Re: Scripture of the Day

**Admin** Tue Jun 26, 2018 3:31 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON ROMANS 9:5:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 839A]

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, many examples have been given in the Bible to back up this reality, and one is given at 1 Corinthians 10:11 – 12, [AV] “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Almighty God (YHWH) will provide this comfort per Psalms 119:50, [AV] “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” Yes, much of what is provided for our guidance in the Bible is given per 1 Corinthians 9:10, [AV] “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON ROMANS 9:5:

“ Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5 AV)

“Whose are the fathers and of whom is Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 9:5 Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible)

With respect to Romans 9:5, it is as I said, “I see this as merely a scriptural pericope of two parts, the first being who are the fathers being discussed and the second part being a blessing of Almighty God for ever and ever. This means that the fathers here being spoken of are propably as brought out by John Gill, writer of the ‘The New John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible,’ said, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for, according to the F1 Jewish writers, ``they call none in Israel (twba) , "fathers", but three, and they are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and they call none "mothers" but four, and they are, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah:''; whereas the reflective statement, “God blessed for ever. Amen” is the standard as John Gill stated, “The apostle alludes to that well known periphrastic name of God so much used by the Jews, (awh Kwrb vwdqh) , "the holy, blessed God"; to which, by way of assent and confirmation, the apostle puts his Amen.” Is a way of showing reverence to Almighty God (YHWH) much used by the Jews and the Amen on its end simply means that all who say it are in agreement as shown by the meaning of the ancient Hebrew word that has been simply transliterated into most languages per Strong as follows: “at the end-so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. It was a custom, which passed over from the synagogues to the Christian assemblies, that when he who had read or discoursed, had offered up solemn prayer to God, the others responded Amen, and thus made the substance of what was uttered their own.
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The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related—in fact, almost identical—to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence. (HMM)”

Now the one other part of this scripture, “concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all,” this relates to Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) being given responsibility and power for a time over all things in heaven and on earth except his Father (YHWH) by his father. Now let’s look at some of the Bible scriptures impinging on this:

[a] God has given his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) power over everything but himself until conditions are turned around:
“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.” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28 AV)
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.
“22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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.” (1 Coronthians 15:22-28 AV)
“ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18 AV)
“ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)” (Mark 2:10 AV)
“ No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” (John 10:18 AV)
“ As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17:2 AV)
“ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 AV)

[b] The God of Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) is his Father, Almighty God:
“ Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.” (John 20:17 AV)
“ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3 AV)
“ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34 AV)

[c] His Father (YHWH) gave him power to judge, heal, and remove sin by use of his Father’s Holy Spirit:
“ How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 AV)
“ And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5:13 AV)
“ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.” (Matthew 9:6 AV)
“ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)” (Mark 2:10 AV)
“ And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:” (Mark 3:15 AV)
“ And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36 AV)
“ And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” (Luke 5:17 AV)
“ But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.” (Luke 5:24 AV)
“ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,” (Luke 9:43 AV)
“ As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.” (John 17:2 AV)
“ And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” (Romans 1:4 AV)

[d] Glorified his Father (YHWH) for giving power to humans:
“ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 AV)
“ But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.” (Matthew 9:8 AV)
“ But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12 AV)

[f] He used his Father’s Holy Spirit to give power to his Apostles:
“ And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.” (Matthew 10:1 AV)
“ And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;” (Mark 6:7 AV)
“ Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.” (Luke 9:1 AV)
“ Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19 AV)
“ And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?” (Acts 3:12 AV)
“ And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33 AV)
“ And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.” (Acts 6:8 AV) [The one who Saul played a part in his murder before he became Paul]
“ Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19 AV)

[g] Will come invisibly in clouds of great glory and with signs:
“ And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.” (Revelation 6:8 AV)
“ And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30 AV)
“ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26 AV)
“ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21:27 AV)

[h] Will sit figuratively on the right hand of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and will only be subordinate to him but no one else:
“ Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64 AV)
“ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” (Hebrews 8:1 AV)
“ But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” (Hebrews 10:12 AV)
“ Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (1 Peter 3:22 AV)
“ And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62 AV)
“ Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” (Luke 22:69 AV)
“ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:3 AV)

[I] Before he was born as a human he was foretold to be the Son of God:
“ And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35 AV)
[j] It is not for us to know the times or the seasons, in fact Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves did not even know, but only his father:
“ And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” (Acts 1:7 AV)
“ But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36 AV)

[k] Others wanted to buy the power to pass on the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands:
“ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:19 AV)

[l] Almighty God (YHWH) uses his active force, the Holy Spirit/Ghost to give power to his Son and to all that believe in him:
“ Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 15:13 AV)
[m] Almighty God (YHWH) resurrected his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) so he liveth by the power of God and so shall we:
“ For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” (2 Corinthians 13:4 AV)
“ Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:3 AV)
“ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5 AV)
“ Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelation 5:12 AV)

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**Admin** Thu Jun 28, 2018 3:18 pm

[size=18][COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON SALIENT ASPECTS OF GOD (YHWH) AND HIS SON,

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 840A]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

There is only one true God, Almighty God (YHWH), and he is the comforter of all that rest their hopes in him as testified to at Ephesians 4:6, [AV] “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Yes, he is per Exodus 34:6, [AV] “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” He has great patience as shown by Romans 15:5, [AV] “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” He per 2 Corinthians 7:6 – 7, [AV] “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.” And, Ephesians 6:22 - 23, [AV] “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON SALIENT ASPECTS OF GOD (YHWH) AND HIS SON, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves):

There is only one God. The Bible clearly states: [footnote 1, see appendix]
“11 Now I know that Jehovah is greater than all gods; yea, in the thing wherein they dealt proudly against them.” (Exodus 18:11 ASV – American Standard Version of 1901)
“11 Now, I know, that, greater, is Yahweh than all the gods,—Even in the thing wherein they were arrogant over them.” (Exodus 18:11 Rotherham)

“3 For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it; And his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:” (Psalms 95:3-6 ASV)
“3 For, a great GOD, is Yahweh, And a great king, above all gods.
4 In whose hand, are the hidden recesses of the earth, And, the peaks of the mountains, are his;
5 Whose, is the sea, for, he, made it, And, the dry land, his hands, did form.
6 Enter! let us bow down, and bend low, Let us kneel, before Yahweh our maker;” (Psalms 95:3-6 Rotherham)

“1 ¶ And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1 ASV)
“1 ¶ And it came to pass that, when Abram was ninety and nine years old, Yahweh appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I, am GOD Almighty,—Walk, thou before me and become thou blameless:” (Genesis 17:1 Rotherham)

“3 and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty; but by my name Jehovah I was not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3 ASV)
“3 I appeared, therefore, unto Abraham unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as GOD Almighty,—although, by my name Yahweh was I not made known to them;” (Exodus 6:3 Rothrham)
“ And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3 AV)

“6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6 AXV)
“6 One God and Father of all—who is over all, and through all, and in all.” (Ephesians 4:6 Rothrham)
“ One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6 AV)

“6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 ASV)
“6 Yet, to us, there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and, we, for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and, we, through him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 Rotherham)
“ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 AV)

“5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 ASV)
“5 For there is, one, God, one, mediator also, between God and men,—a man—Christ Jesus:” (1 Timothy 2:5 Rotherham)
“ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 AV)

Jesus Christ is the Son of God:” The Bible clearly states:

Matthew 4:3 And, coming near, the tempter said to him,—If thou art God’s, Son, speak! that, these stones, may become, loaves.
Matthew 4:6 and saith to him—If thou art God’s, Son, cast thyself down,—for it is written, To his messengers, will he give charge concerning thee; and, on hands, will they bear thee up, lest once thou strike, against a stone, thy foot.
Matthew 8:29 and lo! they cried aloud, saying, What have we in common with thee, O Son of God? Hast thou come hither, before the right time, to torment us?
Matthew 14:33 And, they in the boat, bowed down to him, saying—Truly, God’s Son, thou art!
Matthew 26:63 But, Jesus, was silent. And, the High-priest, said unto him: I put thee on oath, by the Living God, that, to us, thou say—Whether, thou, art the Christ, the Son of God.
Matthew 27:40 and saying—The man that taketh down the Temple and in three days buildeth it! Save, thyself! If thou art God’s, Son, come down from the cross.
Matthew 27:43 He hath put confidence upon God, Let him rescue him, now, if he desireth him; for he said, I am, God’s Son.
Matthew 27:54 Now, the centurion, and those with him watching Jesus, seeing the earthquake and the things coming to pass, were violently affrighted, saying—Truly, God’s Son, was, he!
Mark 1:1 ¶ Beginning of the glad-message of Jesus Christ.
Mark 3:11 and the impure spirits, as soon as they beheld him, were falling down to him, and crying aloud, while he was speaking, Thou, art the Son of God!
Mark 15:39 Now the centurion, who was standing near, out over against him, seeing, that, thus, he ceased to breathe, said—Truly, this man, was God’s son!
Luke 1:35 And answering, the messenger said unto her—The Holy Spirit, shall come upon thee, and, the power of the Most High, shall overshadow thee; wherefore, even that which is to be born, Holy, shall be called, Son of God.
Luke 3:38 of Enos, of Seth,—of Adam; of God.
Luke 4:3 And the adversary said to him—If thou art God’s, Son, speak unto this stone; that it become bread.
Luke 4:9 And he led him into Jerusalem, and set him upon the pinnacle of the temple,—and said to him—If thou art God’s, Son, cast (all from the Rothrham)

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Matthew 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
Matthew 14:33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Matthew 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Matthew 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
Mark 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Mark 3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
Mark 15:39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
Luke 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: (all from the AV – Authorized King James Version)

Jesus Christ is not God.” The Bible is very clear and speaks of them as two separate entities:

“6 yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 ASV)
“6 Yet, to us, there is one God the Father, of whom are all things, and, we, for him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and, we, through him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 Rotherham)
“ But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” (1 Corinthians 8:6 AV)
[clearly the scripture states “One God, the Father,” and “one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.” Very clear that that two separate individuals are being spoken of here.]

“5 For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5 ASV)
“5 For there is, one, God, one, mediator also, between God and men,—a man—Christ Jesus:” (1 Timothy 2:5 Rotherham)
“ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 AV) [clearly the scripture states “One God,” and one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus,” Very clear that that two separate individuals are being spoken of here.]

“19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:19-20 ASV)
“19 We know that, of God, are we; and, the whole world, in the wicked one, is lying.
20 We know, moreover, that, the Son of God, hath come, and hath given us insight, so that we are getting to understand, him that is Real,—and we are in him that is Real, in his Son Jesus Christ. This, is the Real God, and life age-abiding.” (1 John 5:19-20 Rothrham)
“19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
21 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1 John 5:19-20 AV)
[clearly the scripture states “we are of God,” talking of the Father (YHWH), and “And we know that the Son of God is come,” Very clear that two separate individuals are being spoken of here.]

“14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
15 ¶ John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.
16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:14-18 ASV)
“14 And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory,—a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.
15 ¶ (John beareth witness concerning him, and hath cried aloud, saying—the same, was he that said—He who, after me, was coming, before me, hath advanced; because, my Chief, was he.)
16 Because, out of his fulness, we all, received, even favour over against favour.
17 Because, the law, through Moses, was given, favour and truth, through Jesus Christ, came into existence.
18 No one, hath seen, God, at any time: An Only Begotten God, The One existing within the bosom of the Father, He, hath interpreted him.” (John 1:14-18 Rothrham)
“14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 ¶ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:14-18 AV)
[clearly the scripture states “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” and “but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. “ talking of the Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves); and “No man hath seen God at any time;” and “which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” The first clearly saying that no one has seen God (YHWH) at any time, but they clearly have seen his Son who the scriptures clearly shows is declaring him. Very clear that two separate individuals are being spoken of here.]

Summary of preceding, As can clearly be seen from the preceding, that the following are clearly fact:

1. that there is only one true God. [Almighty God (YHWH]
2. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. [One Son of God (Yeshua or YHWH saves)]
3. Jesus Christ is not God. [That there are two separate and distinct spirit beings that are not part of a 3 in 1 monstrosity]

A question some through ignorance may ask:

Some may not understand the significance of only begotten and even go so far as to erroneously take it to mean he was not created; whereas, the Bible clearly says he, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) was the first of creation, “ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” (Revelation 3:14 AV):

Now let’s look at the facts:

A Bible Dictionary defines it as follows:
How he is the “only-begotten Son.” Jesus’ being called the “only-begotten Son” (Joh 1:14; 3:16, 18; 1Jo 4:9) does not mean that the other spirit creatures produced were not God’s sons, for they are called sons as well. (Ge 6:2, 4; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:4-7) However, by virtue of his being the sole direct creation of his Father, the firstborn Son was unique, different from all others of God’s sons, all of whom were created or begotten by Jehovah through that firstborn Son. So “the Word” was Jehovah’s “only-begotten Son” in a particular sense, even as Isaac was Abraham’s “only-begotten son” in a particular sense (his father already having another son but not by his wife Sarah).—Heb 11:17; Ge 16:15. [Insight, Vol 2]

The International Encyclopedia of the Bible defines it as follows:
ONLY BEGOTTEN on'-li be-got-'-'n (monogenes):
Although the English words are found only 6 times in the New Testament, the Greek word appears 9 times, and often in the Septuagint. It is used literally of an only child: "the only son of his mother" (Luke 7:12); "an only daughter" (Luke 8:42); "mine only child" (Luke 9:38); "Isaac .... his only begotten" (Hebrews 11:17). In all other places in the New Testament it refers to Jesus Christ as "the only begotten Son of God" (John 1:14,18; 3:16,18; 1 John 4:9). In these passages, too, it might be translated as "the only son of God"; for the emphasis seems to be on His uniqueness, rather than on His sonship, though both ideas are certainly present. He is the son of God in a sense in which no others are. "Monogenes describes the absolutely unique relation of the Son to the Father in His divine nature; prototokos describes the relation of the Risen Christ in His glorified humanity to man" (Westcott on Hebrews 1:6). Christ's uniqueness as it appears in the above passages consists of two things:

He reveals the Father:
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18). Men therefore behold His glory, "glory as of the only begotten from the Father" (1:14).

He is the mediator of salvation:
"God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him" (1John 4:9; John 3:16); "He that believeth not (on him) hath been judged already" (John 3:18). Other elements in His uniqueness may be gathered from other passages, as His sinlessness, His authority to forgive sins, His unbroken communion with the Father, and His unique knowledge of Him. To say that it is a uniqueness of nature or essence carries thought no farther, for these terms still need definition, and they can be defined only in terms of His moral consciousness, of His revelation of God, and especially of His intimate union as Son with the Father.

The Bible:
“ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” (Revelation 3:14 AV)
[this clearly shows that he is “the beginning of the creation of God” so anyone presuming he was not created is in gross error that could be taken as blasphemy]

“ Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15 AV)

Appendix:

Footnote 1:

More than Bible version is being used in the section There is only one God. The Bible clearly states: To show different renderings still have the same significance and to compensate for a superstition, see details below:

Some persons are surprised to see God's name in their Bibles. This often is because their Bibles are one that seldom uses God's name. The KJV, for example uses God's name by the title "Lord" and "God", it always puts this title in capital letters, as "LORD", which sets it apart from the common words.

But why? you may ask, "is God's name not used in every place that it occurs in the original Bible text? Why are the titles Lord and God generally used in its place? "The American Revisers", after a careful consideration were brought to the unanimous conviction that a "Jewish Superstition", which regarded the Divine Name, as too "sacred" to be uttered, ought no longer to dominate in the English Bibles or any other versions......This personal name with its wealth of sacred associations has been removed from our Bibles.

Yet, think of this, should we use God's name, even though we may not be saying it exactly the way it was originally pronounced? Well, we use the names of other persons in the Bible, even though we do not say them in the way the names were pronounced in the original Hebrew. For example, "Jesus" name is pronounced "Yesh'ua" in Hebrew. Likewise, it is proper to use God's name, which is revealed in the Bible, whether we pronounce it "Yahweh" in Hebrew or "Jehovah" in english, or in some other way common in our language. What is wrong is to "fail" to use these names. Why? Because those who do not use the names of "Jesus" or "Yahweh" could not be identified with the ones whom God takes out to be "a people for his name", Acts 15:14 We should not only know the name of God and his Son, but praise it before others, as Jesus did when on earth. Matthew 6:9; John 17:6,25 Revelation 14:1
[http://anyboard.net/soc/religion/christian/chapel/posts/277.html ]

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**Admin** Fri Jun 29, 2018 7:57 am

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON SALVATION

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 841A]

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22 – 23, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

We are carnal as revealed at 1 Corinthians 3:3, [AV] “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” But, we should lead spiritual lives as shown by Galatians 5:25, [AV] “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Yes, the Bible reveals at 1 Corinthians 3:16, [AV] “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Therefore Galatians 4:6, [AV] “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” So we ought to be living lives in accordance with his will.

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7) https://religioustruths.forumotion.com/

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON SALVATION

SALVATION AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT:

Salvation is an important subject that all genuine Christians need to learn a lot more about. It is imperative that we all have a correct understanding on what is meant by Salvation in the Bible. Unfortunately, many have the wrong understanding and outlook on this Biblical subject.

So many look for a physical instead of a spiritual answer to many things in the Bible and overlook the definition even of a miracle. A Miracle is defined as an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and so is held to be supernatural in origin or an act of God: “Miracles are spontaneous, they cannot be summoned, but come of themselves” (Katherine Anne Porter). [The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition]

On a similar note, a BBC programme on Moses shows the doubting Thomas syndrome that appears to be permeating our society even among those who claim to be Christian. It appears that, while critics are now happy to concede that archeological findings confirm events like the ten plagues and the Exodus out of Egypt COULD have happened, they'll insist on rational explanations for them!

However, we can not be doubting about the subject of salvation, but must study the scriptures like the Bereans, “ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11 AV). To that end, let’s look into the subject of salvation.

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Let’s examine the scriptures and determine exactly what salvation really is in the Biblical usage:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:14-17 AV). Here we see that inorder to obtain salvation, we must believe in God’s (YHWH’s) Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) whom his Father (YHWH) sent into the world to provide a means of salvation for us.” (Matthew 3:14-17 AV – Authorized King James Version).

Yes, salvation from bondage to sin with everlasting life in view:

“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:16-23 AV). These scriptures clearly show that the Biblical salvation is from bondage to sin and death; with the hope of everlasting life under a righteous kingdom with God’s (YHWH’s) Son as its king as we all pray for in the Lord’s prayer, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV).

We must seize the word of God (YHWH) and seize our opportunity for salvation as the scriptures clearly show:

“Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.” (Acts 13:46-49 AV)

WHO PROVIDES FOR SALVATION?

Now it is important that all genuine Christians understand who provides for salvation, and the scriptures show:

“The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
50 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” (Luke 1: 43-51 AV) Clearly shows that Jesus’s (Yeshua’s or YHWH saves’s) the Son of God (YHWH) was provided as our means of salvation.

Likewise, the provider is directly identified as:

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
3 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; (Titus 1:1-3 AV). This clearly identifies Almighty God (YHWH) as the one who provided his Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) to serve as a ransom to release us from bondage in accordance with “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 Av).

This fact is further reinforced:

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Timothy 1:1 AV). Here it is made clear that God (YHWH) is are actual savior, but he is working through his Son so we can look at his Son as our savior as he, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) is the only “ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5 AV) who “ taught publickly and from house to house”; therefore it is clear we to should “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (partial quote of Acts 20:21 AV).

OUR CHIEF AGENT OF SALVATION IS GOD’S (YHWH’S) OWN SON WHO HE PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE:

That God (YHWH) provided his only begotten Son for that purpose is made clear:

“ God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
5 ¶ For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak.
6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 ¶ For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Hebrews 2:10 AV). This scripture clearly shows that God (YHWH) provided his own Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) for the purpose of our salvation and made him, the second highest ranking spirit being in all of heaven who figuratively sat at the right hand of God Almighty (YHWH), “ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” (Hebrews 8:1 AV). This clearly shows Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) love for mankind in that he would provide his own Son as a ransom to make up for the perfect human life lost by Adam through disobedience, “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:17-19 AV). Here it is clear that God (YHWH) and Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) are two separate and distinct spirit beings, and that God (YHWH) being the superior could clearly provide his only begotten Son that he had created as the “ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;” (Revelation 3:14 AV) as the ransom sacrifice due to his superior position.

Whereas, Almighty God (YHWH) could rise up his Son after he was executed, he likewise is able to do the same for us the next two scriptures prove:

“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:30-31 AV)

And:

“ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25 AV)

Therefore, the scripture:

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:11-14 AV), brings out several very important facts effecting our salvation. They are:

Fact 1, “No man hath seen God at any time.” Yet mankind has seen his Son who for a period of time lived among mankind.

Fact 2, He has given his Son’s faithful followers, “Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.” Some of his active force.

Fact 3, That the Father (YHWH) sent his Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) on a mission to redeem obedient mankind from bondage to the inherited sin of Adam, “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.”

READ PART 2 AT COMBINATION OF VOL 842A

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**Admin** Mon Jul 02, 2018 9:35 am

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] CONTINUATION OF DISCOURSE ON SALVATION, FOUND AT COMBINATION OF VOL. 841A

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 842A]

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

And those coming out of the great tribulation are as per John’s question, Revelation 7:13 – 15, [AV] “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” And Daniel 12:1, [AV] “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] CONTINUATION OF DISCOURSE ON SALVATION, FOUND AT COMBINATION OF VOL. 841A

ALL ARE IN THE NEED OF SALVATION THROUGH GOD’S (YHWH’S) SON:
This is brought out clearly as:

“ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV)

And:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:23-25 AV). It was clearly necessary for Almighty God (YHWH) to send his Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) as the scriptures show, “ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10 AV). It should be noted that God (YHWH) himself, sent his own Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves, since salvation of obedient mankind was so important to him due to his love of mankind.

KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S (YHWH’S) WORD NECESSARY FOR SALVATION:

The scriptures highlight the fact that knowledge of God’s (YHWH’s) word is necessary for salvation:

“ And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3 AV)

In fact, we must continue to progress in knowledge in order to gain salvation:

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:2 AV). This fact was highlighted as follows, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:12-15 AV)

SALVATION AVAILABLE TO MEN OF ALL NATIONS:

Salvation is not the exclusive ‘prize’ of any one group, but is clearly available to all meeting the scriptural requirements:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9-10 AV).

And:

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2 AV).

These scriptures clearly highlight the following very important facts:

Fact 1, Salvation is available to men of all nations, “lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”

Fact 2, That we have an advocate with the Father (YHWH), “lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;” clearly showing that we have Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) as an advocate with the supreme figure of all the universe, Almighty God (YHWH) and we should not try and lower the supremacy of Almighty God (YHWH) and thus violate the Third Commandment of the Ten Commandments “ Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3 AV).

Fact 3, That our advocate is “the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

IS SALVATION EARNED?

Some may mistakenly feel salvation is earned, but it is actually the gift of God’s (YHWH’s) undeserved kindness toward mankind:

“ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 AV)

And:

“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
3 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” (Titus 3:5 AV)

And Last:

“ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19 AV)

Now the above scriptures from Titus and 2 Timothy bring out the following important facts:
Fact 1, The grace of God (YHWH) came in the form of his Son, “ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” (Titus 2:11 AV).

Fact 2, That Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH) is a great, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” who is subordinate only to his Father (YHWH) in heaven as plainly shown by the fact that he figuratively will sit at his Father’s (YHWH’s) right hand, “ But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;” (Hebrews 10:12 AV)

Fact 3, “ Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his” that we have a sure foundation for our faith.

