted for righteousness because great is your reward in heaven - that great reward in heaven is the very people that did the persecuting. 4) Persons who live in a manner averse to suffering are not being saved; they are sowing to please the sinful nature and are mocking God. From their sinful nature they will reap destruction.

This is a difficult question for me because, not withstanding the fact that there has been an element of "at my own cost," to the extent I have advanced in these areas I have seen that advancement being directly linked to what God has given me. For instance, as a former raging alcoholic, I am keenly aware that the ability I have to live soberly came when I received new birth and had my sinful nature circumcised. Because I no longer burn inwardly for alcohol and because I know first hand how contrary it is to God's purposes for me, I don't drink and it seems to me an effortless matter. Relative to knowledge, it is true that I have studied very hard to find out what pleases the Lord and what His purposes are for me as a new creature; however, the knowledge I have received also comes directly from that Gift - for I studied often before I received the Gift and did not see the instruction in scripture that I see today. Perhaps "goodness" has been the most difficult for me because it has taken time, through study of the scriptures, to learn good from bad - indeed I am still learning. This, combined with the fact that "the days are evil," caused some delay in my production to do good things. Nevertheless, I have seen that the Lord is faithful and has provided opportunities for me to do good in those areas where I have learned what "good" is and like a field often rained on it, I have witnessed Christ in me begin to accomplish good deeds. Relative to perserverance, I have only been new-born for twenty months and cannot yet speak on long-term perserverance in my own life. The Lord, however, has given me everything I have needed to perservere thus far, and I will make every effort to use what He has given me to perservere to the finish, so that I may receive the promised crown of life.

The truth of salvation has been confirmed to me by my own changed life. I have witnessed first hand Christ in me doing the good things I wanted to do before sanctification but was never able to do, and I have seen that the sins I was addicted to thinking and doing all the time, rarely occur. It is true that I am lead into sin still, but I no longer burn inwardly and even though these sins reveal the fact that I am weak, I do not feel weak. I believe this is the testemony of those in verse 3b the writer speaks of. I believe signs and wonders would and do help establish the truth of Christ's ministry today. Concerning the value of signs and wonders, I form my opinion from the gospels. More specifically, I noted that signs and wonders accompanied then and do today the preaching of the true gospel which is encapsulated in this title: "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news." I believe God performs these signs and wonders in order to help listeners achieve repentance regarding the facts that a Christ was promised by God, that God does not lie, that Jesus is the Christ, and that God has the power to fulfill His promises. By achieving this repentance, listeners gain access to God's kingdom and are given rebirth and gifted repentance unto salvation.

I think the word "drift" is most significant in this verse because it denotes a gradualness. I believe this speaks of satan's deceptive message, which is always opposed to the gospel, as being cunning and subtle (which is the character assigned to him in Genesis). In the garden, the serpent was able to subtly get eve to question God's character and identity relative to Eve. In the wilderness, the devil attempted to get Jesus to question his own identity. Christ, however, has no questions regarding who He is, and we need to have His same mind in us. I believe the preceeding verses in Ch.1 are meant to make it abundantly clear to us who Christ is and our charge is to take great care to adhere to this gospel and be of an alert mind regarding satan's opposing message relative to its subtle nature. I think the phenomenon of "drift" in the parable of the sower is most revealed by the seed that took root among the thorns but was overcome by the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things.

The Son's divinity is revealed by the facts that :1) He is God's exact representation; 2) all things were made through Him and sustained by Him; and 3) He is seated next to God in a divine place. The son's role in doing the will of the Father was the provision of purification of man's sins and their effects on "all things."

It is difficult for me to read the word "Son" in this verse in isolation to the remainder of scripture. Because of the remainder of Scripture, I understand "Son" to mean God. The word "prophet" means "foreteller." Thus, the prophets spoke at many times and in various ways of matters to come concerning God. I also understand that prophets are servants of God and a servant in any man's house is not nearly as important to that man, nor privy to as much information, nor empowered with as much authority as the son. I think readers understand this.