NOT ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED:

Many feel that once saved they no matter what will remain saved for all of time, but is that so? The following scripture clearly shows otherwise:

“ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13 AV)

And:

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:35-39 AV)

And:

“ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” (1 Corinthians 9:27 AV)

And:

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14 AV)

Clearly these scriptures bring out the following important facts:

Fact 1, That we must continue to work out our salvation as it is not a one time thing, “ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12 AV)

Fact 2, We must bring body into subjection and not give in to sexual lust, “ But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Which clearly shows there is danger that we can fall out of a saved condition.

Fact 3, We must maintain a faithful course to the end to really be saved, “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

NOW FAITH IS NOT A PASSIVE THING, BUT MUST BE DEMONSTRATED:

The scriptures clearly demonstrate to have faith we must have consistent works:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26 AV)

And:

“ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:10 AV)

These scriptures highlight the following:

Fact 1, “so faith without works is dead also” and if dead it is worthless and this is made even clearer by “ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 AV)

Fact 2, Abraham demonstrated his faith and it was counted as good works, “21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”

Fact 3, “ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

DELIVERANCE FROM THE BONDAGE OF DEATH BY RESURRECTION IS A SALVATION:

This is highlighted in the scriptures:

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;” (Hebrews 5:7-9 AV).

This scripture clearly shows the following two items:

Item 1, That the Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves) had to learn obedience by the things “which he suffered;”

Item 2, That even the Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves), “offered up prayers and supplications” to his Father (YHWH).

He, the Son, Jesus (Yeshua or YHWH saves), made himself known to the Apostle Paul as follows:

“And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18 AV) Here the Son clearly showed that he had been given authority over all except his Fathey (YHWH) by his Father (YHWH) to carry out his assignment, “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. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-28 AV)

In fact, the scriptures clearly show:

“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29 AV). This shows that all who gain salvation will have a resurrection unto life; what better could one ask for?

SALVATION, HOWEVER SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FORGRANTED:

The warning of Hebrews should be constantly remembered by all:

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:26-27 AV)

Also, the resurrected ones need to keep in mind the following:

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
11 ¶ And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:7-15 AV)

We however at the present time must keep in mind:

“ And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28 AV)

And:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
16 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:13-15 AV)

And:

“ Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33 AV)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Wed Jul 04, 2018 3:09 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] THE RARE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE, THE Euterpe oleracea `Para Dwarf`

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 843A]

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matthew 24:3, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Jesus (Yeshua) answered them at Matthew 24:4 – 6, [AV] “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Clearly showing the time for the end of the world (system of things) was still in the future. At Matthew 24:36, [AV], he revealed, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The date for the end was NOT known by him, but only known to his father. But he did reveal to his disciples how the beginning of the culmination of the end times sould be at Matthew 24:7, [AV] “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” And that it would be necessary for all his followers per Matthew 12 – 13, [AV] “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” To stand fast with being his genuine followers during this period.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Euterpe oleracea `Para Dwarf` “Acai Super Berry Palm” Natural Habitat: The standard E. oleracea is naturally found throughout the Northern areas of South America. The Para Dwarf is a cultivated variety of E. oleracea, developed by South American farmers. Description: The oleracea is a naturally clumping palm, which can reach heights close to 100 foot tall, with long slender trunks. The Dwarf variety grows much shorter, only reaching heights around 20 feet tall. The palm will begin to seeds at a much shorter height (around 3 foot of trunk or 3 years after planting) then the natural oleracea, making the seeds much easier to harvest for farmers. The Dwarf variety also has a larger seed, producing up to 25% more pulp then the natural oleracea. The crown shaft is long and skinny, giving way to lengthy drooping leaves. Editing by edric.
A slender and elegant, clustering palm from northern South America, and its cultivar E. oleracea “Pará Dwarf”. Both varieties produce the berry, but the Pará Dwarf cultivar has particular benefits that make it the palm of choice for growing the fruit in its native Brazil — benefits which make it clear why this variety is nicknamed “Super Berry.” First, Pará Dwarf starts producing fruits with a trunk height of only 1m (3 ft.), which is equivalent to 3 years of age after planting, in a tropical climate. Second, this variety, as the “Dwarf” implies, stays relatively short for easier harvesting. Third, it is a highly productive plant. A recommended 400 plants per hectare (2.5 acres) yield about 10 metric tons (22000 lb) of fruit per year. Finally, the Pará Dwarf variety produces fruits of the highest quality, with up to 25% more pulp than the regular açaí.
Culture
The oleracea para dwarf enjoys a half sunny, half shady open area where is can remain moist throughout the day. As a seedling, it likes a shady moist area where it is protected from any strong elements. They are not cold hardy and should be kept in tropical climates. These seedlings can be grow indoors in greenhouses during the winter, if Northerners would like a chance to harvest their own Acai berries. However the humidity levels have to be quite high and normal indoor home environments will not surfice.
The Açaí Palm also produces a premium quality heart of palm. The Açaí Palm is well suited to most tropical and some warm temperate climates (USDA hardiness Zones 10b - 11). It likes plenty of rainfall and must be irrigated in drier areas.
Comments and Curiosities
Developed by the Brazilian agricultural department, Embrapa in Belem, Para in eastern Amazonia - for early harvesting of the Acaí "fruit." Said to begin fruiting in as early as three years.
In Brazil, a highly nutritious, thick, pulpy, deep purple juice called açaí, like the palm, is produced from the fruits of this species. It can be used in juice blends, smoothies or sodas, or consumed plain. Particularly noteworthy in the long list of beneficial contents in the juice are its high percentage of dietary fibers, which makes up a third of its weight, its antioxidant capacities and possible anti-cancer effects. The Açaí Palm also produces a premium quality heart of palm that is probably second to none. The benefits of this particular variety, highly prized in Brazil, are that it (1) starts fruiting with a trunk height of only 1m (3 ft.), which is equivalent to 3 years of age after planting, in a tropical climate, (2) stays short for easier harvesting, (3) is a highly productive plant: A recommended 400 plants per hectare (2.5 acres) yield about 10 metric tons (22000 lb) of fruit per year and (4) produces fruits of the highest quality, with up to 25% more pulp than the regular açaí.
Since its introduction to the world market in 2000, the açaí fruit has steadily gained attention for its remarkable antioxidant value, even higher, some studies show, than that of other antioxidant powerhouses such as blueberries, red grapes and pomegranates. These small, dark purple fruits are similar in appearance to blueberries and are often referred to as berries (although neither, botanically speaking, actually is). In Brazil, a highly nutritious, thick, pulpy, deep purple juice is produced from the fruits and commonly offered everywhere in the country. It is best consumed plain, fresh and unpasteurized but can also be used in juice blends, smoothies or sodas. Particularly noteworthy in the long list of beneficial contents in the juice is its high percentage of dietary fibers, which makes up a third of its weight. Because of the açaí fruit’s potentially elite antioxidant capacity, studies are being done to test the berry’s anti-cancer potential. In one of the first studies, undertaken at the University of Florida in 2006, researchers discovered that açaí berry extracts caused up to 86% of the tested leukemia cells to self-destruct. These findings were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Other scientific studies continue to be published on the fruit’s nutritional profile and possible health benefits.
References
Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.
Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos.
Special thanks to Palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos.
?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM http://palmpedia.net/wiki/Oleracea_var._%27Para%27_Dwarf%27 ON 3/17/2018]
Seeds for this palm are available from Tradewinds and their catalog information is as follows, 1223 - Euterpe oleracea - Acai Palm, Para Dwarf
A popular acai for commercial fruit production. Trees grow shorter (to 20-40 ft) and produce fruit at shorter heights (5 ft). Fruiting is also vigorous. A tropical palm with purple-red fruits having high nutritional content. Trees bear thousands of fruits a season. N ?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/42156 ON 3 /17/2018]

Pictures of fruit and palm can be viewed at http://palmpedia.net/wiki/Oleracea_var._%27Para%27_Dwarf%27

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Fri Jul 06, 2018 1:05 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT: NOTE, PART 2 IS AT VOL 845A.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 844A]

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Hebrews 11:8 – 10, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Abraham put faith in God’s word to him given at Genesis 12:2, “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:” As Abraham said at Genesis 23:4 - 6, [AV] “I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 6 Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.” Yes, Abraham had faith in Almighty God’S (YHWH’s) given to him at Genesis 17:6, [AV] “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”

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5) http://religioustruths.forumsland.com/

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7) https://religioustruths.forumotion.com/

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRIT:

INTRODUCTION

Many persons either wonder what the Holy Spirit/Ghost referred to in the Bible is. Some thing it is a spirit being, but can not see how one could be baptized by a spirit being and/or have a spirit being in them " And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4 AV). Others feel the Holy Spirit/Ghost can not be a person but must be God's active force. Let's take a look at what the Bible has to say on the matter.

WHAT SOME WRITERS SAY

First, we will consider what Dr. Ron Roth, Ph.D., author of the book the "Holy Spirit" has to say. "The Holy Spirit is the active force of God's energy in each of us, guiding and directing us from within. If we can learn to listen to the urgings of Spirit and follow them, our daily lives will become much easier and more fulfilling. The energy of the Holy Spirit can assist us to be great healers, enthusiastic entrepreneurs, motivating speakers and teachers, great artists, innovators, or inventors. Just to be aware of the workings of the Holy Spirit on an everyday basis will lead to an awareness of our own limitless possibilities, for the very reason that at the core of our being we are Spirit, emanations of divine light.

If we can begin to understand how the Spirit operates continuously in our lives, then our daily existence will become less stressful and more relaxed, filled less with drudgery and more with enchantment, and we in turn can become more creative and begin to enjoy a new sense of purpose, fulfillment, and enthusiasm. In place of that stress and drudgery will come a sense of peace, harmony, balance, and tranquility arising from the knowledge that we are protected, guided, loved, and never abandoned. Once you learn to recognize the presence of the Spirit within, you will exude joy as your desires for success and fulfillment spur plans that seem to evolve from nowhere at the instigation of the Spirit. [http://www.joyofsects.com/holy_spirit.shtml, by - Ron Roth, Ph.D., author of "Holy Spirit"]

A book critique of John Milton's book 'Paradise Lost' had this to say with regard to how Milton dealt with the subject of the Holy Spirit, "Milton's speaker invokes the muse, a mystical source of poetic inspiration, to sing about these subjects through him, but he makes it clear that he refers to a different muse from the muses who traditionally inspired classical poets by specifying that his muse inspired Moses to receive the Ten Commandments and write Genesis. Milton's muse is the Holy Spirit, which inspired the Christian Bible, not one of the nine classical muses who reside on Mount Helicon-the "Aonian mount" of I.15. He says that his poem, like his muse, will fly above those of the classical poets and accomplish things never attempted before, because his source of inspiration is greater than theirs. Then he invokes the Holy Spirit, asking it to fill him with knowledge of the beginning of the world, because the Holy Spirit was the active force in creating the universe." ["Paradise Lost," by John Milton - preface]

The beginning of Paradise Lost is similar in gravity and seriousness to the book from which Milton takes much of his story: the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. The Bible begins with the story of the world's creation, and Milton's epic begins in a similar vein, alluding to the creation of the world by the Holy Spirit. The first two sentences, or twenty-six lines, of Paradise Lost are extremely compressed, containing a great deal of information about Milton's reasons for writing his epic, his subject matter, and his attitudes toward his subject. By invoking a muse, but differentiating it from traditional muses, Milton tells us a lot about how he sees his project. In the first place, an invocation of the muse at the beginning of an epic is conventional, so Milton is acknowledging his awareness of Homer, Virgil, and later poets, and signaling that he has mastered their format and wants to be part of their tradition. But by identifying his muse as the divine spirit that inspired the Bible and created the world, he shows that his ambitions go far beyond joining the club of Homer and Virgil. Milton's epic will surpass theirs, he says, drawing on a more fundamental source of truth and dealing with matters of more fundamental importance to human beings. At the same time, however, Milton's invocation is humble, expressing his dependence on God's grace in speaking through him. Milton thus begins his poem with a mixture of towering ambition and humble self-effacement, simultaneously tipping his hat to his poetic forebears and promising to soar above them for God's glorification. [http://www.sparknotes.com/poetry/paradiselost/section1.html]

HOW DOES THE HOLY SPIRIT RELATE TO ALMIGHTY GOD (YHWH)?

A question many ask is how does the Holy Spirit relate to Almighty God (YHWH) and his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves)? The Bible makes it quite clear that the HOLY SPIRIT emanates from Almighty God (YHWH) himself. We are told that when God created the heavens and the earth that the Spirit of God [HOLY SPIRIT] hovered over the deep " And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2 AV). In fact, the HOLY SPIRIT is God's (YHWH's) active force. Now let's back up for a moment, all power originates with God " For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:" (Romans 1:20 AV) which clearly shows that all power comes from Almighty God (YHWH). Now, there are two types of power Yahweh (YHWH) has: latent or potential power which is unlimited "17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name," (Jeremiah 32:17-18 AV), and active power or force. This active power is called the Holy Spirit as it originates with God (YHWH). He has given a little of it to every living creature " Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7 AV), and when a creature dies it returns to him. We are clearly told at " Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17 AV) that the Lord [YHWH] is the Lord of the Spirit, and this shows once more that the HOLY SPIRIT comes from the Father (YHWH); and not of itself, but rather, a part of the very eminence of Almighty God (YHWH).

Several instances clearly show that the HOLY SPIRIT is God's active force:

" And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die." (Genesis 6:17 AV)

"And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4 AV)

" And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:31 AV)

" And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:2 AV)

" Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth." (Psalms 104:30 AV)

" For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:21 AV)

" And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers," (Acts 28:25 AV)

All of these scriptures clearly show that the HOLY SPIRIT is indeed a force, God's active force, and not a spirit being.

In addition to the above, the Bible's use of "Holy Spirit" indicates that it is a controlled force that Yahweh God uses to accomplish a variety of his purposes. To a certain extent, it can be likened to electricity, a force that can be adapted to perform a great variety of operations.

God uses his spirit to enlighten those who serve him. David prayed " Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit [ru'ach] is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." (Psalms 143:10 AV)

When 70 capable men were appointed to help Moses, God said to him: " And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit [ru'ach] which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone." (Numbers 11:17 AV)

Bible prophecy was recorded when men of God were "20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost [Greek, from pneu'ma]." (2 Peter 1:20-21 AV). In this way the Bible was " All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16 AV). And Holy Spirit guided certain individuals to see visions or to have prophetic dreams " The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue." (2 Samuel 23:2 AV), 28 ¶ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. " (Joel 2:28-29 AV), " And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying," (Luke 1:67 AV), " Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus." (Acts 1:16 AV), " Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2:33 AV). The Holy Spirit impelled Jesus to go into the wilderness after his baptism, " And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness." (Mark 1:12 AV). The spirit was like a fire within God's servants, causing them to be energized by that force. And it enabled them to speak out boldly and courageously, " But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin." (Micah 3:8 AV), "55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, "56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (Acts 7:55-60), " This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John." (Acts 18:25 AV), " Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;" (Romans 12:11 AV), " Quench not the Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 5:19 AV). By his spirit, God carries out his judgments on men and nations. " So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19 AV). And God's spirit can reach everywhere, acting for people or against them. "7 ¶ Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee." (Psalm 139:7-12 AV).

IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THE THIRD PERSON OF A GODHEAD?

Many who believe in the Trinity doctrine, think that the Holy Spirit is the third person of a Godhead, equal to the Father and to the Son. As the book Our Orthodox Christian Faith says: "The Holy Spirit is totally God."

However, In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word most frequently used for "spirit" is ru'ach, meaning "breath; wind; spirit." In the Greek Scriptures, the word is pneu'ma, having a similar meaning. Do these words indicate that the Holy Spirit is part of a Trinity? Of course not.

Some may ask whether there Bible verses that speak of the Holy Spirit in personal terms? Yes, but note what Catholic theologian Edmund Fortman says about this in The Triune God: "Although this spirit is often described in personal terms, it seems quite clear that the sacred writers [of the Hebrew Scriptures] never conceived or presented this spirit as a distinct person."

In the Scriptures it is not unusual for something to be personified. Wisdom is said to have children, " But wisdom is justified of all her children." (Luke 7:35 AV). Sin and death are called kings, " 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." (Romans 5:14 AV). At Genesis " If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him." (Genesis 4:7 AV), thus personifying sin as a wicked spirit crouching at Cain's door. But, of course, sin is not a spirit person; nor does personifying the Holy Spirit make it a spirit person.

Similarly, at "6 ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one." (1 John 5:6-8 AV) not only the spirit but also "the water, and the blood" are said to be "witnesses." But water and blood are obviously not persons, and neither is the Holy Spirit a person.

In harmony with this is the Bible's general usage of "Holy Spirit" in an impersonal way, such as paralleling it with water and fire, " I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:" (Matthew 3:11 AV), and " I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:8 AV). People are urged to become filled with Holy Spirit instead of with wine, " And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" (Ephesians 5:18 AV). They are spoken of as being filled with Holy Spirit in the same way they are filled with such qualities as wisdom, faith, and joy, " Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business." (Acts 6:3 AV), " For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord." (Acts 11:24 AV), " And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost." (Acts 13:52 AV). " And at " By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned," (2 Corinthians 6:6 AV) the Holy Spirit is included among a number of qualities. Such expressions would not be fitting if the Holy Spirit were actually a person.

Then, too, while some Bible texts say that the spirit speaks, other texts show that this was actually done through humans or angels "19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." (Matthew 10:19, 20 AV), " And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers," (Acts 28:25 AV), and "2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" (Hebrews 2:2). The action of the spirit in such instances is like that of radio waves transmitting messages from one person to another far away.

Now it is easy to see why the Catholic position on the Holy Ghost is clearly without merit as stated, "The doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning the Holy Ghost forms an integral part of her teaching on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, of which St. Augustine (De Trin., I, iii, 5), speaking with diffidence, says: "In no other subject is the danger of erring so great, or the progress so difficult, or the fruit of a careful study so appreciable". The essential points of the dogma may be resumed in the following propositions:
* The Holy Ghost is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
* Though really distinct, as a Person, from the Father and the Son, He is consubstantial with Them; being God like Them, He possesses with Them one and the same Divine Essence or Nature.
* He proceeds, not by way of generation, but by way of spiration, from the Father and the Son together, as from a single principle.
Such is the belief the Catholic faith demands. [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII ]
Of special interest is the Catholic encyclopedia's statement, "Though really distinct, as a Person, from the Father and the Son, He is consubstantial with Them; being God like Them, He possesses with Them one and the same Divine Essence or Nature." They in reality are admitting in essence that he is different or distinct from the Father (YHWH) and the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), quite interesting.

Another writer has this to say,' ""Lacks personal identification -- Since God himself is a Spirit & is holy & since all his faithful angelic sons are spirits & are holy, it is evident that if the 'Holy Spirit' were a person there should reasonably be given some means in the Scriptures to distinguish & identify such spirit person from all these other 'Holy Spirits.' It would be expected that, at the very least, the DEFINITE article ['the'] would be used with it [i.e. words 'Holy Spirit'] in all cases where it is not called 'God's Holy Spirit' or is not modified by some similar expression. This would at least distinguish it as THE Holy Spirit. But, to the contrary, in a large number of cases [47 in the Kingdom Interlinear] the expression 'HOLY SPIRIT' appears in the original Greek WITHOUT the ARTICLE, thus INDICATING ITS LACK of PERSONALITY."' [http://www.geocities.com/athens/forum/8318/sfa.html]

WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY [a public domain source]

The expression Spirit, or Spirit of God, or Holy Spirit, is found in the great majority of the books of the Bible. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word uniformly employed for the Spirit as referring to God's Spirit is ruach meaning "breath," "wind" or "breeze." The verb form of the word is ruach, or riach used only in the Hiphil and meaning "to breathe," "to blow." A kindred verb is rawach, meaning "to breathe" "having breathing room," "to be spacious," etc. The word always used in the New Testament for the Spirit is the Greek neuter noun pneuma, with or without the article, and for Holy Spirit, pneuma hagion, or to pneuma to hagion. In the New Testament we find also the expressions, "the Spirit of God," "the Spirit of the Lord," "the Spirit of the Father," "the Spirit of Jesus," "of Christ." The word for Spirit in the Greek is from the verb pneo, "to breathe," "to blow." The corresponding word in the Latin is spiritus, meaning "spirit."

I. Old Testament Teachings as to the Spirit.
1. Meaning of the Word:
At the outset we note the significance of the term itself. From the primary meaning of the word which is "wind," as referring to Nature, arises the idea of breath in man and thence the breath, wind or Spirit of God. We have no way of tracing exactly how the minds of the Biblical writers connected the earlier literal meaning of the word with the Divine Spirit. Nearly all shades of meaning from the lowest to the highest appear in the Old Testament, and it is not difficult to conceive how the original narrower meaning was gradually expanded into the larger and wider. The following are some of the shades of Old Testament usage. From the notion of wind or breath, ruach came to signify:
(1) the principle of life itself; spirit in this sense indicated the degree of vitality:
"My spirit is consumed, my days are extinct" (Job 17:1; also Judges 15:19; 1 Samuel 30:12);
(2) human feelings of various kinds, as anger (Judges 8:3; Proverbs 29:11), desire (Isaiah 26:9), courage (Joshua 2:11);
(3) intelligence (Exodus 28:3; Isaiah 29:24);
(4) general disposition (Ps 34:18; 5l:17; Pr 14:29; 16:18; 29:23).
No doubt the Biblical writers thought of man as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), and it was easy for them to think of God as being like man. It is remarkable that their anthropomorphism did not go farther. They preserve, however, a highly spiritual conception of God as compared with that of surrounding nations. But as the human breath was an invisible part of man, and as it represented his vitality, his life and energy, it was easy to transfer the conception to God in the effort to represent His energetic and transitive action upon man and Nature. The Spirit of God, therefore, as based upon the idea of the ruach or breath of man, originally stood for the energy or power of God (Isaiah 31:3; compare A. B. Davidson, Theology of the Old Testament, 117-18), as contrasted with the weakness of the flesh.

TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS DOCUMENT,DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRI, PART 2, GO TO COMBINATION OF VOL 845A.

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRI, PART 2, THE FIRST PART IS VOL 844A

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 845A]

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. Matthew 24:9, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

This scripture is speaking about conditions that will exist at the conclusion of the end times, and additional information is given at Matthew 10:17, [AV] “But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;” showing a terrible time for Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) faithful followers done under the control of Satan the Devil. This time is shortly at hand, and will be followed by God’s Kingdom that Jesus (Yeshua) showed we should pray for at Matthew 6:9 – 10, [AV] “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

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[2] DISCOURSE ON THE HOLY SPIRI, PART 2, THE FIRST PART IS VOL 844A

2. The Spirit in Relation to the Godhead:
We consider next the Spirit of God in relation to God Himself in the Old Testament. Here there are several points to be noted. The first is that there is no indication of a belief that the Spirit of God was a material particle or emanation from God. The point of view of Biblical writers is nearly always practical rather than speculative. They did not philosophize about the Divine nature. Nevertheless, they retained a very clear distinction between spirit and flesh or other material forms. Again we observe in the Old Testament both an identification of God and the Spirit of God, and also a clear distinction between them. The identification is seen in Psalms 139:7 where the omni-presence of the Spirit is declared, and in Isaiah 63:10; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27. In a great number of passages, however, God and the Spirit of God are not thought of as identical, as in Genesis 1:2; 6:3; Nehemiah 9:20; Psalms 51:11; 104:29 f. Of course this does not mean that God and the Spirit of God were two distinct beings in the thought of Old Testament writers, but only that the Spirit had functions of His own in distinction from God. The Spirit was God in action, particularly when the action was specific, with a view to accomplishing some particular end or purpose of God. The Spirit came upon individuals for special purposes. The Spirit was thus God immanent in man and in the world. As the angel of the Lord, or angel of the Covenant in certain passages, represents both Yahweh Himself and one sent by Yahweh, so in like manner the Spirit of Yahweh was both Yahweh within or upon man, and at the same time one sent by Yahweh to man...

3. The Spirit in External Nature:
We consider next the Spirit of God in external Nature. "And the Spirit of God moved (was brooding or hovering) upon the face of the waters" (Genesis 1:2). The figure is that of a brooding or hovering bird (compare Deuteronomy 32:11). Here the Spirit brings order and beauty out of the primeval chaos and conducts the cosmic forces toward the goal of an ordered universe. Again in Psalms 104:28-30, God sends forth His Spirit, and visible things are called into being:
"Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the ground." In Job 26:13 the beauty of the heavens is ascribed to the Spirit: "By his Spirit the heavens are garnished." In Isaiah 32:15 the wilderness becomes a fruitful field as the result of the outpouring of the Spirit. The Biblical writers scarcely took into their thinking the idea of second causes, certainly not in the modern scientific sense. They regarded the phenomena of Nature as the result of God's direct action through His Spirit. At every point their conception of the Spirit saved them from pantheism on the one hand and polytheism on the other.

4. The Spirit of God in Man:
The Spirit may next be considered in imparting natural powers both physical and intellectual. In Genesis 2:7 God originates man's personal and intellectual life by breathing into his nostrils "the breath of life." In Numbers 16:22 God is "the God of the spirits of all flesh." In Exodus 28:3; 31:3; 35:31, wisdom for all kinds of workmanship is declared to be the gift of God. So also physical life is due to the presence of the Spirit of God (Job 27:3);. and Elihu declares (Job 33:4) that the Spirit of God made him. See also Ezekiel 37:14 and 39:29. Thus man is regarded by the Old Testament writers, in all the parts of his being, body, mind and spirit, as the direct result of the action of the Spirit of God. In Genesis 6:3 the Spirit of God "strives" with or "rules" in or is "humbled" in man in the antediluvian world. Here reference is not made to the Spirit's activity over and above, but within the moral nature of man.

5. Imparting Powers for Service:
The greater part of the Old Testament passages which refer to the Spirit of God deal with the subject from the point of view of the covenant relations between Yahweh and Israel. And the greater portion of these, in turn, have to do with gifts and powers conferred by the Spirit for service in the ongoing of the kingdom of God. We fail to grasp the full meaning of very many statements of the Old Testament unless we keep constantly in mind the fundamental assumption of all the Old Testament, namely, the covenant relations between God and Israel. Extraordinary powers exhibited by Israelites of whatever kind were usually attributed to the Spirit. These are so numerous that our limits of space forbid an exhaustive presentation. The chief points we may notice.
(1) Judges and Warriors.
The children of Israel cried unto Yahweh and He raised up a savior for them, Othniel, the son of Kenaz:
"And the Spirit of Yahweh came upon him, and he judged Israel" (Judges 3:10). So also Gideon (Judges 6:34): "The Spirit of Yahweh came upon (literally, clothed itself with) Gideon." In Judges 11:29 "the spirit of Yahweh came upon Jephthah"; and in 13:25 "the Spirit of Yahweh began to move" Samson. In 14:6 "the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him." In 1 Samuel 16:14 we read "the Spirit of Yahweh departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him." In all this class of passages, the Spirit imparts special endowments of power without necessary reference to the moral character of the recipient. The end in view is not personal, merely to the agent, but concerns theocratic kingdom and implies the covenant between God and Israel. In some cases the Spirit exerts physical energy in a more direct way (2 Kings 2:16; Ezekiel 2:1; 3:12).
(2) Wisdom for Various Purposes.
Bezalel is filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom and in understanding to work in gold, and silver and brass, etc., in the building of the tabernacle (Exodus 31:2-4; 35:31); and the Spirit of wisdom is given to others in making Aaron's garments (Exodus 28:3). So also of one of the builders of Solomon's temple (1 Kings 7:14; 2 Chronicles 2:14). In these cases there seems to be a combination of the thought of natural talents and skill to which is superadded a special endowment of the Spirit. Pharaoh refers to Joseph as one in whom the Spirit of God is, as fitting him for administration and government (Genesis 41:38). Joshua is qualified for leadership by the Spirit (Numbers 27:18). In this and in Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua is represented as possessing the Spirit through the laying on of the hands of Moses. This is an interesting Old Testament parallel to the bestowment of the Spirit by laying on of hands in the New Testament (Acts 8:17; 19:6). Daniel is represented as having wisdom to interpret dreams through the Spirit, and afterward because of the Spirit he is exalted to a position of authority and power (Daniel 4:8; 5:11-14; 6:3). The Spirit qualifies Zerubbabel to rebuild the temple (Zechariah 4:6). The Spirit was given to the people for instruction and strengthening during the wilderness wanderings (Nehemiah 9:20), and to the elders along with Moses (Numbers 11:17,25). It thus appears how very widespread were the activities of the redemptive Spirit, or the Spirit in the covenant. All these forms of the Spirit's action bore in some way upon the national life of the people, and were directed in one way or another toward theocratic ends.
(3) In Prophecy.
The most distinctive and important manifestation of the Spirit's activity in the Old Testament was in the sphere of prophecy. In the earlier period the prophet was called seer (ro'eh), and later he was called prophet (nabhi'). The word "prophet" (prophetes) means one who speaks for God. The prophets were very early differentiated from the masses of the people into a prophetic class or order, although Abraham himself was called a prophet, as were Moses and other leaders (Genesis 20:7; Deuteronomy 18:15). The prophet was especially distinguished from others as the man who possessed the Spirit of God (Hosea 9:7). The prophets ordinarily began their messages with the phrase, "thus saith Yahweh," or its equivalent. But they ascribed their messages directly also to the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 2:2; 8:3; 11:1,24; 13:3). The case of Balaam presents some difficulties (Numbers 24:2). He does not seem to have been a genuine prophet, but rather a diviner, although it is declared that the Spirit of God came upon him. Balaam serves, however, to illustrate the Old Testament point of view. The chief interest was the national or theocratic or covenant ideal, not that of the individual. The Spirit was bestowed at times upon unworthy men for the achievement of these ends. Saul presents a similar example. The prophet was God's messenger speaking God's message by the Spirit. His message was not his own. It came directly from God, and at times overpowered the prophet with its urgency, as in the case of Jeremiah (1:4).
There are quite perceptible stages in the development of the Old Testament prophecy. In the earlier period the prophet was sometimes moved, not so much to intelligible speech, as by a sort of enthusiasm or prophetic ecstasy. In 1 Samuel 10 we have an example of this earlier form of prophecy, where a company with musical instruments prophesied together. To what extent this form of prophetic enthusiasm was attended by warnings and exhortations, if so attended at all, we do not know. There was more in it than in the excitement of the diviners and devotees of the surrounding nations. For the Spirit of Yahweh was its source.
In the later period we have prophecy in its highest forms in the Old Testament. The differences between earlier and later prophecy are probably due in part to the conditions. The early period required action, the later required teaching. The judges on whom the Spirit came were deliverers in a turbulent age. There was not need for, nor could the people have borne, the higher ethical and spiritual trutHoly Spirit which came in later revelations through the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and others. See 2 Samuel 23:2; Ezekiel 2:2; 8:3; 11:24; 13:3;. Micah 3:8; Hosea 9:7.
A difficulty arises from statements such as the following:
A lying spirit was sometimes present in the prophet (1 Kings 22:21); Yahweh puts a spirit in the king of Assyria and turns him back to his destruction (Isaiah 37:7); because of sin, a lying prophet should serve the people (Micah 2:11); in Micaiah's vision Yahweh sends a spirit to entice Ahab through lying prophets (1 Kings 22:19); an evil spirit from Yahweh comes upon Saul (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:10; 19:9). The following considerations may be of value in explaining these passages. Yahweh was the source of things generally in Old Testament thought. Its pronounced monotheism appears in this as in so many other ways. Besides this, Old Testament writers usually spoke phenomenally. Prophecy was a particular form of manifestation with certain outward marks and signs. Whatever presented these outward marks was called prophecy, whether the message conveyed was true or false. The standard of discrimination here was not the outward signs of the prophet, but the truth or right of the message as shown by the event. As to the evil spirit from Yahweh, it may be explained in either of two ways. First, it may have referred to the evil disposition of the man upon whom God's Spirit was acting, in which case he would resist the Spirit and his own spirit would be the evil spirit. Or the "evil spirit from Yahweh" may have referred, in the prophet's mind, to an actual spirit of evil which Yahweh sent or permitted to enter the man. The latter is the more probable explanation, in accordance with which the prophet would conceive that Yahweh's higher will was accomplished, even through the action of the evil spirit upon man's spirit. Yahweh's judicial anger against transgression would, to the prophet's mind, justify the sending of an evil spirit by Yahweh.

6. Imparting Moral Character:
The activity of the Spirit in the Old Testament is not limited to gifts for service. Moral and spiritual character is traced to the Spirit's operations as well. "Thy Holy Spirit" (Psalms 51:11); "his Holy Spirit" (Isaiah 63:10); "thy good Spirit" (Nehemiah 9:20); "Thy Spirit is good" (Psalms 143:10) are expressions pointing to the ethical quality of the Spirit's action. "Holy" is from the verb form (qadhash), whose root meaning is doubtful, but which probably meant "to be separated" from which it comes to mean to be exalted, and this led to the conception to be Divine. And as Yahweh is morally good, the conception of "the holy (= Divine) one" came to signify the holy one in the moral sense. Thence the word was applied to the Spirit of Yahweh. Yahweh gives His good Spirit for instruction (Nehemiah 9:20); the Spirit is called good because it teaches to do God's will (Psalms 143:10); the Spirit gives the fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2-5); judgment and righteousness (Isaiah 32:15); devotion to the Lord (Isaiah 44:3-5); hearty obedience and a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26); penitence and prayer (Zechariah 12:10). In Psalms 51:11 there is an intense sense of guilt and sin coupled with the prayer, "Take not thy Holy Spirit from me." Thus, we see that the Old Testament in numerous ways recognizes the Holy Spirit as the source of inward moral purity, although the thought is not so developed as in the New Testament.

7. The Spirit in the Messiah:
In both the first and the second sections of Isaiah, there are distinct references to the Spirit in connection with the Messiah, although the Messiah is conceived as the ideal King who springs from the root of David in some instances, and in others as the Suffering Servant of Yahweh. This is not the place to discuss the Messianic import of the latter group of passages which has given rise to much difference of opinion. As in the case of the ideal Davidic King which, in the prophet's mind, passes from the lower to the higher and Messianic conception, so, under the form of the Suffering Servant, the "remnant" of Israel becomes the basis for an ideal which transcends in the Messianic sense the original nucleus of the conception derived from the historic events in the history of Israel. The prophet rises in the employment of both conceptions to the thought of the Messiah who is the "anointed" of Yahweh as endued especially with the power and wisdom of the Spirit. In Isaiah 11:1-5 a glowing picture is given of the "shoot out of the stock of Jesse." The Spirit imparts "wisdom and understanding" and endows him with manifold gifts through the exercise of which he shall bring in the kingdom of righteousness and peace. In Isaiah 42:1, the "servant" is in like manner endowed most richly with the gifts of the Spirit by virtue of which he shall bring forth "justice to the Gentiles." In Isaiah 61:1 occur the notable words cited by Jesus in Luke 4:18, beginning, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me" etc. In these passages the prophet describes elaborately and minutely the Messiah's endowment with a wide range of powers, all of which are traced to the action of God's Spirit.

8. Predictions of Future Outpouring of the Spirit:
In the later history of Israel, when the sufferings of the exile pressed heavily, there arose a tendency to idealize a past age as the era of the special blessing of the Spirit, coupled with a very marked optimism as to a future outpouring of the Spirit. In Haggai 2:5 reference is made to the Mosaic period as the age of the Spirit, "when ye came out of Egypt, and my Spirit abode among you." In Isaiah 44:3 the Spirit is to be poured out on Jacob and his seed; and in Isaiah 59:20 a Redeemer is to come to Zion under the covenant of Yahweh, and the Spirit is to abide upon the people. The passage, however, which especially indicates the transition from Old Testament to New Testament times is that in Joel 2:28,32 which is cited by Peter in Acts 2:17-21. In this prophecy the bestowal of the Spirit is extended to all classes, is attended by marvelous signs and is accompanied by the gift of salvation. Looking back from the later to the earlier period of Old Testament history, we observe a twofold tendency of teaching in relation to the Spirit. The first is from the outward gift of the Spirit for various uses toward a deepening sense of inner need of the Spirit for moral purity, and consequent emphasis upon the ethical energy of the Spirit. The second tendency is toward a sense of the futility of the merely human or theocratic national organization in and of itself to achieve the ends of Yahweh, along with a sense of the need for the Spirit of God upon the people generally, and a prediction of the universal diffusion of the Spirit.

CONCLUSION

Remember the sense of the Holy Spirit is the active force or power of God.

Heb.9:14 does not denote a third person of the Godhead either. The HOLY SPIRIT went into Jesus at His incarnation and went back to the Father when Jesus gave it back to Him on the cross when He died. At His resurrection the HOLY SPIRIT was restored to Jesus forever.

Don't misunderstand me - the HOLY SPIRIT is definitely OF God - but not a separate person as man at various church councils of an apostate church has tried to make that part of God since the 4th century! The Spirit of the Son is Holy as is God the Father - who is pure Holy Spirit. Where do you find a separate HOLY SPIRIT to deal with this dual Godhead?

The HOLY SPIRIT is the POWER of both the Father and of the Son, because he gives some to his Son so he also will have the power to control of the universe - the heavens and the earth. This would be required in order that the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) would be able to carry out his commission "23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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." (1 Corinthians 15:23-28 AV). Remember his responsibilities and commission are straight from the Father or the Son and not of himself.

The primary purpose for the Word of God is for the reconciliation of mankind to God the Father through His plan of salvation - through Jesus Christ. It is spiritual from beginning to end. Hence that which is done by either the Father or the Son is from their Spirit and reference to the Spirit - naturally being Holy - is frequent - being the very power of them both. Not that of a third person of the Godhead.

"13 All the saints salute you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. <<The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.>>" (2 Corinthians 13:13-14 AV) falls right in with what Jesus said in " Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13 AV), when Jesus said the HOLY SPIRIT would speak only that which He heard. Hence all communication from the HOLY SPIRIT is as he dwells in us acting as intercessor, "26 ¶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom.8:26-27 AV). However, it is Jesus Christ who is really our only intercessor or mediator! " Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34 AV), " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5 AV), and " Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25 AV). When taken in context with John.16:13, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) tells the HOLY SPIRIT, dwelling in all believers, and the HOLY SPIRIT then tells us. When we pray to the Lord - the HOLY SPIRIT interprets our 'groanings and pains' back to our mediator or intercessor, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) Christ.

Remember, it is God who gives the spirit and to whom it wants, " Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7 AV). This should give you a pretty clear prospective that the idea the HOLY SPIRIT is a third person of the Godhead is in fact really false dogma.

If Jesus is clearly identified as the Son of God - then how is the Holy Spirit related to God the Father? Would he not be identified as the brother of the Father - or perhaps the uncle of Jesus? Definitely, since Jesus is the 'one and only' Son of God, the Holy Spirit is not another son to the Father, " And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14 AV), " No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." (John 1:18 AV), " For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 AV), " He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18 AV), and " In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." (1 John 4:9 AV). In the very beginning of creation, the scriptures tell us the Spirit of God hovered over the deep. However, this is after we have been told, God created the heavens and the earth. It is clear from that point on, God the Father (YHWH) is not only Spirit, but the HOLY SPIRIT is his active force. Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) maked it very clear that God the Father (YHWH) is His Father when it was said that the HOLY SPIRIT overcomes Mary, the virgin who will then be with child - unless the HOLY SPIRIT is the very active force of the Father (YHWH) himself?

For example, why isn't the Holy Spirit in the same greetings within the epistles by the Apostles, the same as God the Father (YHWH) and Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves)? As seen by the Trinitarians does that not seem to be an unforgiveable insult to the alleged third party of the Godhead?

Why is it said of the Holy Spirit that he will not speak on his own, but strictly only that which he hears, John 16:13. Doesn't that clearly state that what he hears comes from either God the Father or God the Son? Of course it does.

Why must Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) leave in order for the HOLY SPIRIT to come to the apostles? Since the Father (YHWH) and the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) fellowship together, why can't the HOLY SPIRIT do the same? It is clear from the scriptures Jesus was in the beginning, and that he was with the Father (YHWH). What happened to the HOLY SPIRIT? " The same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:2 AV) and " And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John 17:5 AV); In fact, the HOLY SPIRIT doesn't even appear as a third person of the Godhead in the New world God has created in "22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Rev.21:22-23 AV). Why not?

Do you suppose it is because the Spirit, Holy from either the Father (YHWH) or that portion of his power he gave to Son, the man Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) must leave in order to send the HOLY SPIRIT to dwell within every believer?

We find in the scriptures the HOLY SPIRIT goes out from the Father (YHWH) in " But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father (YHWH), even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father (YHWH), he shall testify of me:" (John 15:26 AV). If the HOLY SPIRIT is a third person of the alleged Triune God, why is it we are told the Spirit of Truth comes from the Father?

Interestingly we are told that Jesus breathed on His disciples to receive the HOLY SPIRIT, in "21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:Jn.20:21-22. Now this HOLY SPIRIT was to clearly indwell each of the disciples. Please explain to me how an alleged third person of the Trinity can do this."

Obviously, the HOLY SPIRIT is Almighty God's (YHWH's) active force or power in motion of which he givea a portion to his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) to carry out his assignment "22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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." (1 Corinthians 15:22-28 AV).

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**Admin** Thu Jul 12, 2018 11:30 am

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:16

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 846A]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

We must have faith to win Almighty God’S (YHWH’s) approval as clearly shown by the examples given at Hebrews 11:4 – 6, [AV] “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And as Hebrews 10:22, [AV], says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

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[2] DISCOURSE ON 1 TIMOTHY 3:16

“ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 AV)
“et manifeste magnum est pietatis sacramentum quod manifestatum est in carne iustificatum est in spiritu apparuit angelis praedicatum est gentibus creditum est in mundo adsumptum est in gloria.” (1 Timothy 3:16 Latin Vulgate)
“And evidently great is the mystery of godliness, which was manifested in the flesh, was justified in the spirit, appeared unto angels, hath been preached unto the Gentiles, is believed in the world, is taken up in glory.” (1 Timothy 3:16 Douay-Rheims - Catholic)
First to fully understand this scripture which is perhaps one of the least understood in the Bible it is necessary to examine the scripture before it “ But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15 AV), This brings out the need to examine our faith, when a church ceases to be the pillar and ground of truth, we should forsake her; this is so as truth should be first and greatest.

This scripture, 1 Timothy 3:16, shall be examined by parts.

a) “And evidently great is the mystery of godliness,” This is the mystery of godliness in Christ, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves). Eventually when “ But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,” (Galatians 4:4 AV), “ Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,” (Romans 16:25 AV). His primary purpose for his coming was to provide a ransom for all of mankind “ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV). Also, Jesus came “ Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 AV). This delivered the definitive answer to the issue raised by God’s Adversary that he could turn all men against God (YHWH) “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:7-11 AV) and provided the means for redeeming obedient mankind from sin and death through the ransom sacrifice of his Son.

b) “which was manifested in the flesh,” God (YHWH) was pleased to manifest his qualities by having his own son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), take on the nature of a man, “ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 AV). When he was on earth in the flesh, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philipians 2:5-8 AV), remember, “ Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.” (1 Corinthians 15:34 AV).

c) “was justified in the spirit,” Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) Christ, after maintaining his faithfulness until death, was “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-45 AV), “ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18 AV). He was “(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” (Romans 1:24 AV). Christ was raised again by the Spirit, and so was justified from all the false charges made against him.

d) “appeared unto angels,” Angels ministered to him, for he is the Lord of angels “ Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (1 Peter 3:22 AV)

e) “hath been preached unto the Gentiles,” The Gentiles welcomed the gospel which the Jews rejected, and await “ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:5 AV). We must, “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: 25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;” (Colossians 1:23-25 AV). God’s (YHWH’s) active force or Holy Ghost was sent to his followers “ Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:12 AV).

f) “is believed in the world.” Let us remember that God was manifest in the flesh, to take away our sins, to redeem us from all iniquity, and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These doctrines must be shown forth by the fruits of the Spirit in our lives “ Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:” (Colossians 1:6 AV). However, we must be constantly alert because, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;” (2 Peter 2:1-4 AV).

g) “is taken up in glory.” Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) Christ now sits at the right hand of God (YHWH) in Heaven itself “ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19 AV), “ And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24:51 AV), “ What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?” (John 6:62 AV), “ Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;” (John 13:3 AV), “ I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” (John 16:28 AV), “ And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” (John 17:5 AV), “ Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:” (Acts 1:2 AV), “ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)” (Ephesians 4:10 AV), “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” (Hebrews 1:2-3 AV), “ Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;” (Hebrews 8:1 AV), “ Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 AV), “ Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” (1 Peter 3:22 AV)

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**Admin** Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:07 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON THE RANSOM PROVIDED BY CHRIST AND WHY NECESSARY

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 847A]

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The weights we must lay aside are described at 1 Peter 2:1 - 3, [AV] “
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” And we should take heed per Hebrews 3:12, [AV] “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” We must per 1 Timothy 6:12, [AV] “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON THE RANSOM PROVIDED BY CHRIST AND WHY NECESSARY:

INTRODUCTION:

Many know that salvation can only come through Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as his Father (YHWH) has appointed him the only mediator between God (YHWH) and man as testified to at to at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (The Webster Bible); And this is further affirmed at Ephesians 3:11-12, "for through him we both have our access in one Spirit unto the Father." (American Standard Version,(ASV). He is the only savior, apart from him there is no other as shown by John 4:42, "and they said to the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy speaking: for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Titus 1:4, "to Tite, most dereworthe sone bi the comyn feith, grace and pees of God the fadir, and of Crist Jhesu, oure sauyour." (Wycliffe-One of the first English Bibles). However, before he could become our savior, a ransom had to be paid. Why so?

THE NEED OF A RANSOM:

Let's let the Bible explain why there was a need for a ransom to be paid before any of mankind could be saved. The Bible shows at Romans 5:12, "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (The Webster Bible); And it is shown that all men have sinned, and this is testified to at Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (The Webster Bible). In other words all of mankind is under inherited sin as shown by Psalms 51:5, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me." (ASV); Therefore, Psalms 49:7-9 shows, "None `of them' can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him; 8(For the redemption of their life is costly, And it faileth for ever;) 9 That he should still live alway, That he should not see corruption." (ASV)

GOD (YHWH) HIMSELF MADE PROVISION FOR A RANSOM:

Since God (YHWH) could not break his own law of like for like, he provided for a ransome for all obedient mankind as testified to at 1 John 4:14, "And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son `to be' the Saviour of the world." (ASV); And affirmed at Matthew 1:20-21, "But when he thought on these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name JESUS; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins." (ASV).

His making provisions to provide a ransom in the form of his only begotten son was an expression of his love for mankind as shown by John 3:16-17, "
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him." (ASV); And affirmed at 1 John 4:9-10, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins." (ASV); And at Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (ASV).

PRICE PAID FOR RELEASE FROM BONDAGE TO SIN AND DEATH - THE RANSOM:

Jesus (Yeshua) came to give his life as a ransom as testified to at Matthew 20:28, "Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (The Webster Bible); And at 1 John 3:5, "And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin." (ASV); And at Romans 3:24, "being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:" (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:14-15, "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." (ASV).

Jesus' (Yeshua's) human life was represented by his blood being poured out onto death as a ransom as shown at John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep." (ASV); And at 1 Peter 1:18-19, "knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, `even the blood' of Christ:" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at Revelation 5:9, "And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood `men' of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation," (ASV).

CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS AS A SACRIFICE ON MAN'S BEHALF, HE WAS SINLESS:

That he was sinless and thus could serve as a sacrifice for our sins was shown at Hebrews 7:26 and 9:25-26, "For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" and "nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place year by year with blood not his own; 26 else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."(ASV); And at 1 Peter 2:22, "who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:" (ASV); And at 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins."

Since Jesus (Yeshua) was sinless, his life could provide the ransom price for the perfect human life Adam lost and which he could have passed along by inheritance to his children as shown by 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, `himself' man, Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all; the testimony `to be borne' in its own times;" And at Phillipians 2:7-8, "but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; 8 and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient `even' unto death, yea, the death of the cross." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive." (ASV).

After his resurrection by his Father (YHWH), a distinct spiritual being, Christ presented the value of his sacrifice to his Father (YHWH) in heaven as shown at Hebrews 9:11-12 & 24, "But Christ having come a high priest of the good things to come, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation,
12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption." And "For Christ entered not into a holy place made with hands, like in pattern to the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear before the face of God for us:" (ASV); And at Romans 8:34, "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (ASV); And at Ephesians 5:2, "and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." (ASV).

THE PURPOSE AND THE BENEFITS OF THE RANSOM:

Jesus (Yeshua) gave up his life for us as foretold at Isaiah 53:12, "portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (ASV); And at Hebrews 2:9, "But we behold him who hath been made a little lower than the angels, `even' Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for every `man'." (ASV); And at Galacians 1:4, "who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us out of this present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father:" (ASV).

RANSOM PERMITTED FORGIVENESS OF SINS:

That Jesus (Yeshua) was the one who would take away sins was testified to at John 1:29, "On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!" (ASV); And at Ephesians 1:7, "in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," (ASV); And at 1 John 1:7, "but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (ASV); And at 1 John 2:1, "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world." (ASV); And at Revelation 7:9-10 & 14, "After these things I saw, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of `all' tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, arrayed in white robes, and palms in their hands; 10 and they cry with a great voice, saying, Salvation unto our God who sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb" and "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (ASV).

RECONCILIATION TO GOD (YHWH):

Jesus (Yeshua) was first with respect to being the first of God's (YHWH's) children that God (YHWH) caused to be created and the first to be resurrected as testified to at Colossians 1:18-20, "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it was the good pleasure `of the Father' that in him should all the fulness dwell; 20 and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, `I say', whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens." (ASV); And at 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, "But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation." (ASV); And at Romans 5:10, "For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;" (ASV).

This makes possible the general resurrection for mankind with opportunity for eternal life as affirmed at Hebrews 9:26-28, "else must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once at the end of the ages hath he been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this `cometh' judgment; 28 so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation." (ASV); And at John 5:26-29, For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself: 27 and he gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, 29 and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment." (ASV); And at Romans 14:9, "For to this end Christ died and lived `again', that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living." (ASV); And at Acts 24:15, "having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and unjust." (ASV).

EFFECTS OF SIN REMOVED DURING CHRIST 1,000 YEAR RULE:

During the thousand year rule of Christ, the effects of sin on the earth will be removed as foretold at Revelation 21:2-4, "made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, `and be' their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away." (ASV).

This will pave the way for everlasting life for those who manifest faith and obedience as testified to at John 3:16 & 36, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." And "He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (ASV); And at Hebrews 5:9, "and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation;" (ASV).

WE MUST HAVE APPRECIATION FOR THE RANSOM AND CHANGE OUR COURSE OF LIFE ACCORDINGLY:

We must show appreciation for Jesus' (Yeshua's) ransome sacrifice as shown at Hebrews 9:14, "how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish unto God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (ASV); And at Revelation 7:14-15, "And I say unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they that come of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall spread his tabernacle over them." (ASV); And at Titus 2:13-14, "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (ASV); And at 1 Corinthians 6:20, "for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body." (ASV); 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again." (ASV); And at 1 John 4:11, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." (ASV).

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Mon Jul 16, 2018 11:37 am

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] HERE IS THE RARE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE, Garcinia dulcis [3] EXTRA ORDINARY USES FOR WD 40:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 848A]

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths Proverbs 3:5 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Remember Psalms 62:8, [AV] “The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.” Clearly shows his power and why we should not rest on our own understanding. This is made even clearer at Proverbs 28:26, [AV] “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,

1) http://iris89.conforums.com/

2) http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/

3) http://religioustruths.lefora.com/

4) http://religioustruths.boardhost.com/

5) http://religioustruths.forumsland.com/

6) http://religioustruthsbyiris.createmybb3.com/

7) https://religioustruths.forumotion.com/

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Garcinia dulcis also called mundu, rata or maphuut is a tropical fruit tree native to Indonesia, which can also be found in Papua New Guinea and Sulawesi. The tree is harvested from the wild as a local source of food, medicine or dyeing material and is sometimes cultivated for its fruit, which is occasionally sold locally. Garcinia dulcis is not grown commercially.
Description
Garcinia dulcis is an evergreen tree with horizontal branches and a dense, pyramidal crown. It can grow up to 15 metres tall and has a short, straight trunk, which can develop to a size of 30 cm in diameter. The tree grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 22–30 °C and is well adapted to shade and humid conditions. Flowering usually occurs twice a year after long periods of drought.
Uses
The orange coloured fruits can be eaten fresh; they contain a sour, juicy pulp, which can be preserved into jam. Green dye can be obtained from the bark, when mixed with indigo it gives a brown colour which is used to dye mats. From the unripe fruits a yellow dye, called gamboge, can be extracted, but is considered inferior to other dyes from members of the same genus like Garcinia xanthochymus. Garcinia dulcis also has medicanal purposes; it can be used for the treatment of wounds or scurvy.
References
"PLANTS Profile for Garcinia dulcis". USDA Plants Database. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
"Garcinia dulcis specimens". Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2015-02-06.
"Garcinia dulcis". Useful Tropical Plants Database. Retrieved 2016-05-14. ?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garcinia_dulcis ON 3/17/2018]
This tree can be viewed at http://www.fruitipedia.com/Rata_garcinia_dulcis.htm

[3] EXTRA ORDINARY USES FOR WD 40:

1. Polishing silver: If you have a collection of silver that always seems to be tarnishing over time, WD-40 can definitely help you out with that. Spray down your silver and wipe it clean. It’s just that easy to keep it looking sparkly and new!
2. Cleaning shoes: When it comes to sneakers, WD-40 is a person’s absolute best friend. In the winter, you can remove stubborn rock salt spots that build up by spraying them and wiping them down. If you want to make your whole shoe waterproof, spray the entire surface with the stuff.
3. Protecting bird feeders: While having a bird feeder in your yard is a great way to keep beautiful birds in plain view, squirrels are notorious for stealing seeds from them. To keep these critters away, spray down the center pole with WD-40 and the squirrels will slide right off.
4. Cleaning toilets: Depending on the type of water in your house, cleaning your toilet can feel like a pointless task. If you use WD-40 the same way you would use your regular toilet bowl cleaner, you’ll notice that it gets clean quickly and stays clean longer.
5. Unsticking gum: Chewing gum is delicious and a great way to keep hunger at bay—but when it doesn’t make it to the actual trash can, it can get stuck on shoes and other surfaces and never come off. If you need to banish hard, chewed-up gum, go ahead and spray it down with WD-40. That will help it come right off!
6. Removing crayon marks: Do you have kids who love to take their crayons and scribble on walls and even on furniture? Don’t break your back trying to remove the marks! Instead, lightly spray them with WD-40 and they should rub right off.
7. Defrosting ice: Whether you live in a cold climate year-round or you’re gearing up for the winter season, spray your windows down with WD-40 and then wipe the excess away. Believe it or not, this will keep the ice from sticking to your windows and save you time getting out of the driveway in the morning.
8. Removing water stains: It’s so frustrating that the same shower you step into to get clean tends to collect a crazy amount of water stains. If you want to get rid of them fast, follow up your usual cleaning routine with a spritz of WD-40 and watch the water stains disappear.
9. Polishing scissors: If you use scissors in the kitchen or crafting regularly, then you know just how sticky they can get over time. If you want to keep that stickiness at bay, polish them regularly with a healthy dose of WD-40 and they’ll be just perfect.
10. Removing stickers and price tags: If you have ever tried to peel off a sticker on a window or a bumper sticker on your car, you know what a hassle it can be. Using WD-40 makes it a breeze. Just coat the sticker and gently peel it away!
11. Unsticking zippers: Is there anything more frustrating than having a zipper on your backpack or your favorite coat get totally and absolutely stuck in place? Here’s good news: if you spray WD-40 on the zippers and gently work them back and forth, they’ll slide right back into place!
12. Removing tea and coffee stains: If you or a house guest have ever spilled a little coffee or tea on a table in your home, you know how hard it can be to ever get it out again. Thankfully, combining your regular cleaning routine with a squirt of WD-40 will banish it in no time.
13. Banishing tar stains: If your car gets covered in tar, then it’s definitely time to break out the WD-40. Just spray down the surfaces and even the most stubborn patches should melt away like hot butter! How great is that?
14. Taking off rings: If you wear a ring regularly then you probably know what it’s like when it gets stuck on your finger. It happens to everyone at some time or another. Don’t panic! The easiest way to remove it is to cover your finger with WD-40 and then slide it off. It works li
15. Remove lipstick: Lipstick is always a fun way to make your look for the day pop. Unfortunately, it’s less fun when it transfers onto other items of clothing and settles in to stain. Luckily for you, WD-40 as a pre-wash stain treatment will help remove that lipstick in no time flat.
16. Helps Open Rusty Locks: If you’ve got a rusty key or a keyhole that won’t cooperate, apply some WD-40 and you should be able to gain easy entry.
17. Extends the Life of Shower Heads: This is another little-known household use for WD-40. Shower heads have a tendency to break down over time, but applying WD-40 can extend their life span by years.
18. Removes Mildew From Refrigerator Gasket: We’ve all seen it before: Disgusting gunk builds up on your refrigerator gasket. Well, WD-40 will remove this. Simply apply, let it sit for a few minutes, wipe off, and you’re done.
19. Filters Dust When Sprayed on Air Conditioning Filter: Spray a light coating of WD-40 on your AC filter before installing, and your filter becomes exponentially more effective. I tried this method, and it did seem like I was breathing cleaner air in my home. Later, when I went to change out a filter that I had sprayed with WD-40, it seemed to have filtered a great deal more dust than normal.
20. Whether it is an old sticker or leftover tape from winterizing your home, spraying a little WD-40 on the affected area will make removal easy to complete.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:21 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DISCOURSE ON WHAT GOD (YHWH) ASKS OF HIS SON'S FOLLOWERS:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 849A]

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. Isaiah 55:11, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Almighty God’s (YHWH’s) words will certainly go forth and have an effect He wants them to have, and as shown at Proverbs 1:5, [AV] “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:” we should pay strict attention to them. This thought is also expressed at Proverbs 4:20, [AV] “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”

Yes, as shown by the scriptures He will per 2 Samuel 7:16, [AV] “And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” And to that end, He will use His son, Jesus (Yeshua) to wash His faithful followers clean of sin through the sacrifice of this Son’s human life as clearly shown by Revelation 1:5, [AV] “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,

1) http://iris89.conforums.com/

2) http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/

3) http://religioustruths.lefora.com/

4) http://religioustruths.boardhost.com/

5) http://religioustruths.forumsland.com/

6) http://religioustruthsbyiris.createmybb3.com/

7) https://religioustruths.forumotion.com/

To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,http://www.network54.com/Forum/403209/thread/1417398076/last-1417398076/Digital+Book+On+18+Part+Follow+Christ+Bible+Study

Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] DISCOURSE ON WHAT GOD (YHWH) ASKS OF HIS SON'S FOLLOWERS:

God (YHWH) has put his Son , Jesus (Yeshua) Christ in charge as his agent in dealings with mankind and with the angels also. This reality is clearly stated at 1 Corinthians 15:21-29, "For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 24 Then `cometh' the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 2 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (American Standard Version; ASV), clearly showing that he, Jesus (Yeshua, has been given authority over all except, Almighty God (YHWH) as shown, ", He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him." This fact is further emphasized at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, `himself' man, Christ Jesus," (ASV).

Therefore, it is necessary for all footstep followers of Jesus (Yeshua) to comply with God's (YHWH's) laws and principles. This is shown to be the best way of life at Psalms 19:7-11, "The law of Jehovah `is' perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah `are' stedfast, Making wise the simple, 8 The precepts of Jehovah `are' upright, Rejoicing the heart, The command of Jehovah `is' pure, enlightening the eyes, 9 The fear of Jehovah `is' clean, standing to the age, The judgments of Jehovah `are' true, They have been righteous -- together. 10 They are more desirable than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; and sweeter than honey, Even liquid honey of the comb. 11 Also -- Thy servant is warned by them, `In keeping them `is' a great reward.'" (Youngs Literal Translation). In fact, Jesus' (Yeshua's) words are not his own but that of his Father (YHWH) as he himself testified to at John 14:24, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (ASV). And 1 Timothy 6:19 shows that now we must be, "Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." (the Webster Bible by Noah Webster; WB); which clearly shows we must be laying a good foundation in the faith now.

This is easier said than done since Satan, God's (YHWH's) arch-enemy, is putting the all true followers of Jesus (Yeshua) under much stress. In addition, our own imperfect flesh adds to the challenge. Often in trying to fulfill our scriptural obligations, we may feel overwhelmed as affirmed Psalms 40:12, "For innumerable evils have encompassed me: my iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my head: therefore my heart faileth me." (WB); And Psalms 55:1-8, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. 2 Attend to me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. 4 My heart is severely pained within me: and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. 6 And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then I would fly away, and be at rest. 7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. 8 So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away." (WB). What can help us to maintain our spiritual balance at such times.

GOD'S (YHWH's) COMMANDMENTS NOT BURDENSOME:

God's (YHWH's) are not burdensome, but are for our own good as shown at Deuternonmy 10:12-13, "And now, Israel, what doth Jehovah thy God require of thee, but to fear Jehovah thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Jehovah thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13 to keep the commandments of Jehovah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (ASV); And 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (ASV). Remember, he takes into account our human frailities, Psalms 103:13-14, "Like as a father pitieth his children, So Jehovah pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust." (ASV). God (YHWH) kindly accepts our best efforts to obediently serve him, although these are limited by our circumstances per Leviticus 5:7 & 11, "And if his means suffice not for a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass-offering for that wherein he hath sinned, two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, unto Jehovah; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering." (ASV); and "11 But if his means suffice not for two turtle-doves, or two young pigeons, then he shall bring his oblation for that wherein he hath sinned, the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering: he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon; for it is a sin-offering." (ASV); And Mark 14:8-9, "She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9 And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her." (ASV). God (YHWH) invites us to throw our burdens on him, and assures us that he will remain faithful, see Psalms 55:22, "Cast thy burden upon Jehovah, and he will sustain thee: He will never suffer the righteous to be moved." (ASV); And 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it." (ASV).

BUT WE NEED ENDURANCE:

The Bible contains many accounts of integrity keepers such as Jeremiah, Elijah, and the Apostle Paul, and the need of maintaining endurance is shown at Hebrews 10:36, "For ye have need of patience, that, having done the will of God, ye may receive the promise." (ASV). God (YHWH) will sustain us in times of adversity and discouragement as shown at 1 Kings 19:14-18, "And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 15 And Jehovah said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, thou shalt anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; 16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. 18 Yet will I leave `me' seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (ASV); And Jeremiah 20:7-11, "O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach to me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. 10 For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Perhaps he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. 11 But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten." (WB); And 2 Corinthians 1:8-11, "For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us: 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons, thanks may be given by many on our behalf." (WB). And the loyalty of our brethren in modern times is an inspiration as shown at 1 Peter 5:9, "Whom resist, stedfast in faith, knowing that the selfsame sufferings are accomplished in your brotherhood which [is] in [the] world." (the Darby Translation). We should meditate on such examples as this will assist us in not giving out when under trials and tribulation.

Let the promises of God (YHWH) be an anchor for us per Hebrews 6:19, "which we have as an anchor of the soul, `a hope' both sure and stedfast and entering into that which is within the veil;" (ASV). God's (YHWH's) promises given to Abraham and Sarah to accept God's (YHWH's) request to leave their comfortable dwelling place in the city of Ur and move to the promise land, and also, empowered Moses to take a fearless stand for true worship. They also fortified Jesus (Yeshua) to endure the torture stake per Hebrews 11:8-13 & 24-26, "By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with [him] of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is [the] artificer and constructor. 11 By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised. 12 Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which [is] by the sea shore. 13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth." (The Darby Translation); And Hebrews 12:2-3, "looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured [the] cross, having despised [the] shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself, that ye be not weary, fainting in your minds." (The Darby Translation). Remember, always, to keep God's (YHWH's) promise of a righteous new world always foremost in our hearts as it will likewise help us to endure per 2 Peter 3:11-13, "Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in `all' holy living and godliness, 12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (ASV).

Remembering our past acts of loyalty, self-sacrifice, and boldness can serve to energise to endurance and service to God (YHWH) per Hebrews 10:32-34, "But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were enlightened, ye endured a great conflict of sufferings; 33 partly, being made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used. 34 For ye both had compassion on them that were in bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of you possessions, knowing that ye have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one." (ASV). We should always give God (YHWH) what he asks of us and we will receive great joy and blessings by doing so, i.e., giving of our whole-souled devotion, per Matthew 22:37-40, "And he said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second like `unto it' is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments the whole law hangeth, and the prophets." (ASV).

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DOCUMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JOHN BEING ANTI-TRINITARIAN-IN MULTIPLE PARTS:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 850A]

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes, many examples have been given in the Bible to back up this reality, and one is given at 1 Corinthians 10:11 – 12, [AV] “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Almighty God (YHWH) will provide this comfort per Psalms 119:50, [AV] “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” Yes, much of what is provided for our guidance in the Bible is given per 1 Corinthians 9:10, [AV] “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

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[2] Documentary on the Book of John Being Anti-Trinitarian-In Multiple Parts:

JOHN 1:1-2 - LEARN THE FACTS:

Many emotionally diehard Trinitarians point to how John 1:1 is erroneously worded in many Bibles as, "In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God." (American Standard Version; ASV), and neglect to look at John 1:2 in those same Bibles which says, "The same was in the beginning with God." (ASV); Clearly showing two distinct individuals. Moreover the overlook John 1:14 in those same Bibles which says, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." (ASV) which clearly shows his as the only begotten of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) in harmony with 1 John 4:9, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him." (ASV) once more clearly showing them as two distinct individuals, one superior to the other and sending the subordinate, his Son, to be among mankind.

The next problem for Trinitarians is the salient fact that no matter how you analyze or translate John 1:1 you only get two individuals or as they falsely claim manifestations of one individual, which makes NO Trinity or group of three, neither of individuals and/or manifestations; my, my, so much for John 1:1 proving a trinity. It does not do this even with the biased translations of Trinitarians; moreover, there are more accurate ways of translating John 1:1 such as the way the New English Bible whose translators had access to older manuscripts that did the translators of the King James Bible, the Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible, and the American Standard Bible. In the New English Bible, John 1:1 reads, "When all things began, the Word already was. The word dwelt with God, and what God was, the Word was." (The New English Bible; NEB). In fact, the NEB renders John 1:2, "The Word, then, was with God at the beginning, and through him all things came to be;" (NEB), and the fact that his Father (YHWH) after creating him used Jesus (Yeshua) as his master worker is revealed at Proverbs 8:22-30 about Jesus (Yeshua) being brought forth and being his Father's (YHWH's) master workman, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth; 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep, 28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong, 29 When he gave to the sea its bounds, That the waters should not transgress his commandments, When he marked out the foundations of the earth; 30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him." (ASV); And Jesus' (Yeshua's)existence before the earth was is affirmed at John 8:58, "Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am." (ASV); Thus as Colossians 1:17 says, ""and he is before all things, and in him all things consist." (ASV); And at Revelation 3:14, "And to the angel of the church is Laodicea write: 'These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:" (ASV), Jesus (Yeshua) is once more shown as the first of creation. Clearly, then, he, Jesus (Yeshua) is neither the same individual and/or manifestation of the same individual; Nor co-eternal, nor co-equal with his Father (YHWH).

All this in strict compliance with the Jewish Law of Agencies which is basically as follows, "Jesus (Yeshua) was God's (YHWH's) appointed agent in accordance with the 'Biblical law of agency' described as, "Scripture mentions something being done by Person A, whilst another mentions it being done by Person B. This is best understood when we grasp the Schaliach Principle, or the Jewish Law of Agency, which is expressed in the dictum, "A person's agent is regarded as the person himself." Therefore any act committed by a duly appointed agent is regarded as having been committed by the principle." (The Encyclopedia of the Jewish Religion, R.J.Z. Werblowski and Geoffrey Wigoder). And 1 Timothy 2:5 says, "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, [himself] man, Christ Jesus," (ASV). This is why Jesus (Yeshua) could say, John 16:23, "And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name."(ASV).

This fact is further affirmed at Ephesians 1:20-23 which shows that his Father (YHWH) raised him from the dead and put him at his right hand to administer all for him, "Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." (ASV); This fact, that his Father (YHWH) placed him over all things except himself, a superior one, is highlighted at 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, "But now hath Christ been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of them that are asleep. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (ASV). This will bring the fulfillment foretold at Isaiah 45:23, "By myself have I sworn, the word is gone forth from my mouth [in] righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." (ASV). This scripture shows that God (YHWH) will bring the earth back to perfection, i.e., a place where everyone will love their creator, Almighty God (YHWH), and his chief agent or mediator of life, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and their neighbor, and he, God (YHWH) will once more be using his Son, the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) as his master worker to accomplish this as shown by 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, previously quoted.

Now when we look at other constructs or translations of John 1:1 the fact that John 1:1 can NOT even support a Duality let alone a Trinity becomes even more readily apparent.
Let's look at the 10 possible constructs of John 1:1 that do NOT violate any rule of Koine Greek grammar with the exception of the fact is that THEOS (=God) is a count noun, not a mass noun or an adjective. As a count noun it MUST BE countable, i.e. either definite or indefinite (i.e. either "a god" or "the God") for two of the constructs:

<1> "and a god was the Logos." [example of Bible using, Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Jurgen Becker Harwood, 1979]

<2> "the nature of the Word was the same as the nature of God" [example of Bible using, Schonfield, 1976]

<3> "The Word dwelt with God, and what God was, the word was." [example of Bible using, The New English Bible, NEB, 1961-present standard Bible agreed to by most denominations in the United Kingdom]

<4> "And the word was a god" [example of Bible using, The New Testament in An Improved Version, Upon the Basis of Achbishop Newcome's New Translation: With a Corrected Text.]

<5> "and the Word was divine" [example of Bible using, The Bible: An American Translation, by J.M.P. Smith and E.J. Goodspeed. }

<6> "and the Word was God" [example of Bible using, American Standard Version, ASV] [note, this construct violates the count noun rule of Koine Greek and is the common biased rendering of this scripture]

<7> "He was the same as God" example of Bible using, Today's English Version.]

<8> "the Logos was divine" [example of Bible using, The New Testament: A New Translation, by James Moffat]

<9> "r war bei Gott und in allem Gott gleich"[He was with God and in all like God] [example of Bible using, Haenchen (tr. By R. Funk), 1982]

<10> "Gott (von Art) war der Logos" [God (of Kind/kind) was the Logos/logos] [example of Bible using, Die Bibel in heutigem Deutsch, 1980]

As we can see, here are ten different constructs possible without violating any rule of Koine Greek grammar except the count Noun rule. So, now, let's look at what follows in context in general format at John 1:2:

"The Word, then, was with God at the beginning," (The New English Bible, NEB)

"The same was in the beginning with God." (American Standard Version, ASB)

"The same was in the beginning with God." (Authorized King James Bible; AV)

"He was in the beginning with God." (Revised Standard Version; RSV)

"He was in the beginning with God." (The Confraternity Edition of the New Testament - Catholic)

As is easily seen, John 1:2 is substantially the same in all translations. However, in context it does not harmonize with some of the constructs used which do not violate any rule of Koine Greek grammar with the exception of the count Noun rule to be explained later.

However clearly some of the ten (10) or more basic constructs agree in context with John 1:2 and some do NOT. Let's look at the point where some do not agree or harmonize with the context of John 1:2:

John 1:2 plainly says that the Word, or Logos, who is Jesus (Yeshua) was with God in the beginning which would be impossible if Jesus (Yeshua) was Almighty God (YHWH) himself. This rules out constructs 6, 7, and 10, represented below, as impossible as they do NOT harmonize with context.

<6> "and the Word was God" [example of Bible using, American Standard Version, ASV] [note, this construct violates the count noun rule of Koine Greek]

<7> "He was the same as God" example of Bible using, Today's English Version.]

<10> "Gott (von Art) war der Logos" [God (of Kind/kind) was the Logos/logos] [example of Bible using, Die Bibel in heutigem Deutsch, 1980]

And two of these constructs do violate the count Noun rule of Koine Greek; to wit, constructs 6 and 7.

Now exactly what is the count Noun rule of Koine Greek? It is as follows:

The fact is that THEOS (=God) is a count noun, not a mass noun or an adjective. As a count noun it MUST BE countable, i.e. either definite or indefinite (i.e. either "a god" or "the God"). The trinitarian argument hinges on stripping THEOS of its count-ability, so that it is purely qualitative. However, if a noun is PURELY qualitative, it is not a count noun. An adjective or a mass noun may fit their requirement for emphasizing qualitativness only, but a count noun MUST BE countable, for that is what *count* means when describing a count noun. If he accepts this rather elementary rule of English grammar, you can demonstrate that, as a count noun, THEOS may be translated either "the Word was God" (="the Word was The God", which is Sabellianism), or "the Word was a god". Since orthodox trinitarians reject "the Word was The God" (=Sabellianism), they are left with "the Word was a god" -- that is, if they remain true to English syntax (and English syntax is what ENGLISH translations are supposed to follow!). If one argues the point, let them provide an example of a non-countable *count noun* that is not used in a contrary-to-fact situation, such as a metaphor. I have yet to find anyone, trinitarian or otherwise, who is able to meet this challenge. Rolf Furuli, one of the two best living Koine Greek scholars, discusses this in his book, THE ROLE OF THEOLOGY AND BIAS IN BIBLE TRANSLATION, as does Greg Stafford, in his, JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES DEFENDED: AN ANSWER TO SCHOLARS AND CRITICS. There are also some very good posts by Wes Williams on greektheology that discuss this issue.

"To preserve in English the different nuance of theos [god] with and without the article, some (Moffat) would translate 'The Word was divine.'"

Notice a literal translation of John 1:1,2:

"In the beginning was the world and the word was toward the god and god was the word. This (one) was in beginning toward the god."

In these two verses we see six nouns, three referring to the Greek word logos (word, which most recognize to be Jesus - Yeshua) and three referring to the Greek word theos (god). We notice each reference to logos (word) is preceded by the definite article "the", while two of the three times the word theos (god) occurs, it too is preceded by the definite article "the". For some reason, John does not provide the definite article with theos when it is associated with "The Word". We thus see two definite individuals mentioned in this verse. "The Word", Jesus (Yeshua) Christ, and "The God", who is Almighty God Jehovah (YHWH). John does not say "The Word" is "The God". (In fact, most Trinitarian scholars would argue that if John had said the word was "ho theos" (The God), it would amount to sabellianism (the belief that Jesus is both the Father and the Son). As such, it is commonly agreed upon that John was not identifying Jesus (Yeshua) as God (YHWH) but rather, was describing him as deity.) But if John did not say "The Word" is "The God", then what did he mean by saying, "the word was god"?

In Greek, it is possible for a noun to act as an adjective when it is not accompanied by the definite article. Consider a Biblical example of this in John 6:70. "Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" (NIV)

Here the noun (devil) is not proceeded by the definite article (the). To reflect this most Bibles place the indefinite article (a) in front of it. Thus, Jesus was not identifying Judas as "THE Devil", he was saying Judas had the qualities of the devil. He was acting like the devil so he was A devil though not THE devil. This example helps us to see how the lack of the definite article can cause a noun to act as a predication rather than an identification.

Regarding this point, noted Bible scholar William Barclay writes:

"When in Greek two nouns are joined by the verb to be and when both have the definite article, then the one is fully identified with the other; but when one of them is without the article, it become more an adjective than a noun, and describes rather the class of the sphere to which the other belongs...

"John has no definte article before theos, God. The Logos, therefore, is not identified as God or with God; the word theos has become adjectival and describes the sphere to which the logos belongs...

"This passage then [John 1:1] does not identify the Logos and God; it does not say that Jesus (Yeshua) was God (YHWH), nor does it call him God; but it does say that in his nature and being he belongs to the same class as God." Or as the New English Bible states, "and what God was, the Word was."

Mr. Barclay's observations are duly noted in the example we considered with Judas Iscariot being "a devil".

Now let's consider what the Greek Scholar Jason BeDuhn from the Northern Arizona University has to say: "The Greek phrase is 'theos en ho logos', which translated word for word is "a god was the word." Greek has only a definite article, like our the, it does not have an indefinite article, like our a or an. If a noun is definite, it has the definite article 'ho'. If a noun is indefinite, no article is used. In the phrase from John 1:1, 'ho logos' is "the word." If it was written simply logos, without the definite article 'ho', we would have to translate it as "a word". So we are not really "inserting" an indefinite article when we translate Greek nouns without the definite article into English, we are simply obeying rules of English grammar that tell us that we cannot say "Snoopy is dog," but must say "Snoopy is a dog."

Now in English we simply say "God"; we do not say "The God." But in Greek, when you mean to refer to the one supreme God, instead of one of the many other beings that were called "gods," you would have to say "The God": 'ho theos'. Even a monotheistic Christian, who believes there is only one God and no others, would be forced to say in Greek "The God," as John and Paul and the other writers of the New Testament normally do. If you leave off the article in a phrase like John 1:1, then you are saying "a god." (There are some exceptions to this rule: Greek has what are called noun cases, which means the nouns change form depending on how they are used in a sentence. So, if you want to say "of God," which is 'theou', you don't need the article. But in the nominative case, which is the one in John 1:1, you have to have the article.) So what does John mean by saying "the word was a god"? He is classifying Jesus in a specific category of beings. There are plants and animals and humans and gods, and so on. By calling the Word "a god," John wants to tell his readers that the Word (which becomes Jesus when it takes flesh) belongs to the divine class of things. Notice the word order: "a god was the word." We can't say it like this in English, but you can in Greek. The subject can be after the verb and the object before the verb, the opposite of how we do it in English (subject-verb-object). Research has shown that when ancient Greek writers put a object-noun first in a sentence like John 1:1 (a be-verb sentence: x is y), without the definite article, they are telling us that the subject belongs to the class represented by the object-noun: :"The car is a Volkswagen." In English we would accomplish the same thing by using what we call predicate adjectives. "John is a smart person" = "John is smart." So we would tend to say "The word was divine," rather than "The word was a god." That is how I would translate this phrase. "The word was a god" is more literal, and an improvement over "The word was God," but it raises more problems, since to a modern reader it implies polytheism. No one in John's day would have understood the phrase to mean "The word was God" - the language does not convey that sense, and conceptually it is difficult to grasp such an idea, especially since that author has just said that the word was with God. Someone is not with himself, he is with some other. John clearly differentiates between God from the Word. The latter becomes flesh and is seen; the former cannot be seen. What is the Word? John says it was the agent through whom God made the world. He starts his gospel "In the beginning..." to remind us of Genesis 1. How does God create in Genesis? He speaks words that make things come into existence. So the Word is God's creative power and plan and activity. It is not God himself, but it is not really totally separate from God either. It occupies a kind of ambiguous status. That is why a monotheist like John can get away with calling it "a god" or "divine" without becoming a polytheist. This divine thing does not act on its own, however, does take on a kind of distinct identity, and in becoming flesh brings God's will and plan right down face to face with humans.

All this is in keeping with what John the Baptist is recorded by the Apostle John at John 1:15, "John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is before me: for hi was before me." (ASV).

A MORE POWERFUL BAPTISM BY MEANS OF JESUS (YESHUA):

John the Baptist was grilled by some priests, Levites, and Pharisees at John 1:20-34, "'I am not the Messiah.' 'What then? Are you Elijah?' 'No', he replied. 'Are you the prophet we await?' He answered 'No.' 'Then who are you?' they asked. 'We must give an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?' He answered in the words of the prophet Isaiah: 'I am a voice cryinhg aloud in the wilderness, 'Make the Lord's highway straight.' Some Pharisees who were in deputation asked him, 'If you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why then are you baptizing?' 'I baptize in water,' John replied, 'but among you though you do not know him, stands the one who is to come after me. I am not good enough to unfasten his shoes.' This took place at Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him. 'Look," he said 'there is the Lamb of God; it is he who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I spoke when I said, 'After me a man is coming who takes rank before me'; for before I was born, he already was. I myself did not know who he was; but the very reason why I came, baptizing in water, was that he might be revealed to Israel.' John testified further: 'I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove and resting upon him. I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize in water had told me, 'When you see the Spirit coming down upon someone and resting upon him you will know that this is he who is to baptize in Holy Spirit.' I saw it myself, and I have borne witness. This is God's Chosen One." (NEB). If he had been a part of a Trinity consisting of Father (YHWH), Son (Yeshua), and the Holy Spirit or Spirit the above could NOT have occurred since one individual could NOT come down on himself, and the above record would be utter linguistic foolishness; however, it is NOT as this God (YHWH) dishonoring doctrine is the fable or myth of mankind per the warning at 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables." (ASV); why so? It is due to the activities of Satan the Devil as shown at Corinthians 4:4, ""In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (AV); due to their not seeking sound doctrine per Titus 2:1, "But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:" (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

Interestingly right after this in John the first chapter, the Apostle John wrote with respect Simon Peter the following, at John 1:42, "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone." (AV).

GOD LOVES HIS SON, JESUS (YESHUA) AND SENT HIM TO EARTH WITH AUTHORITY:

John the Baptist testified to the fact that Jesus (Yeshua) did NOT come of his own volition, but had been sent by his Father (YHWH) with full authority as shown at 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, previously quoted. At John 3:31 to 36, we see the absolute truth of this testified to, "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all. 32 What he hath seen and heard, of that be beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness. 33 He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this that God is true. 34 For his whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36 He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him." (ASV). This scripture reveals two important facts, First, that God (YHWH) loves his son; Second, Almighty God (YHWH) has sent his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) to earth to carry out an assignment and given him the concomitant authority to be able to do so as shown at 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, previously quoted.

And at John 4:24-26, "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.' The woman answered, "I know that Messiah' (that is Christ) 'is coming. When he comes he will tell us everything.' Jesus said, 'I am he, I who am speaking to you now." (NEB). Now note, at this time the Son of God (YHWH), Jesus (Yeshua) was on earth as a perfect fleshly man; whereas the scripture clearly shows, "God is spirit," thus invisible. But Jesus (Yeshua) was flesh and blood and clearly visible at this time; therefore, there is NO way that they could be one and the same individual unless God (YHWH) is a liar and the Bible clearly shows this is NOT the case at Titus 1:2, "In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before times eternal." (ASV).

And at John 5:25-26, "In truth, in very truth I tell you, a time is coming, indeed it is already here, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear shall come to life. For as the Father has life-giving power in himself, so has the Son, by the Father's gift." (NEB) clearly once more showing all the power and authority Jesus (Yeshua) Christ has were given to him by a superior one, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH); And at John 5:36, "But I rely on a testimony higher than John's. There is enough to testify that the Father has sent me, in the works my Father gave me to do and to finish-the very works I have in hand." (NEB) once more clearly showing that his Father, a superior one, had given him works to do in full compliance with the principles of the Jewish Law of Agencies previously explained as his master worker as shown at Proverbs 8:22-30, previously quoted. And this is affirmed at John 5:37, "This testimony to me was given by the Father who sent me, although you never heard his voice, or saw his form." (NEB); however, unfortunately the Father's (HYWH's) word through his Son per John 5:38, "But his word has found no home in you for you do not believe the one whom he sent." (NEB). Likewise, Jesus (Yeshua) stated at John 5:43-44, "I have come accredited by my Father, and you have no welcome for me; if another comes self-accredited you will welcome him. How can you have faith so long as you receive honour from one another, and care nothing for the honour that comes from him who alone is God?" (NEB), once more testifying to two facts, First, Jesus (Yeshua) was both sent by and accredited by his Father (YHWH), and Second, he, Jesus (Yeshua) is a distinct individual separate and apart from his Father (YHWH) who had sent him and accredited him. Just as Jesus (Yeshua) said, John 5:45-47, "Do not imagine that I shall be your accuser at God's tribunal. Your accuser is Moses, the very Moses on whom you have set your hope. If you believed Moses you would believe what I tell you, for it was about me that he wrote. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how are you to believe what I say?" (NEB).

TRUE CHRISTIANS MUST DO THE WORKS OF GOD AS SHOWN BY HIS SON:

Many read Jesus' (Yeshua's) assignment to his true followers at Matthew 24:14, "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (New International Version; NIV). Now let's see what John 6:28-29, "They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (ASV); And Jesus (Yeshua) went on to show that his Father (YHWH) was the superior one at John 6:31-33, "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, He gave them bread out of heaven to eat. 32 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world." (ASV); And at John 6:37, "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and the man who comes to me I will never turn away. I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me." (NEB). Now how much explicit can Jesus (Yeshua) get with respect who sent him and whose will he is doing; thereby, clearly showing neither a Duality or a Trinity exist except as a fable of mankind who are being deceived by none other than Satan the Devil as shown at 2 Corinthians 4:4, previously quoted. Jesus (Yeshua) specifically said at John 6:40, "For this is the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day." (ASV), as clearly noted, he was once more showing what the will of his Father (YHWH) is and not his own will; thereby, showing that his Father (YHWH) was the superior one and that he, Jesus (Yeshua), was an obedient Son. This same fact is testified to at John 6:45-47, "It is written in the prophets, And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard from the Father, and hath learned, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he that is from God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life." (ASV); And at John 6:57, "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me." (ASV) once more, here we find Jesus (Yeshua) testifying with respect whom had sent him and showing he was subject to him.

THE WORLD HATES JESUS (YESHUA) AND THOSE ACCURATELY TEACHING HIM:

The fact that the world hates Jesus (Yeshua) was testified to by none other that Jesus (Yeshua) at John 7:7, "The world cannot hate you; but it hates me for exposing the wickedness of its ways." (NEB), with this being spoken to his fleshly brothers [actually half brothers as his father was NOT Joseph, but Almighty God (YHWH) himself] who had not yet become believers in him at John 7:5, "For even his brothers were not believers in him." (NEB). And at John 7:16-18, Jesus (Yeshua) said, "Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether is is of God, or whether I speak from myself. 18 He that speaketh from himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh the glory of him that sent him, the same is ture, and no unrighteousness is in him." (ASV); once more, here Jesus (Yeshua) is showing he was sent by a superior one and that it was the will and teachings of this superior one that he was making known, and that he was NOT doing his own will. We should all believe Jesus (Yeshua) that he was sent by Almighty God (YHWh), his father, to do his Father's (YHWH's) will and not his own since Jesus (Yeshua) is not a liar anymore than is his Father (YHWH).

The fact that he had NOT come of his own accord is testified to by Jesus (Yeshua) at John 7:28-29, "Jesus therefore cried in the temple, teaching and saying, Ye both know me, and know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. 29 I know him; because I am from him, and he sent me." (ASV); Now how much clearer can it be that Jesus (Yeshua) was sent by a superior one, his Father, Almighty God (YHWH). But what did the Jews under control of the God of this System per 2 Corinthians 4:4, previously quoted, want to do? Let's look at John 7:30, "They sought therefore to take him: and no man laid his hand on him, because his hour was not yet come." (ASV). It is to be noted that at this time the Spirit had not yet been given as shown at John 7:39, "But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified." (ASV).

TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT, Documentary on the Book of John Being Anti-Trinitarian-In Multiple Parts:, GO TO PART 2 AT VOL 852 AND PART 3 AT VOL 853.

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DOCUMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JOHN BEING ANTI-TRINITARIAN-IN MULTIPLE PARTS – PART 2 [ART 1 BEING IN VOL 850A]

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 851A]

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3 – 4, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

There is only one true God, Almighty God (YHWH), and he is the comforter of all that rest their hopes in him as testified to at Ephesians 4:6, [AV] “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Yes, he is per Exodus 34:6, [AV] “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,” He has great patience as shown by Romans 15:5, [AV] “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” He per 2 Corinthians 7:6 – 7, [AV] “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.” And, Ephesians 6:22 - 23, [AV] “Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. 23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

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[2]
PART 2 OF Documentary on the Book of John Being Anti-Trinitarian-In Multiple Parts

JESUS (YESHUA) IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AS HIS FATHER (YHWH) HAS GIVEN HIM FULL AUTHORITY ON EARTH AND IN HEAVEN:

Now Jesus (Yeshua) is shown to be the 'Light of the World' at John 8:12, "Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, Thou bearest witness of theyself; they witness is not true. 14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Even if I bear witness of myself, my witness is true; for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye know not whence I come, or whither I go. 15 Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man. 16 Yea and if I judge, my judgment is true for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me." (ASV); To this these individuals seeking to do him harm because they were being misguided by Satan the Devil, he said at John 8:19, "They said therefore unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye know neither me, nor my Father: if ye knew me, ye would know my Father also." (ASV). And that he was doing his Father's (YHWH's) will and was from his Father (YHWH) they understood not as recorded in John 8:26, "Jesus answered, 'Why should I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you-and in judgment. But he who sent me speaks the truth, and what I heard from him I report to the world.'" (NEB); herewith clearly showing NOT only that he was NOT his Father (YHWH), but had also been taught all he knew by his Father (YHWH). Thus once more showing that he, Jesus (Yeshua) is neither co-eternal NOR co-equal with his Father (YHWH).

In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) as testified to by himself always, per John 8:28, "So Jesus said to them, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man you will know that I am what I am. I do nothing on my own authority, but in all that I say, I have been taught by my Father." (NEB). He said to those seeking to kill him, per John 8:37-38, "'I know that you are descended from Abraham, but you are bent on killing me because my teaching makes no headway with you. I am revealing in words what I saw in my Father's presence; and you are revealing in action what you learned from your father." (NEB); And at John 8:41, "Ye do the works of your father. They said unto him, We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." (ASV); And Jesus (Yeshua) answered them at John 8:42, "Jesus said unto them, If god were your Father, ye would love me: for I came forth and am come from God; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me." (ASV) clearly he was showing that he had been sent by his Father and was doing his Father's (YHWH's) works as his Father's (YHWH's) master worker per Proverbs 8:22-30, as previously quoted, and was definitely a distinct being separate and apart from his Father (YHWH). Jesus (Yeshua) clearly showed that these individuals that were persecuting and harassing him were of the Devil at John 8:44-47, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. 45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not. 46 Which of you convicteth me of sin? If I say truth, why do ye not believe me? 47 He that is of God heareth the words of God: for this cause ye hear them not, because ye are not of God." (ASV). These Devil guided individuals answered saying, John 8:48-50, "'Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan, and that you are possessed?' "I am not possessed,' said Jesus; 'the truth is that I am honouring my Father, but you dishonour me. I do not care about my own glory; there is one who does care, and he is judge." (NEB); And at, John 8:54-55, "Jesus replied, 'If I glorify myself, that glory is of mine is worthless. It is the Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, 'He is our God', though you do not know him. But I know him; if I said that I did not know him I should be a liar like you. But in truth I know him and obey his word." (NEB); Clearly, once more showing that he, Jesus (Yeshua) was not his Father (YHWH) by saying that, "If I glorify myself, that glory is of mine is worthless. It is the Father who glorifies me," so we can plainly see he is a distinct being apart from his Father (YHWH) and taking directions from his Father (YHWH). This fact is clearly shown by 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God: and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus:" (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB).

GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN BEHALF OF OTHERS:

Jesus (Yeshua) being the 'good shepherd' was willing to and did give his life for others as recorded at John 10:14- "I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, 15 even as the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18 No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment received I from my Father." (ASV); Once more clearly showing that he was distinct from his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) and much loved by him since he was willing to lay his life down on behalf of the 'sheep' [the followers of his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) that he had given to his Son, Jeusu (Yeshua)].

As Jesus (Yeshua) himself said at John 10:25-29, "My deeds done in my Father's name are my credentials, but because you are not my sheep of my flock you do not believe. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one shall snatch them from my care. My Father who has given them to me is greater than all, and no one can snatch them out of the Father's car." (NEB), clearly here showing that his Father (YHWH) is greater than himself; And at John 10:30, showing that both he and his Father (YHWH) are one in purpose, "I and my Father are one." (ASV); And at John 10:32-36, "At this Jesus said to them, 'I have set before you many good deeds, done by my Father's power; for which of these would you stone me? The Jews replied, 'We are not going to stone you for any good deed, but for your blasphemy. You a mere man claim to be a god.' Jesus answered, 'Is it not written in your own Law, 'I said: You are Gods'? Those are called gods to whom the word of God was delivered-and Scripture cannot be set aside. Then why do you charge me with blasphemy because I, consecrated and sent into the world by the Father, said, 'I am God's son'?" (NEB). Once more showing that he was doing NOT his own will, but that of his Father (YHWH) whom sent him; likewise, we to be acceptable to God (YHWH) must do his will and reject doctrines and fables of mankind originating with Satan the Devil and accept the truthful doctrines originating from God (YHWH). This fact is made clear at John 10:37-38, "If I am not acting as my Father would, do not believe me. But if I am, accept the evidence of my deeds, even if you do not believe me, so that you recognize and know that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." (NEB); That he should be doing the will of his Father is made clear at Colossians 1:15-16, "who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him." (ASV). Hence we can see he would be like his Father (YHWH) as his Father (YHWH) created him in his own image and used his as his master worker, for details of the Jewish Law of Agencies and Proverbs 8:22-30 expounding on this, go back to the first part of this Documentary.

GOD LISTENS TO HIS SON, JESUS (YESHUA) AND GRANTS WHAT HE ASKS:

John the eleventh chapter clearly shows that Almighty God (YHWH) listens to his Son, the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) and grants him what he asks at John 11:21-25, "Martha said to Jesus, 'If you had been here, sir, my brother would not have died. Even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will grant you.' Jesus said, 'Your brother will rise again.' " I know that he will rise again', said Martha, 'at the resurrection on the last day.' Jesus said, 'I am the resurrection and I am life." (NEB); And at John 11:27, "She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I have believed that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, even he that cometh into the world." (ASV); Clearly once more testifying to the fact that he is a distinct being apart from his Father (YHWH) and that his Father (YHWH) hears him and grants his wishes.

Then Jesus (Yeshua) prayed to his Father (YHWH) at John 11:41, "So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou heardest me. 42 And I knew that thou hearest me always; but because of the multitude that standeth around I said it, that they may believe that thou didst send me." (ASV).

JESUS' (YESHUA'S) FATHER (YHWH) WILL HONOR WHOEVER SERVES HIM:

Jesus (Yeshua) clearly stated at John 12:26-28, that anyone serving him would be honored by his Father (YHWY), "If anyone serves me, he must follow me; where I am, my servant will be. Whoever serves me will be honoured by my Father. Now my soul is in turmoil, and what am I to say? Father, save me from this hour. No, it was for this that I came to this hour. Father, glorify they name.' A voice sounded from heaven: 'I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." (NEB); Now many accepted his as the Messiah, the Son of God, which he truly was, but others did not as recorded at John 12:39-42, ""For this cause they could not believe, for that Isaiah said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes and he hardened their hearts; Lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, And should turn, And I should heal them. 41 These things said Isaiah, because he saw his glory; and he spake of him. 42 Nevertheless even of the rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, least they should be put out of the synagogue:" (ASV). Their having ears and not hearing was also confirmed at Matthew 13:14, "And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:" (ASV). Though many believed on him, Jesus (Yeshua) they said nothing due to fear as testified to at John 7:12-17, "And there was much murmuring among the multitudes concerning him; some said, He is a good man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth the multitude astray. 13 Yet no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews. 14 But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught, 15 The Jews therefore marveiled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus therefore answered them, and said, My teaching is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself." (ASV); Clearly here Jesus (Yeshua) showed what he taught was NOT from himself, but from his Father (YHWH) a superior one who had sent him. But the multitude was in fear and spoke not in his defense.

JESUS' (YESHUA'S) FAREWELL DISCOURSE:

John 13:1 clearly shows that Jesus (Yeshua) knew the time had come for him to lay his life down in behalf of the 'sheep', "It was before the Passover festival. Jesus knew that his hour had come and he must leave this world and go to the Father. He had always loved his own who were in the world, and now he was to show the full extent of his love." (NEB); Clearly he knew his time had arrived and he said, at John 13:20, "In very truth I tell you, he who receives any messanger of mine receives me; receiving me, he receives the One who sent me." (NEB), clearly showing his followers were one in purpose with him and his Father (YHWH). His giving his life as a human up both as a ransom for his 'sheep', the obedient from among mankind who were one in purpose with him and his Father (YHWH), and to glorify his father as stated at John 13:31-35, "When he had gone out Jesus said, 'Now the Son of Man is glorified, and in him God is glorified. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself; and he will glorify him now. My children, for a little longer I am with you; then you will look for me, and, as I told the Jews, I tell you now, where I am going you cannot come. I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples.'" (NEB). This act of permitting himself as a perfect human to be a sacrifice for all of obedient mankind clearly shows that Jesus (Yeshua) not only was an obedient Son, but clearly had perfect love for his creator and Father, Almighty God (YHWH); Likewise, Jesus (Yeshua) showed that he had been created in the image of his Father (YHWH) as stated at Colossians 1:15, previously quoted. Therefore, as he, Jesus (Yeshua) stated, we should if we are his true followers have love among ourselves.

In his farewell to his followers, Jesus (Yeshua) stated at John 14:1-2, "'Set your troubled hearts at rest. Trust in God always; trust also in me. There are many dwelling-places in my Father's house; if it were not so I should have told you; for I am going there on purpose to prepare a place for you." (NEB); And at John 14:6-16, Jesus (Yeshua) states, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord show us the Father, and it sufficieth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abidinhg in me doeth his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than those shall he do; because I go unto the Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do, 15 If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever," (ASV); clearly showing that he was the very image of his Father (YHWH) per Colossians 1:15, previously quoted, and as John 5:19-21 states, "To this charge Jesus replied, 'In truth, in very truth I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he does only what he sees the Father doing: what the Father does, the Son does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all his works, and will show greater yet to fill you with wonder." (NEB); And at John 14:19 Jesus (Yeshua) states, "Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him." (ASV); Clearly showing that all obedient men/women would be in Jesus (Yeshua) and his Father (YHWH) just as they are in each other, that is in purpose and love.

This fact is further testified to at john 14:23-24, "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (ASV); Once more showing two very important facts, First, that all who keep his word and love one another are in union or a part of him as he is apart of us per John 14:20, "In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you." Previously quoted above; and Second, Jesus (Yeshua) shows the words that he speaks are not his but those he heard from his Father (YHWH) clearly once more showing he is a being separate and distinct from his Father (YHWH). At John 14:25, he states, "I have told you all this while I am still with you; but your Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and will call to mind all that I have told you." (NEB); once more clearly showing his Father (YHWH) as the superior and stating that his Father (YHWH), not himself, would sent an Advocate, the Holy Spirit. And at John 14:28, he clearly states that his Father (YHWH) is greater than himself, "Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I." (ASV); And at John 14:31, "but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence." (ASV); clearly it can now be seen it is entirely indefensible to argue for a Duality or a Trinity as clearly none exist, but only a Father (YHWH) and a Son, the Son of God, relationship exist as testified above by none other than Jesus (Yeshua) himself-hence the Duality and the Trinity have clearly been shown to be God (YHWH) dishonoring doctrine.

JESUS IS THE VINE AND HIS FATHER IS THE GARDENER:

Clearly Jesus (Yeshua) can be likened to a vine and his Father (YHWH) to a gardener and this fact is shown in scripture at John 15:1-10, "I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every barren branch of mine he cuts away; and every fruiting branch he cleans, to make it more fruitful still. You have already been cleansed by the word that I spoke to you. Dwell in me, as I in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, but only if it remains united with the vine; no more can you bear fruit, unless you remain united with me. 'I am the vine, and you the branches. He who dwells in me, as Idwell in him bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing. He who does not dwell in me is thrown away like a withered branch. The withered branches are heaped together, thrown on the fire, and burnt. 'If you dwell in me, and my words dwell in you, ask what you will, and you shall have it. This is my Father's glory, that you may bear fruit in plenty and so be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Dwell in my love. If you heed my commands, you will dwell in my love, as I have heeded my Father's commands and dwell in his love." (NEB); clearly once more showing that his Father (YHWH) and himself, Jesus (Yeshua) are separate and distinct beings; however, working with the same purpose in mind, and also one with their followers in this activity.

Now what is really important and must exist among Jesus' (Yeshua's) followers? John 15:11-14, shows that love is the all important ingredient, "'I have spoken thus to you, so that my joy may be in you, and your joy complete. This is my commandment; love one another, as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, that a man should lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you." (NEB).

He, Jesus (Yeshua) calls us friends because he has disclosed to us everything he heard of his Father (YHWH) as testified to at John 15:15-21, "I call you servants no longer; a servant does not know what his master is about. I have called you friends, because I have disclosed to you everything that I heard from my Father. You did not choose me: I chose you. I appointed you to go on and bear fruit, fruit that shall last: so that the Father may give you all that you ask in my name. This is my commandment to you: love one another." (NEB); Likewise he reveals at John 15:18, that the world would hate his followers, "If the world hates you, it hated me first, as you know well. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because I have chosen you out of the world, for that reason the world hates you. Remember what I said: 'A servant is not greater that his master.' As they persecuted me, they will persecute you; they will follow your teachings as little as they have followed mine. It is on my account that they will treat you thus, because they do not know the One who sent me." (NEB). And at John 15:24-25, shows they hate without reason, "If I had not worked among them and accomplished what no other man has done, they wiould not be guilty of sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father. However, this test in their Law had to come true. 'They hated me without reason." (NEB); thus clearly showing the world would despise his true followers without reason. And at John 15:26-27, Jesus (Yeshua) showed he would send the Spirit to comfort his true followers, "But when your Advocate has come, whom I will send you from the Father-the Spirit of truth that issues from the Father-he will bear witness to me. And you also are my witnesses, because you have been with me from the first." (NEB). Clearly he was doing the work of his Father, but his enemies knew not this Father (YHWH) who had sent his as clearly stated as follows, "they will treat you thus, because they do not know the One who sent me."

HIS TRUE FOLLOWERS WILL BE PERSECUTED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RUN WITH THE WORLDLY SYSTEM:

Since his followers are to be persecuted per John 16:1-4, "I have told you all this to guard you against the breakdown of your faith. They will ban you from the synagogue; indeed, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will suppose that he is performing a religious duty. They will do these things because they do not know either the Father or me. I have told you all this so that when the time comes for it to happen you may remember amy warning. I did not tell you this first, because then I was with you; but now I am going away to him who sent me." (NEB); Now much clearer could Jesus (Yeshua) be than he had NOT come on his own volition but had been sent by another, a superior, his Father (YHWH), and that in the end times his followers would undergo sever persecution?

AT John 16:17-18, he reveals to his disciples, "Some of his disciples said to one another, 'What does he mean by this: 'A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me', and by this: 'Because I am going to my Father'? So they asked, 'What is theis 'little while' that he speaks of We do now know what he means.'" (NEB); And at John 16:24, "In very truth I tell you, if you ask the Father for anything in my name, he will give it you. So far you have asked nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be complete." NEB). He further emphasis this at John 16:25-28, "'Till now I have been using figures of speech; a time is coming when I shall no longer use figures, but tell you of the Father in plain words. When that day comes you will make your request in my name, and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, for the Father loves you himself, because you have loved me and believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world again and going to the Father." (NEB). Here once more he shows that the Father (YHWH) is distinct from him, and that he is doing his Father's (YHWH's) work, and that his Father (YHWH) loves his followers. And at John 16:31-33, "Jesus answered, 'Do you now believe? Look, the hour is coming, has indeed already come, when you are all to be scattered, each to his home, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you this so that in me you may find peace. In the world you will have trouble. But courage! The victory is mine: I have conquered the world." (NEB); Here he shows that his Father is one in purpose with him, clearly distinguishing the Father (YHWH) and his Son, the Son of God, Jesus (Yeshua) as two distinct and separate individuals.

THE LONGEST PRAYER BY JESUS (YESHUA) CLEARLY IS ANTI-TRINITARIAN:

As will be shown the entire prayer found at John 17:1-26 is anti-Trinitarian, this will be done by a 'Sola Scripture,' critical analysis of this entire chapter, "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:<[ These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes--"John very seldom depicts the gestures or looks of our Lord, as here. But this was an occasion of which the impression was indelible, and the upward look could not be passed over" [ALFORD]. Father, the hour is glorify thy Son--Put honor upon Thy Son, by countenancing, sustaining, and carrying Him through that "hour." (a) At John 17:5, Jesus asks for, "And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee." (The Douay-Rheims Bible), "Jesus said to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham was made, I AM." ." (John 8:58 The Douay-Rheims Bible), "If then you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" (John 6:62 The Douay-Rheims Bible). As can clearly be seen, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) had been in heaven with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) before he came down to earth to prove himself faithful under temptation, and here he was asking his Father (YHWH) for what he had had before in heaven. This clearly shows two individuals, one a superior being prayed to and a subordinate asking the superior for what he had had before in heaven. (b) ]>

2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. <[ given--gavest him power over all give eternal life to as many as, &c.--literally, "to all that which thou hast given him." (a) "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." (1 Corinthians 15:28 AV) Here we clearly see God has given his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) jurisdiction over all things except himself, Almighty God (YHWH) and after he, the Son, has accomplished all the work his Father has given him, he will, "then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all." This once more clearly shows they are two separate entities in heaven with one the superior, Almighty God (YHWH) and the other the subordinate, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) (b) ]>

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. <[this is--that. life eternal, that they might--may. know, &c.--This life eternal, then, is not mere conscious and unending existence,.but a life of acquaintance with God in Christ (Job 22:21). (a) Notice here that Almighty God (YHWH) sent his Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) to earth to do his, the Father's will. Clearly the sender is the superior one. (b) ]>

4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. <[I have glorified thee on the earth--rather, "I glorified" (for the thing is conceived as now past). I have finished--I finished. the work which thou gavest me to do--It is very important to preserve in the translation the past tense, used in the original, otherwise it might be thought that the work already "finished" was only what He had done before uttering that prayer; whereas it will be observed that our Lord speaks throughout as already beyond this present scene (John 17:12, &c.), and so must be supposed to include in His "finished work" the "decease which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem." (a) Here the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), clearly tells his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) that he has accomplished all the work that he had assigned to him to do while on earth in flesh and blood. He, the Son, states, "I have glorified thee on the earth:" {glory - from Strong's Concordance and Hebrew-Chaldean Dictionary is 'AV-glory 145, glorious 10, honour 6, praise 4, dignity 2, worship 1; 168'}. This clearly shows that the Son was doing the work assigned to him by his Father once more; therefore they would have to be two distinct entities, one the superior and the other the subordinate. (b) ]>

TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS VERY IMPORTANT DOCUMENT, Documentary on the Book of John Being Anti-Trinitarian-In Multiple Parts:, GO TO PART 3 AT VOL 853.

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] DOCUMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF JOHN BEING ANTI-TRINITARIAN-IN MULTIPLE PARTS, PART 3 [NOTE, PART 1 IS VOL 850A AND PART 2 IS VOL 851A ]

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 852A]

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:22 – 23, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

We are carnal as revealed at 1 Corinthians 3:3, [AV] “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” But, we should lead spiritual lives as shown by Galatians 5:25, [AV] “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Yes, the Bible reveals at 1 Corinthians 3:16, [AV] “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Therefore Galatians 4:6, [AV] “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” So we ought to be living lives in accordance with his will.

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[2] PART 3 OF Documentary on the Book of John Being Anti-Trinitarian-In Multiple Parts

5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. <[And now--in return. glorify thou me--The "I Thee" and "Thou Me" are so placed in the original, each beside its fellow, as to show that A PERFECT RECIPROCITY OF SERVICES of the Son to the Father first, and then of the Father to the Son in return, is what our Lord means here to express. with the glory which I had with thee before the world was--when "in the beginning the Word was with God" (John 1:1), "the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father" (John 1:18). With this pre-existent glory, which He veiled on earth, He asks to be reinvested, the design of the veiling being accomplished--not, however, simply as before, but now in our nature. (a) As can clearly be seen, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) had been in heaven with his Father, Almighty God (YHWH) before he came down to earth to prove himself faithful under temptation, and here he was asking his Father (YHWH) for what he had had before in heaven. This clearly shows two individuals, one a superior being prayed to and a subordinate asking the superior for what he had had before in heaven. (b) ]>

6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. <[ From praying for Himself He now comes to pray for His disciples. I have manifested--I manifested. thy name--His whole character towards mankind. to the men thou gavest me out of the (a) Here the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) acknowledges that the men belonged to Almighty God (YHWH), but he gave them to his son, "thou gavest them me; " clearly showing two individuals, a superior who can give things to a Son, and a Son who can receive things from his father; not two individuals in one Godhead as proclaimed by the Cathars. (b) ]>

7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. <[Here, the Son, is acknowledging the gifts from his Father, and stating that the gifts are of thee, the Father, "are of thee." Obviously an interaction between two individuals, one the superior, the Father, the giver, and the subordinate, the Son, the receiver of the gifts. (b) ]>

8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. [This is also shown at Ephesians 4:12-16, as follows, "they . . . have known surely that I came out from (a) Here he, the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) , mentions that he has given to his followers, "the words which thou gavest me," and his followers, "and they have received them." Then he, the Son, continues, "and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me," showing that his followers would surely know that they were one is purpose, "12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (AV) and Ephesians 3:9-14, "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," (AV). And at, 1 Timothy 2:5, "These clearly show that Almighty God (YHWH) and Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) although not one in body, are one in purpose, and since the Father has given mankind to the Son for the present time, we should all recognize the Son as the only mediator between God and mankind, " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5 AV)]. (b) ]>

9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. <[I pray for them--not as individuals merely, but as representatives of all such in every succeeding age not for the world--for they had been given Him "out of the world" (John 17:6), and had been already transformed into the very opposite of it. The things sought for them, indeed, are applicable only to such. (a) Jesus, here, prays on behalf of all of his followers to his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), clearly showing that the Son recognized his Father as supreme. (b) ]>

10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. <[all mine are thine, and thine are mine--literally, "All My things are Thine and Thy things are Mine." (On this use of the neuter gender, Absolute COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY between the Father and the Son is here expressed as nakedly as words can do it. (a) Here Jesus as shown at 1 Corinthians 15:27-28, clearly recognizes that everything he has really belongs onto his Father in keeping with, "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." (AV) (b) ]>

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. <[I am no more in the but these are in the world--that is, Though My struggles are at an end, theirs are not; though I have gotten beyond the scene of strife, I cannot sever Myself in spirit from them, left behind and only just entering on their great conflict. Holy Father--an expression He nowhere else uses. "Father" is His wonted appellation, but "Holy" is here prefixed, because His appeal was to that perfection of the Father's nature, to "keep" or preserve them from being tainted by the unholy atmosphere of "the world" they were still in. keep through thine own name--rather, "in thy name"; in the exercise of that gracious and holy character for which He was known.
that they may be (a) Here he, the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) , says after returning to his Father, " And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world," and asks that they, his followers, "be one, as we are," one. " Then he, the Son, continues, "and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me," (part of John 17:8 AV) showing that his followers would surely know that they were one is purpose, "12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:12-16 AV) and "9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 3:9-14 AV). These clearly show that Almighty God (YHWH) and Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) although not one in body, are one in purpose, and since the Father has given mankind to the Son for the present time, we should all recognize the Son as the only mediator between God and mankind, " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5 AV). (b) ]>

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. <[I kept--guarded. them in thy name--acting as Thy Representative on earth.
none of them is lost, but the son of perdition--It is not implied here that the son of perdition was one of those whom the Father had given to the Son, but rather the contrary (John 13:18) [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. It is just as in Luke 4:26,27, where we are not to suppose that the woman of Sarepta (in Sidon) was one of the widows of Israel, nor Naaman the Syrian one of the lepers in Israel, though the language--the same as here--might seem to express it. son of perdition--doomed to it (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 14:21). (a) ]>

13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. <[I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves--that is, Such a strain befits rather the upper sanctuary than the scene of conflict; but I speak so "in the world," that My joy, the joy I experience in knowing that such intercessions are to be made for them by their absent Lord, may be tasted by those who now hear them, and by all who shall hereafter read the record of them, (a) Here Jesus speaks of his ascending back to heaven and that his followers should be happy as he has provided the ransom sacrifice for all his followers that they may have life. " Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:28 AV), as he was, " What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?" (John 6:62 AV) to be figuratively speaking to show that he was second in heaven " Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;" (Hebrews 8:1 AV) (b) ]>

14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.<[ Here Jesus tells his Father in heaven that he has given his followers his Fathers word, but the world hated them because they were no longer part of the world, " Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4 AV) (b) ]>

15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. <[ I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world--for that, though it would secure their own safety, would leave the world unblessed by their testimony. but . . . keep them from the evil--all evil in and of the world. (a) Here Jesus showed that his followers would not be popular and asked his Father to protect them against evil showing he recognized his Father as the superior. Clearly they would not be poplar and would be small in number as shown "13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14 AV) (b) ]>

16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. <[ They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world--(See John 5:18,19). This is reiterated here, to pave the way for the prayer which follows (a) ]>

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. <[ Sanctify them--As the former prayer, "Keep them," was "negative," asking protection for them from the poisonous element which surrounded and pressed upon their renewed nature, so this prayer, "Sanctify them," is positive, asking the advancement and completion of their begun sanctification. through--in. thy truth--God's revealed truth, as the medium or element of sanctification; a statement this of immense importance. thy word is truth--(Compare John 15:3, Colossians 1:5, Ephesians 1:13). (a) Here he request that his Father (YHWH) sanctify his followers through his word as Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) clearly shows that he knows that his Father's word is "thy word is truth." (b) ]>

18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. <[ As thou hast sent--sentest. me into the world, even so have I also sent them--sent I also them. into the world--As their mission was to carry into effect the purposes of their Master's mission, so our Lord speaks of the authority in both cases as co-ordinate. (a) Once more, Jesus emphases that he was sent by his Father (YHWH), the superior, for a purpose and also emphases that he, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) has sent them into the world to continue with his work in keeping with " And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matthew 24:14 AV) (b) ]>

19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. <[ And for their sakes I sanctify--consecrate. myself that they also might--may. be sanctified--consecrated. The only difference between the application of the same term to Christ and the disciples is, as applied to Christ, that it means only to "consecrate"; whereas, in application to the disciples, it means to consecrate with the additional idea of previous sanctification, since nothing but what is holy can be presented as an offering. The whole self-sacrificing work of the disciples appears here as a mere result of the offering of Christ [OLSHAUSEN]. through--in. the truth--Though the article is wanting in the original here, we are not to translate, as in the Margin, "truly sanctified"; for the reference seems plainly to be "the truth" mentioned in John 17:17. (a) ]>

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; <[ Neither pray I for these alone--This very important explanation, uttered in condescension to the hearers and readers of this prayer in all time, is meant not merely of what follows, but of the whole prayer. them also which shall believe--The majority of the best manuscripts read "which believe," all future time being viewed as present, while the present is viewed as past and gone. (a) ]>

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. <[ that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us--The indwelling Spirit of the Father and the Son is the one perfect bond of union, knitting up into a living unity, first all believers amongst themselves; next, this unity into one still higher, with the Father and the Son. (Observe, that Christ never mixes Himself up with His disciples as He associates Himself with the Father, but says I in THEM and THEY in US).
that the world may believe that thou hast sent me--sentest me. So the grand impression upon the world at large, that the mission of Christ is divine, is to be made by the unity of His disciples. Of course, then, it must be something that shall be visible or perceptible to the world. What is it, then? Not certainly a merely formal, mechanical unity of ecclesiastical machinery. For as that may, and to a large extent does, exist in both the Western and Eastern churches, with little of the Spirit of Christ, yea much, much with which the Spirit of Christ cannot dwell so instead of convincing the world beyond its own pale of the divinity of the Gospel, it generates infidelity to a large extent within its own bosom. But the Spirit of Christ, illuminating, transforming, and reigning in the hearts of the genuine disciples of Christ, drawing them to each other as members of one family, and prompting them to loving co-operation for the good of the world--this is what, when sufficiently glowing and extended, shall force conviction upon the world that Christianity is divine. Doubtless, the more that differences among Christians disappear--the more they can agree even in minor matters--the impression upon the world may be expected to be greater. But it is not dependent upon this; for living and loving oneness in Christ is sometimes more touchingly seen even amidst and in spite of minor differences, than where no such differences exist to try the strength of their deeper unity. Yet till this living brotherhood in Christ shall show itself strong enough to destroy the sectarianism, selfishness, carnality, and apathy that eat out the heart of Christianity in all the visible sections of it, in vain shall we expect the world to be overawed by it. It is when "the Spirit shall be poured upon us from on high," as a Spirit of truth and love, and upon all parts of the Christian territory alike, melting down differences and heart burnings, kindling astonishment and shame at past unfruitfulness, drawing forth longings of catholic affection, and yearnings over a world lying in wickedness, embodying themselves in palpable forms and active measures--it is then that we may expect the effect here announced to be produced, and then it will be irresistible. Should not Christians ponder these things? Should not the same mind be in them which was also in Christ Jesus about this matter? Should not His prayer be theirs? (a) Here he, the Son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), then he, the Son, continues, " For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." (John 17:8 AV), showing that his followers would surely know that they were one is purpose, "12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:12-16 AV) and "9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," (Ephesians 3:9-14 AV). These clearly show that Almighty God (YHWH) and Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) although not one in body, are one in purpose, and since the Father has given mankind to the Son for the present time, we should all recognize the Son as the only mediator between God and mankind, " For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" (1 Timothy 2:5 AV). (b) ]>

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: <[ And the glory which thou gavest--hast given. me I have given them, that they may be one, even as we are one--The last clause shows the meaning of the first. It is not the future glory of the heavenly state, but the secret of that present unity just before spoken of; the glory, therefore, of the indwelling Spirit of Christ; the glory of an accepted state, of a holy character, of every grace. (a) See second comment on John 17:21 above (b) ]>

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. <[ I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in (a) Once more Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) emphasis that his followers should be one in purpose just as he is one in purpose with his Father (YHWH), for more details see second comment on John 17:21 above. (b)]>

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. <[ Father, I will--The majesty of this style of speaking is quite transparent. No petty criticism will be allowed to fritter it away in any but superficial or perverted readers. be with me where I that they may behold my glory which thou hast given Christ regards it as glory enough for us to be admitted to see and gaze for ever upon His glory! This is "the beatific vision"; but it shall be no mere vision, for "we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). (a) ]>

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. <[ O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee--knew thee not. but I have known thee--knew thee. and these have known--knew. that thou hast sent--sentest me--As before He said "Holy Father," when desiring the display of that perfection on His disciples (John 17:11), so here He styles Him "Righteous Father," because He is appealing to His righteousness or justice, to make a distinction between those two diametrically opposite classes--"the world," on the one hand, which would not "know the Father, though brought so nigh to it in the Son of His love, and, on the other, Himself, who recognized and owned Him, and even His disciples, who owned His mission from the Father. (a) ]>

26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them. <[ And I have declared--I made known or communicated. thy name--in His past ministry. and will declare it--in yet larger measure, by the gift of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost and through all succeeding ages. that the love wherewith thou hast loved--lovedst. me may be in them, and I in them--This eternal love of the Father, resting first on Christ, is by His Spirit imparted to and takes up its permanent abode in all that believe in Him; and "He abiding in them and they in Him" (John 15:5), they are "one Spirit." "With this lofty thought the Redeemer closes His prayer for His disciples, and in them for His Church through all ages. He has compressed into the last moments given Him for conversation with His own the most sublime and glorious sentiments ever uttered by mortal lips. But hardly has the sound of the last word died away, when He passes with the disciples over the brook Kedron to Gethsemane--and the bitter conflict draws on. The seed of the new world must be sown in Death, that thence Life may spring up" [OLSHAUSEN]. (a)]>

(a) - Brown, David, D.D. "Commentary on John 17". "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, 1871.
(b) - Iris the Preacher, 2002.

THE FINAL CONFLICT:

But all true followers should strive for a good conscience and seek peace as shown in 1 Peter 3:16, "Having a good conscience: that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." (AV). Remember, they did likewise to our leader, Jesus (Yeshua), because they did not like the Truths he spoke, John 18:19-23, "The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine. 20 Jesus aanswered him, I spake openly to the world; I even taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. 21 Why askest thou me? Ask them which heard me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I said. 22 And when he had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, Answerest thou the high priest so? 23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me?" (AV). This is the way of evil doers that can find no real wrong done by the true followers of God (YHWH) and his Son, Jesus (Yeshua) as affirmed at Acts 25:17-19, Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstitution, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive." (AV); and it is likewise today, clearly showing we are living in the time of the end.

Likewise at John 19:11-16, "You would have no authority at all over me', Jesus replied, 'if it had not been granted you from above; and therefore the deeper guilt lies with the man who handed me over to you.' From that moment Pilate tried hard to release him; but the jews kept shouting, 'If you let this man go, you are no friend to Caesar; any man who claims to be a king is defying Caesar." When Pilate heard what they were saying, he brought Jesus out and took his seat on the tribunal at the place known as 'The Pavement' ('Gabbatha' in the language of the Jews). It was the eve of Passover, 'about noon. Pilate said to the Jews, 'Here is your king.' They shouted, 'Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!' 'Crucify your king?' said Pilate. 'We have no king but Caesar', the Jews replied. Then at last, to satisfy them, he handed Jesus over to be crucified." (NEB). Here clearly we can see the spirit of this world prevailing over individuals that have been misguided by none other than Satan the Devil, just like many that have been deceived today.

He later, after his resurrection by his Father (YHWH) appeared to his disciples as stated at John 20:19-23, and told them many things and especially this, "as the Father sent me, so I send you," clearly showing his Father (YHWH) a superior one had sent him, "Late that Sunday evening, when the disciples were together behind locked doors, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. 'Peace be with you!' he said, and then showed them his hands and his side. So when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus repeated, 'Peace be with you!' and then said, 'As the Father sent me, so I send you.' He then breathed on them, saying, 'Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive any man's sins, they stand forgiven; if you pronounce them unforgiven, unforgiven they remain." (NEB)

He later appeared to the Apostles by the Sea of Tiberias and had breakfast an emphasis the need to feed his 'sheep' at John 21:15-17, "After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love more than all else?' 'Yes, Lord,' he answered, "you know that I love you.' 'Then feed my lambs', he said. A second time he asked, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' 'Yes, Lord, you know I love you.' 'Then tend my sheep.' A third time he said, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter was hurt that he asked him a third time, 'Do you love me?' 'Lord," he said, 'you know everything; you know I love you. Jesus said, 'Feed my sheep.'" (NEB). Clearly we have seen that the book of John is clearly anti-Trinitarian, and if we want to please God (YHWH) we should not believe in fables and myths that the scripture plainly shows at 1 Timothy 4:7 are nothing but old wives tales, "but refuse profane and old wives' fables. And exercise thyself unto godliness;" (ASV).

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**Admin** Thu Jul 26, 2018 7:10 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] THE RARE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE OF THE DAY - Pouteria lucuma - Lucuma .

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 8853A]

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

And those coming out of the great tribulation are as per John’s question, Revelation 7:13 – 15, [AV] “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” And Daniel 12:1, [AV] “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Pouteria lucuma - Lucuma

Pouteria lucuma is a species of tree in the family Sapotaceae, cultivated for its fruit, the lúcuma. It is native to the Andean valleys and grown in Peru, Ecuador and Chile.[1][2]
Description
Evergreen tree up to 20 m tall, greyish-brown fissured bark, presence of milky white exudate.[3][4][5] The end of branchlets and the petioles covered with short brown hairs.[4][5] Leaves simple, oblanceolate to elliptic, up to 25 cm long and 10 cm wide, glabrous (or sometimes slightly hairy on the underside) grouped at the end of the branches.[3][4] Flowers solitary or in fascicles, small, axillary, with hairy sepals and a corolla forming a tube 1-1.8 cm long, greenish white, with 5 lobes; stamens 5, staminodes also 5; ovary pubescent; style 0.8-1.5 cm long.[3][4] Fruit globose, 6–12 cm long, glabrous, russet to yellow when mature; pulp bright yellow; seeds one to several, 1.8-3.5 cm long, dark brown, glossy.[3][4]
History
Lúcuma has been found on ceramics at burial sites of the indigenous people of coastal Peru.[2] The Moche people had a fascination with agriculture and often chose to represent fruits and vegetables, including lúcuma, in their art.[6]
The fruit was first seen and reported by Europeans in Ecuador in 1531.[2][7]
Distribution and habitat
The area of origin of P. lucuma is located in the Andes of Ecuador and Peru,[5] at temperate elevations between 2,700–3,000 metres (8,900–9,800 ft).[2]
Cultivation
Attempts at growing lúcuma in Florida's climate typically fail.[2] In addition to Peru, the fruit is grown also to a limited extent in Bolivia and Costa Rica.[2] In Peru, harvesting season is from October to March and in Chile from June to November.[1]
Lucuma[3][5]
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy
414.5 kJ (99.1 kcal)

Carbohydrates
1.5 %
Dietary fiber
1.3 %

Fat
0.5 %

Protein
1.5 %

Vitamins
Thiamine (B1)
(1%)
0.01 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
(12%)
0.14 mg
Niacin (B3)
(13%)
1.96 mg
Vitamin C
(3%)
2.2 mg

Minerals
Calcium
(2%)
16 mg
Iron
(3%)
0.4 mg
Phosphorus
(4%)
26 mg
Potassium
(10%)
470 mg
Sodium
(0%)
6 mg

Other constituents
Water
64.8 - 72.3 %
• Units
• ?g = micrograms • mg = milligrams
• IU = International units
Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.

Moche culture pottery representing lucumas.
Uses
When eaten raw, the fruit has a dry texture.[2] In Peru, it is more commonly used as a flavor in juice, milk shakes, and especially ice cream. Its unique flavor in such preparations has been described variously as being similar to sweet potato, maple syrup, or butterscotch. A dessert called "merengue con salsa de lúcuma" is served in Chile. Also in Chile is "manjar con lúcuma" (dulce de leche with lúcuma purée).
Nutrition
Lúcuma pulp has a 64-72 % of moisture content.[3] The pulp also contains sugars like glucose, fructose, sucrose and inositol; and acids like citric acid and succinic acid.[3] However, only limited nutritional information is available for lúcuma powder, indicating moderate content of protein and iron, each providing 14% of the Daily Value in a 100 gram (3.5 oz) serving which supplies 420 calories.[8]
References
1.
• "CAPÍTULO I: LA LÚCUMA (in Spanish)" (PDF). University of Piura, Peru.
• Morton JF (1987). "Lucmo". Purdue University, republished from p. 405–406. In: Fruits of Warm Climates. Julia F. Morton, Miami, FL.
• Janick, Jules; Paull, Robert E. (2008). The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. CABI. p. 837. ISBN 9780851996387.
• Pennington, T. D. (1990). Flora Neotropica Monograph Sapotaceae. New York Botanical Garden. pp. 383–385. ISBN 9780893273446. ?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pouteria_lucuma ON 3/17/2018]

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**Admin** Fri Jul 27, 2018 9:27 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] THE END OF THIS SYSTEM IS COMING:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 854A]

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? Matthew 24:3, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Jesus (Yeshua) answered them at Matthew 24:4 – 6, [AV] “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Clearly showing the time for the end of the world (system of things) was still in the future. At Matthew 24:36, [AV], he revealed, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The date for the end was NOT known by him, but only known to his father. But he did reveal to his disciples how the beginning of the culmination of the end times sould be at Matthew 24:7, [AV] “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” And that it would be necessary for all his followers per Matthew 12 – 13, [AV] “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” To stand fast with being his genuine followers during this period.

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] THE END OF THIS SYSTEM IS COMING:

The end of this system is coming and do not be mislead by false prophets, " But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matthew 24:36 AV), with that said let’s go to the events in Genesis, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons." (Genesis 2:1-7 AV). Here we see how Satan deceived the original pair to deviate from God’s laws and principles. Next, Satan challenged God in front of all the other heavenly creatures, i.e., Satan was attacking God’s position as the Most High. By saying, "Ye shall not surely die," which was a direct contradiction of God’s words. By this he was implying that God was keeping the pair ignorant of the possibility of becoming like God, and there fore not needing God, i.e., he was challenging God’s position as the Universal Sovereign, "Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1-5 AV). Satan the Devil also insinuated that people would remain obedient to Jehovah only as long as obeying God was to their advantage.
At that point, God could have destroyed Satan, on the spot, but did not as all the other heavenly creatures he had created would have wondered for ever more if Satan might have been right. Instead God allowed Satan an opportunity for a time to prove his boastful challenge. For example, the entire book of Job is about one opportunity God gave him to prove this challenge and he proved incapable of doing so, see the book of Job for details.
Now the reason for all the suffering we are undergoing now is due to the Devil’s efforts to prove his boastful challenge. He is using all his weapons against mankind, and especially his principle weapons: hate of fellow man, deviant sex, hedonism, and GREED. With these he is having a measure of success as one can readily see by world events. Therefore, it is not God, but the Devil that the world is so tortured today. This is NOT what a loving God had in mind when he created us, but a condition brought on mankind by Satan.
However, God is not going to let this condition continue on a downward spiral forever, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. 12 ¶ Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Revelations 12:9-12 AV). Thus conditions right now are bad and getting worse due to Satan being thrown out of Heaven to the earth.
However, soon God will have his son throw Satan into an abyss and turn things around on the earth, i.e., things will get worse before they get better. " And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years," (Revelation 20:2 AV). After this happens, righteous conditions will be restored to the earth and the misery we now live in under secular authorities will be replaced by good conditions and righteous rule. Now go do your homework and read the first five chapters of Genesis, the book of Job, and the book of Revelations with a view of gaining understanding.

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION – PART 1

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 855A]

John 8:42 Jesus (Yeshua) said to them, " Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).

Jesus (Yeshua) said he comes from God. The flesh cannot be speaking for the flesh was created. So Jesus (Yeshua)'s spiritual being came from God. Jesus (Yeshua) did not send himself, he did not come on his own, but before he was on earth Almighty God [YHWH] sent him. Jesus (Yeshua) was sent by God into the world, so Jesus (Yeshua) is before the world with God. He is referred to a Pr. 8:22-31, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

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[2] FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION – PART 1

Foreknowledge means knowledge of a thing before it happens or exists; also called prescience. In the Bible it relates primarily, though not exclusively, to the Creator and his purposes. Fore ordination means the ordaining, decreeing, or determining of something beforehand; or the quality or state of being foreordained.

Original-Language Words. "Foreknowledge" translates the Greek pro'gno?sis (from pro, before, and gno'sis, knowledge). (Ac 2:23; 1Pe 1:2) The related verb pro?gi?no'sko is used in two cases with regard to humans: in Paul's statement that certain Jews 'knew him from the beginning,' and in Peter's reference to those who 'knew these things before' (had advanced knowledge). (Ac 26:4, 5; 2Pe 3:17) In this latter case it is obvious that such foreknowledge was not infinite; that is, it did not mean that those Christians knew all the details of time, place, and circumstance about the future events and conditions Peter had discussed. But they did have a general outline of what to expect, received as a result of God's inspiration of Peter and of other contributors to the Bible.

"Foreordain" translates the Greek pro?o?ri'zo (from pro, before, and ho?ri'zo, mark out or set the bounds). (The English word "horizon" transliterates the Greek word ho?ri'zon, meaning the "bounding" or "limiting.") Illustrating the sense of the Greek verb ho?ri'zo is Jesus Christ's statement that, as "the Son of man," he "goeth, as it was determined [marked out, ho?ri?sme'non]." Paul said that God had "hath determined [marked out, ho?ri'sas] the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." (Lu 22:22; Ac 17:26) The same verb is used of human determination, as when the disciples "determined [ho'ri?san]" to send relief to their needy brothers. (Ac 11:29) However, specific references to foreordaining in the New Testament are applied only to God.

Factors to Recognize. To understand the matter of foreknowledge and foreordination as relating to God, certain factors necessarily must be recognized.

First, God's ability to foreknow and foreordain is clearly stated in the Bible. God himself sets forth as proof of his Godship this ability to foreknow and foreordain events of salvation and deliverance, as well as acts of judgment and punishment, and then to bring such events to fulfillment. His chosen people are witnesses of these facts. (Isa 44:6-9; 48:3-8) Such divine foreknowledge and foreordination form the basis for all true prophecy. (Isa 42:9; Jer 50:45; Am 3:7, 8) God challenges the nations opposing his people to furnish proof of the godship they claim for their mighty ones and their idol-gods, calling on them to do so by foretelling similar acts of salvation or judgment and then bringing them to pass. Their impotence in this respect demonstrates their idols to be 'mere wind and unreality.'-Isa 41:1-10, 21-29; 43:9-15; 45:20, 21.

A second factor to be considered is the free moral agency of God's intelligent creatures. The Scriptures show that God extends to such creatures the privilege and responsibility of free choice, of exercising free moral agency (De 30:19, 20; Jos 24:15), thereby making them accountable for their acts. (Ge 2:16, 17; 3:11-19; Ro 14:10-12; Heb 4:13) They are thus not mere automatons, or robots. Man could not truly have been created in "God's image" if he were not a free moral agent. (Ge 1:26, 27.) Logically, there should be no conflict between God's foreknowledge (as well as his foreordaining) and the free moral agency of his intelligent creatures.

A third factor that must be considered, one sometimes overlooked, is that of God's moral standards and qualities, including his justice, honesty, impartiality, love, mercy, and kindness. Any understanding of God's use of the powers of foreknowledge and foreordination must therefore harmonize with not only some of these factors but with all of them. Clearly, whatever God foreknows must inevitably come to pass, so that God is able to call "things which be not as though they were."-Ro 4:17.

Does God know in advance everything that people will do?

The question then arises: Is his exercise of foreknowledge infinite, without limit? Does he foresee and foreknow all future actions of all his creatures, spirit and human? And does he foreordain such actions or even predestinate what shall be the final destiny of all his creatures, even doing so before they have come into existence?

Or, is God's exercise of foreknowledge selective and discretionary, so that whatever he chooses to foresee and foreknow, he does, but what he does not choose to foresee or foreknow, he does not? And, instead of preceding their existence, does God's determination of his creatures' eternal destiny await his judgment of their course of life and of their proved attitude under test?

The answers to these questions must necessarily come from the Scriptures themselves and the information they provide concerning God's actions and dealings with his creatures, including what has been revealed through his Son, Christ Jesus.-1Co 2:16.

Predestinarian view. The view that God's exercise of his foreknowledge is infinite and that he does foreordain the course and destiny of all individuals is known as predestinarianism. Its advocates reason that God's divinity and perfection require that he be omniscient (all-knowing), not only respecting the past and present but also regarding the future. According to this concept, for him not to foreknow all matters in their minutest detail would evidence imperfection. Examples such as the case of Isaac's twin sons, Esau and Jacob, are presented as evidence of God's foreordaining creatures before their birth (Ro 9:10-13); and texts such as Ephesians 1:4, 5 are cited as evidence that God foreknew and foreordained the future of all his creatures even before the start of creation.

To be correct, this view would, of course, have to harmonize with all the factors previously mentioned, including the Scriptural presentation of God's qualities, standards, and purposes, as well as his righteous ways in dealing with his creatures. (Re 15:3, 4) We may properly consider, then, the implications of such a predestinarian view.

This concept would mean that, prior to creating angels or earthling man, God exercised his powers of foreknowledge and foresaw and foreknew all that would result from such creation, including the rebellion of one of his spirit sons, the subsequent rebellion of the first human pair in Eden (Ge 3:1-6; Joh 8:44), and all the bad consequences of such rebellion down to and beyond this present day. This would necessarily mean that all the wickedness that history has recorded (the crime and immorality, oppression and resultant suffering, lying and hypocrisy, false worship and idolatry) once existed, before creation's beginning, only in the mind of God, in the form of his foreknowledge of the future in all of its minutest details.

If the Creator of mankind had indeed exercised his power to foreknow all that history has seen since man's creation, then the full weight of all the wickedness thereafter resulting was deliberately set in motion by God when he spoke the words: "Let us make man." (Ge 1:26) These facts bring into question the reasonableness and consistency of the predestinarian concept; particularly so, since the disciple James shows that disorder and other vile things do not originate from God's heavenly presence but are "earthly, sensual, devilish" in source.-Jas 3:14-18.

Infinite exercise of foreknowledge? The argument that God's not foreknowing all future events and circumstances in full detail would evidence imperfection on his part is, in reality, an arbitrary view of perfection. Perfection, correctly defined, does not demand such an absolute, all-embracing extension, inasmuch as the perfection of anything actually depends upon its measuring up completely to the standards of excellence set by one qualified to judge its merits. Ultimately, God's own will and good pleasure, not human opinions or concepts, are the deciding factors as to whether anything is perfect.-De 32:4; 2Sa 22:31; Isa 46:10.

To illustrate this, God's almightiness is undeniably perfect and is infinite in capacity. (1Ch 29:11, 12; Job 36:22; 37:23) Yet his perfection in strength does not require him to use his power to the full extent of his omnipotence in any or in all cases. Clearly he has not done so; if he had, not merely certain ancient cities and some nations would have been destroyed, but the earth and all in it would have been obliterated long ago by God's executions of judgment, accompanied by mighty expressions of disapproval and wrath, as at the Flood and on other occasions. (Ge 6:5-8; 19:23-25, 29; compare Ex 9:13-16; Jer 30:23, 24.) God's exercise of his might is therefore not simply an unleashing of limitless power but is constantly governed by his purpose and, where merited, tempered by his mercy.-Ne 9:31; Ps 78:38, 39; Jer 30:11; La 3:22; Eze 20:17.

Similarly, if, in certain respects, God chooses to exercise his infinite ability of foreknowledge in a selective way and to the degree that pleases him, then assuredly no human or angel can rightly say: 'What are you doing?' (Job 9:12; Isa 45:9; Da 4:35) It is therefore not a question of ability, what God can foresee, foreknow, and foreordain, for "with God all things are possible." (Mt 19:26) The question is what God sees fit to foresee, foreknow, and foreordain, for "everything that he delighted to do he has done."-Ps 115:3.

Selective exercise of foreknowledge. The alternative to predestinarianism, the selective or discretionary exercise of God's powers of foreknowledge, would have to harmonize with God's own righteous standards and be consistent with what he reveals of himself in his Word. In contrast with the theory of predestinarianism, a number of texts point to an examination by God of a situation then current and a decision made on the basis of such examination.
Thus, at Genesis 11:5-8 God is described as directing his attention earthward, surveying the situation at Babel, and, at that time, determining the action to be taken to break up the unrighteous project there. After wickedness developed at Sodom and Gomorrah, God advised Abraham of his decision to investigate (by means of his angels) to "see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." (Ge 18:20-22; 19:1) God spoke of 'becoming acquainted with Abraham ["I know him"]' and after Abraham went to the point of attempting to sacrifice Isaac, the Lord said, "now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." -Ge 18:19; 22:11, 12; compare Ne 9:7, 8; Ga 4:9.

Selective foreknowledge means that God could choose not to foreknow indiscriminately all the future acts of his creatures. This would mean that, rather than all history from creation onward being a mere rerun of what had already been foreseen and foreordained, God could with all sincerity set before the first human pair the prospect of everlasting life in an earth free from wickedness. His instructions to his first human son and daughter to act as his perfect and sinless agents in filling the earth with their offspring and making it a paradise, as well as exercising control over the animal creation, could thus be expressed as the grant of a truly loving privilege and as his genuine desire toward them-not merely as the giving of a commission that, on their part, was foredoomed to failure. God's arranging for a test by means of "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil" and his creation of "the tree of life" in the garden of Eden also would not be meaningless or cynical acts, made so by his foreknowing that the human pair would sin and never be able to eat of "the tree of life."-Ge 1:28; 2:7-9, 15-17; 3:22-24.

To offer something very desirable to another person on conditions known beforehand to be unreachable is recognized as both hypocritical and cruel. The prospect of everlasting life is presented in God's Word as a goal for all persons, one possible to attain. After urging his listeners to 'keep on asking and seeking' good things from God, Jesus pointed out that a father does not give a stone or a serpent to his child that asks for bread or a fish. Showing his Father's view of disappointing the legitimate hopes of a person, Jesus then said: "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"-Mt 7:7-11.

Thus, the invitations and opportunities to receive benefits and everlasting blessings set before all men by God are bona fide. (Mt 21:22; Jas 1:5, 6) He can in all sincerity urge men to 'turn back from transgression and keep living,' as he did with the people of Israel. (Eze 18:23, 30-32; compare Jer 29:11, 12.) Logically, he could not do this if he foreknew that they were individually destined to die in wickedness. (Compare Ac 17:30, 31; 1Ti 2:3, 4.) As God told Israel: "I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right . . . .Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth . . ."-Isa 45:19-22.

In a similar vein, the apostle Peter writes: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise [of the coming day of reckoning], as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Pe 3:9) If God already foreknew and foreordained millenniums in advance precisely which individuals would receive eternal salvation and which individuals would receive eternal destruction, it may well be asked how meaningful such 'patience' of God could be and how genuine his desire could be that 'all attain to repentance.' The inspired apostle John wrote that "God is love," and the apostle Paul states that love "hopes all things." (1Jo 4:8; 1Co 13:4, 7) It is in harmony with this outstanding, divine quality that God should exercise a genuinely open, kindly attitude toward all persons, he being desirous of their gaining salvation, until they prove themselves unworthy, beyond hope. (Compare 2Pe 3:9; Heb 6:4-12.) Thus, the apostle Paul speaks of "the goodness [kindly quality] of God [that] leadeth thee to repentance."-Ro 2:4-6.

Finally if, by God's foreknowledge, the opportunity to receive the benefits of Christ Jesus' ransom sacrifice were already irrevocably sealed off from some, perhaps for millions of individuals, even before their birth, so that such ones could never prove worthy, it could not truly be said that the ransom was made available to all men. (2Co 5:14, 15; 1Ti 2:5, 6; Heb 2:9) The impartiality of God is clearly no mere figure of speech. "But in every nation he that feareth him [God], and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." (Ac 10:34, 35; De 10:17; Ro 2:11) The option is actually and genuinely open to all men "seek the Lord, if haply they might feel [grope] after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." (Ac 17:26, 27) There is no empty hope or hollow promise set forth, therefore, in the divine exhortation at the end of the book of Revelation inviting: "let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." -Re 22:17.

The Things Foreknown and Foreordained. Throughout the Bible record, God's exercise of foreknowledge and foreordination is consistently tied in with his own purposes and will. "To purpose" means to set something before oneself as an aim or an object to be attained. (The Greek word pro'the?sis, translated "purpose," means, literally, "something placed or set forth before.") Since God's purposes are certain of accomplishment, he can foreknow the results, the ultimate realization of his purposes, and can foreordain them as well as the steps he may see fit to take to accomplish them. (Isa 14:24-27) Thus, God is spoken of as 'forming' or 'fashioning' (from the Hebrew ya?tsar', related to the word for "potter" [Jer 18:4]) his purpose concerning future events or actions. (2Ki 19:25; Isa 46:11; compare Isa 45:9-13, 18.) As the Great Potter, God "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will," in harmony with his purpose (Eph 1:11), and makes "all things work together for good to them," loving him. (Ro 8:28) It is, therefore, specifically in connection with his own foreordained purposes that God tells "the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done."-Isa 46:9-13.

When God created the first human pair they were perfect, and God could look upon the result of all his creative work and find it "very good." (Ge 1:26, 31; De 32:4) Instead of distrustfully concerning himself with what the human pair's future actions would be, the record says that he 'proceeded to rest.' (Ge 2:2) He could do so since, by virtue of his almightiness and his supreme wisdom, no future action, circumstance, or contingency could possibly present an insurmountable obstacle or an irremediable problem to block the realization of his sovereign purpose. (2Ch 20:6; Isa 14:27; Da 4:35) There is, therefore, no Scriptural basis for the argument of predestinarianism that for God to refrain from exercising his powers of foreknowledge in this way would jeopardize God's purposes, making them "always liable to be broken through want of foresight, and [that] he must be continually putting his system to rights, as it gets out of order, through the contingence of the actions of moral agents." Nor would this selective exercise of foresight give his creatures the power to "break [God's] measures, make him continually to change his mind, subject him to vexation, and bring him into confusion," as predestinarians claim. (M'Clintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, 1894, Vol. VIII, p. 556) If even God's earthly servants have no real need to be "anxious about the next day," it follows that their Creator, to whom mighty nations are as "a drop from a bucket," neither had nor has such anxiety.-Mt 6:34; Isa 40:15.

Concerning classes of persons. Cases are also presented in which God did foreknow the course that certain groups, nations, or the majority of mankind would take, and thus he foretold the basic course of their future actions and foreordained what corresponding action he would take regarding them. However, such foreknowledge or foreordination does not deprive the individuals within such collective groups or divisions of mankind of exercising free choice as to the particular course they will follow. This can be seen from the following examples:

Prior to the Flood of Noah's day, God announced his purpose to bring about this act of destruction, resulting in loss of human as well as animal life. The Biblical account shows, however, that such divine determination was made after the conditions developed that called for such action, including violence and other badness. Additionally, God, who is able to "knowest the hearts of the children of men [sons of mankind]," made examination and found that "saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his [mankind's] heart was only evil continually." (2Ch 6:30; Ge 6:5) Yet individuals, Noah and his family, gained God's favor and escaped destruction.-Ge 6:7, 8; 7:1.

Similarly, although God gave the nation of Israel the opportunity to become "a kingdom of priests and, an holy nation" by keeping his covenant, yet some 40 years later, when the nation was at the borders of the Promised Land, God foretold that they would break his covenant and, as a nation, would be forsaken by him. This foreknowledge was not without prior basis, however, as national insubordination and rebellion already had been revealed. Hence, God said: "for I know their imagination [inclination] which they go about [developing], even now, before I have brought them into the land which I sware." (Ex 19:6; De 31:16-18, 21; Ps 81:10-13) The results to which such manifest inclination would now lead in the way of increased wickedness could be foreknown by God without its making him responsible for such conditions, even as one's foreknowing that a certain structure built of inferior materials and with shoddy workmanship will deteriorate does not make that one responsible for such deterioration. The divine rule governs that 'what is sown is what will be reaped.' (Ga 6:7-9; compare Ho 10:12, 13.) Certain prophets delivered prophetic warnings of God's foreordained expressions of judgment, all of which had basis in already existing conditions and heart attitudes. (Ps 7:8, 9; Pr 11:19; Jer 11:20) Here again, however, individuals could and did respond to God's counsel, reproof, and warnings and so merited his favor.-Jer 21:8, 9; Eze 33:1-20.

READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS DOCUMENT, PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, AT VOL 856A.

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**Admin** Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:52 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, [PART 1 IS AT VOL 855A ]

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 856A]

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

We must have faith to win Almighty God’S (YHWH’s) approval as clearly shown by the examples given at Hebrews 11:4 – 6, [AV] “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” And as Hebrews 10:22, [AV], says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] PART 2 OF FOREKNOWLEDGE, FORE ORDINATION, [PART 1 IS AT VOL 855A ]

God's Son, who also could read the hearts of men (Mt 9:4; Mr 2:8; Joh 2:24, 25), was divinely endowed with powers of foreknowledge and foretold future conditions, events, and expressions of divine judgment. He foretold the judgment of Gehenna for the scribes and Pharisees as a class (Mt 23:15, 33) but did not say thereby that each individual Pharisee or scribe was foredoomed to destruction, as the case of the apostle Paul shows. (Ac 26:4, 5) Jesus predicted woes for unrepentant Jerusalem and other cities, but he did not indicate that his Father had foreordained that each individual of those cities should so suffer. (Mt 11:20-23; Lu 19:41-44; 21:20, 21) He also foreknew what mankind's inclination and heart attitude would lead to and foretold the conditions that would have developed among mankind by the time of "the end of the world," as well as the outworkings of God's own purposes. (Mt 24:3, 7-14, 21, 22) Jesus' apostles likewise declared prophecies manifesting God's foreknowledge of certain classes, such as the "antichrist" (1Jo 2:18, 19; 2Jo 7), and also the end to which such classes are foreordained.-2Th 2:3-12; 2Pe 2:1-3; Jude 4.

Concerning individuals. In addition to foreknowledge concerning classes, certain individuals are specifically involved in divine forecasts. These include Esau and Jacob (mentioned earlier), the Pharaoh of the Exodus, Samson, Solomon, Josiah, Jeremiah, Cyrus, John the Baptizer, Judas Iscariot, and God's own Son Jesus.

In the cases of Samson, Jeremiah, and John the Baptizer, God exercised foreknowledge prior to their birth. This foreknowledge, however, did not specify what their final destiny would be. Rather, on the basis of such foreknowledge, God foreordained that Samson should live according to the Nazirite vow and should initiate the deliverance of Israel from the Philistines, that Jeremiah should serve as a prophet, and that John the Baptizer should do a preparatory work as a forerunner of the Messiah. (Jg 13:3-5; Jer 1:5; Lu 1:13-17) While highly favored by such privileges, this did not guarantee their gaining eternal salvation or even that they would remain faithful until death (although all three did). Thus, God foretold that one of David's many sons would be named Solomon and he foreordained that Solomon would be used to build the temple. (2Sa 7:12, 13; 1Ki 6:12; 1Ch 22:6-19) However, though favored in this way and even privileged to write certain books of the Holy Scriptures, Solomon nevertheless fell into apostasy in his later years.-1Ki 11:4, 9-11.

Likewise with Esau and Jacob, God's foreknowledge did not fix their eternal destinies but, rather, determined, or foreordained, which of the national groups descending from the two sons would gain a dominant position over the other. (Ge 25:23-26) This foreseen dominance also pointed to the gaining of the right of the firstborn by Jacob, a right that brought along with it the privilege of being in the line of descent through which the Abrahamic "seed" would come. (Ge 27:29; 28:13, 14) By this means God made clear that his choice of individuals for certain uses is not bound by the usual customs or procedures conforming to men's expectations. Nor are divinely assigned privileges to be dispensed solely on the basis of works, which might allow a person to feel he has 'earned the right' to such privileges and that they are 'owed to him.' The apostle Paul stressed this point in showing why God, by undeserved kindness, could grant to the Gentile nations privileges once seemingly reserved for Israel.-Ro 9:1-6, 10-13, 30-32.

Paul's quotations concerning God's 'love for Jacob [Israel] and his hatred for Esau [Edom]' comes from Malachi 1:2, 3, written long after Jacob and Esau's time. So the Bible does not necessarily say that God held such opinion of the twins before their birth. It is a scientifically established fact that much of a child's general disposition and temperament is determined at the time of conception because of the genetic factors contributed by each parent. That God can see such factors is self-evident; David speaks of God as seeing "my substance [or, "my embryo"]." (Ps 139:14-16; see also Ec 11:5.) To what extent such divine insight affected God's foreordination concerning the two boys cannot be said, but at any rate, his choice of Jacob over Esau did not of itself doom Esau or his descendants, the Edomites, to destruction. Even individuals from among the accursed Canaanites gained the privilege of association with God's covenant people and received blessings. (Ge 9:25-27; Jos 9:27) The "change of mind" that Esau earnestly sought with tears, however, was only an unsuccessful attempt to change his father Isaac's decision that the firstborn's special blessing should remain entirely with Jacob. Hence, this indicated no repentance before God on Esau's part as to his materialistic attitude.-Ge 27:32-34; Heb 12:16, 17.

God's prophecy concerning Josiah called for some descendant of David to be so named, and it foretold his acting against false worship in the city of Bethel. (1Ki 13:1, 2) Over three centuries later a king so named fulfilled this prophecy. (2Ki 22:1; 23:15, 16) On the other hand, he failed to heed "the words of Necho from the mouth of God," and this led to his being killed. (2Ch 35:20-24) Hence, while foreknown by God and foreordained to do a particular work, Josiah was still a free moral agent able to choose to heed or disregard advice.

Similarly, God foretold nearly two centuries beforehand that he would use a conqueror named Cyrus to effect the release of the Jews from Babylon. (Isa 44:26-28; 45:1-6) But the Persian to whom that name eventually was given in fulfillment of divine prophecy is not stated in the Bible to have become a genuine worshiper of God, and secular history shows him continuing his worship of false gods.

These cases of foreknowledge prior to the individual's birth thus do not conflict with God's revealed qualities and announced standards. Nor is there any indication that God coerced the individuals to act against their own will. In the cases of Pharaoh, Judas Iscariot, and God's own Son, there is no evidence that God's foreknowledge was exercised prior to the person's coming into existence. Within these individual cases certain principles are illustrated, bearing on God's foreknowledge and foreordination.

One such principle is God's testing of individuals by causing or allowing certain circumstances or events, or by causing such individuals to hear his inspired messages, the result being that they are obliged to exercise their free choice to make a decision and thus reveal a definite heart attitude, read by God. (Pr 15:11; 1Pe 1:6, 7; Heb 4:12, 13) According to the way the individuals respond, God can also mold them in the course they have selected of their own volition. (1Ch 28:9; Ps 33:13-15; 139:1-4, 23, 24) Thus, 'the heart of earthling man' first inclines toward a certain way before God does the directing of the steps of such a one. (Pr 16:9; Ps 51:10) Under testing, one's heart condition can become fixed, either hardened in unrighteousness and rebellion or made firm in unbreakable devotion to God and the doing of his will. (Job 2:3-10; Jer 18:11, 12; Ro 2:4-11; Heb 3:7-10, 12-15) Having reached such a point of his own choice, the end result of the individual's course can now be foreknown and foretold with no injustice and no violation of man's free moral agency.-Compare Job 34:10-12.

The case of faithful Abraham, already discussed, illustrates these principles. A contrasting case is that of the unresponsive Pharaoh of the Exodus. God foreknew that Pharaoh would refuse permission for the Israelites to leave except "by a mighty hand" (Ex 3:19, 20), and he foreordained the plague resulting in the death of the firstborn. (Ex 4:22, 23) The apostle Paul's discussion of God's dealings with Pharaoh is often incorrectly understood to mean that God arbitrarily hardens the heart of individuals according to his foreordained purpose, without regard for the individual's prior inclination, or heart attitude. (Ro 9:14-18) Likewise, according to many translations, God advised Moses that he would "harden [Pharaoh's] heart." (Ex 4:21; compare Ex 9:12; 10:1, 27.) However, some translations render the Hebrew account to read that God "let [Pharaoh's] heart wax bold" (Rotherham); "allow his [Pharaoh's] heart to be hardened" (Spurrell) In support of such rendering, the appendix to Rotherham's translation shows that in Hebrew the occasion or permission of an event is often presented as if it were the cause of the event, and that "even positive commands are occasionally to be accepted as meaning no more than permission." Thus at Exodus 1:17 the original Hebrew text literally says that the midwives "caused the male children to live," whereas in reality they permitted them to live by refraining from putting them to death. After quoting Hebrew scholars M. M. Kalisch, H. F. W. Gesenius, and B. Davies in support, Rotherham states that the Hebrew sense of the texts involving Pharaoh is that "God permitted Pharaoh to harden his own heart-spared him-gave him the opportunity, the occasion, of working out the wickedness that was in him. That is all."-Rotherham's "The Emphasised Bible," appendix, p. 919; compare Isa 10:5-7.

Corroborating this understanding is the fact that the record definitely shows that Pharaoh himself "hardened his heart." (Ex 8:15, 32, KJ; "made his heart dull," Rotherham; "he became stubborn" An American Translation; "he steeled his heart," Knox) He thus exercised his own will and followed his own stubborn inclination, the results of which inclination God accurately foresaw and predicted. The repeated opportunities given him by God obliged Pharaoh to make decisions, and in doing so he became hardened in his attitude. (Compare Ec 8:11, 12.) As the apostle Paul shows by quoting Exodus 9:16, God allowed the matter to develop in this way to the full length of ten plagues in order to make manifest his own power and cause his name to be made known earth wide.-Ro 9:17, 18.

Did God predestine Judas to betray Jesus in order to fulfill prophecy?
The traitorous course of Judas Iscariot fulfilled divine prophecy and demonstrated God's foreknowledge as well as that of his Son. (Ps 41:9; 55:12, 13; 109:8; Ac 1:16-20) Yet it cannot be said that God foreordained or predestinated Judas himself to such a course. The prophecies foretold that some intimate acquaintance of Jesus would be his betrayer, but they did not specify which of those sharing such acquaintance it would be. Again, Bible principles rule against God's having foreordained Judas' actions. The divine standard stated by the apostle is: "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure." (1Ti 5:22; compare 1Ti 3:6.) Evidencing his concern that the selection of his 12 apostles be wisely and properly made, Jesus spent the night in prayer to his Father before making known his decision. (Lu 6:12-16) If Judas were already divinely foreordained to be a traitor, this would result in inconsistency in God's direction and guidance and, according to the rule, would make him a sharer in the sins that one committed.

Thus, it seems evident that at the time of his being selected as an apostle, Judas' heart presented no definite evidence of a treasonous attitude. He allowed a 'poisonous root to spring up' and defile him, resulting in his deviation and in his accepting, not God's direction, but the Devil's leading in a course of thievery and treachery. (Heb 12:14, 15; Joh 13:2; Ac 1:24, 25; Jas 1:14, 15.) By the time such deviation reached a certain point, Jesus himself could read Judas' heart and foretell his betrayal.-Joh 13:10, 11.

True, in the account at John 6:64, on the occasion of some disciples stumbling over certain teachings of Jesus, we read that "For Jesus knew from the beginning ["from the outset," Jerusalem Bible; "from early days," Rieu] who they were that believed not, and who should betray him." While the word "beginning" (Gr., ar?khe') is used at 2 Peter 3:4 to refer to the start of creation, it can also refer to other times. (Lu 1:2; Joh 15:27) For example, when the apostle Peter spoke of the holy spirit falling on Gentiles just as it did also "as us at the beginning," he obviously was not referring to the beginning of his discipleship or apostleship but to an important point in his ministry, the day of Pentecost, 33 C.E., "the beginning" of the outpouring of the holy spirit for a certain purpose. (Ac 11:15; 2:1-4) It is therefore interesting to note this comment on John 6:64 in Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures (p. 227): "Beginning . . . means not, metaphysically from the beginning of all things, . . . nor from the beginning of His [Jesus'] acquaintance with each one, . . . nor from the beginning of His collecting of the disciples around Him, or the beginning of His Messianic ministry, . . . but from the first secret germs of unbelief [that produced the stumbling of some disciples]. So also He knew His betrayer from the beginning."-Translated and edited by P. Schaff, 1976; compare 1Jo 3:8, 11, 12.

Foreordination of the Messiah. God foreknew and foretold the Messiah's sufferings, the death he would undergo, and his subsequent resurrection. (Ac 2:22, 23, 30, 31; 3:18; 1Pe 1:10, 11) The realization of things determined by God's exercise of such foreknowledge depended in part upon God's own exercise of power and in part upon the actions of men. (Ac 4:27, 28) Such men, however, willingly allowed themselves to be overreached by God's Adversary, Satan the Devil. (Joh 8:42-44; Ac 7:51-54) Hence, even as Christians in Paul's day were "not ignorant of his [Satan's] devices," God foresaw the wicked desires and methods the Devil would devise against Jesus Christ, God's Anointed One. (2Co 2:11) Obviously, God's power could also thwart or even block any attacks or attempts upon the Messiah that did not conform to the manner or time prophesied.-Compare Mt 16:21; Lu 4:28-30; 9:51; Joh 7:1, 6-8; 8:59.

The apostle Peter's statement that Christ, as the sacrificial Lamb of God, was "was foreordained before the foundation [form of Greek ka?ta?bo?le'] of the world [ko'smou]" is construed by advocates of predestinarianism to mean that God exercised such foreknowledge before mankind's creation. (1Pe 1:19, 20) The Greek word ka?ta?bo?le', translated "foundation [KJV]" literally means "a throwing down" and can refer to the 'conceiving of seed,' as at Hebrews 11:11. While there was 'the founding' of a world of mankind when God created the first human pair, as is shown at Hebrews 4:3, 4, that pair thereafter forfeited their position as children of God. (Ge 3:22-24; Ro 5:12) Yet, by God's undeserved kindness, they were allowed to conceive seed and produce offspring, one of whom is specifically shown in the Bible to have gained God's favor and placed himself in position for redemption and salvation, namely, Abel. (Ge 4:1, 2; Heb 11:4) It is noteworthy that at Luke 11:49-51 Jesus refers to "the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world" and parallels this with the words "from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias [Zechariah]." Thus, Abel is connected by Jesus with 'the founding of the world.'

The Messiah, or Christ, was to be the promised Seed through whom all righteous persons of all the families of the earth would be blessed. (Ga 3:8, 14) The first mention of such "seed" came after the rebellion in Eden had already been initiated, but prior to the birth of Abel. (Ge 3:15) This was some 4,000 years before "the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began," and was made by the clear identification of that Messianic "seed." Hence, it was, indeed, "in other ages was not made known ."-Ro 16:25-27; Eph 1:8-10; 3:4-11.

In his due time God God assigned his own firstborn Son to fulfill the prophesied role of the "seed" and become the Messiah. There is nothing to show that the Son was predestined to such a role before rebellion broke out in Eden. God's eventual selection of him as the one charged with fulfilling the prophecies likewise was not made without prior basis. The period of intimate association between God and his Son previous to the Son's being sent to earth undoubtedly resulted in God's 'knowing' his Son to an extent that He could be certain of his Son's faithful fulfillment of the prophetic promises and pictures.-Compare Ro 15:5; Php 2:5-8; Mt 11:27; Joh 10:14, 15.

Fatalism and Predestinarianism. Among the pagan peoples of ancient times, including the Greeks and Romans, one's fate, particularly the length of the individual's life, was often considered to be determined beforehand for all individuals by the gods. Grecian mythology represented the control of men's destiny by three goddesses: Clotho (spinner), who spun the thread of life; Lachesis (disposer of lots), who determined the length of life; and Atropos (inflexible), who cut life off when the time expired. A similar triad was found among the Roman deities.

According to Jewish historian Josephus (first century C.E.), the Pharisees endeavored to harmonize the idea of fate with their belief in God and with the free moral agency granted to man. (The Jewish War, II, 162, 163 [viii, 14]; Jewish Antiquities, XVIII, 13, 14 [i, 3]) The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge says: "Previous to Augustine [of the fourth and fifth centuries C.E.] there was no serious development in Christianity of a theory of predestination." Before Augustine, earlier so-called "Church Fathers" such as Justin, Origen, and Irenaeus "know nothing of unconditional predestination; they teach free will." (Hastings' Encyclopaedia of Religion and Ethics, 1919, Vol. X, p. 231) In their refutation of Gnosticism, they are described as regularly expressing their belief in the free moral agency of man as "the distinguishing characteristic of human personality, the basis of moral responsibility, a divine gift whereby man might choose that which was well-pleasing to God," and as speaking of "the autonomy of man and the counsel of God who constraineth not."-The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, edited by S. Jackson, 1957, Vol. IX, pp. 192, 193.

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COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] FROM LIFE TO DEATH TO LIFE!

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 857A]

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

The weights we must lay aside are described at 1 Peter 2:1 - 3, [AV] “
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” And we should take heed per Hebrews 3:12, [AV] “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” We must per 1 Timothy 6:12, [AV] “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

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[2] FROM LIFE TO DEATH TO LIFE!

To fully understand what happens to mankind at death, we must understand first how man got here in the first place, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:27-31 AV) shows that God created mankind and every living thing on the earth.

Man was originally intended by God to live for ever so what happened? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 AV) However, Adam, the first man, disobeyed God and all of mankind inherited Death as a result, “And the serpent (Satan the Devil) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 AV), and “ And the LORD God said unto the serpent (Satan the Devil), Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (Genesis 3:14 AV). Therefore, eventuality of Death came upon all of mankind that descended from Adam, all of us; it was NOT God’s original purpose for mankind, “ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV).

But God loved mankind and provided a means for obedient mankind to eventually have this sentence lifted from him/her, “ 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.)” (Romans 5:17 AV) and “ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 AV). Now that we have seen how Death came to be on mankind, we need to look at the condition of the dead to understand what happens when one dies, “ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:4 AV), “ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 AV), “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 AV), and “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 AV). There is no ‘soul’ that goes somewhere at death since we are living souls, “ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV).

The Bible clearly shows that, “ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4 AV), and “ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23 AV). Therefore, when we die we cease to exist, but God holds out to all obedient mankind a hope for a resurrection onto a perfect earth under his kingdom, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV). Clearly there is hope for life again in a righteous kingdom under Jesus on earth as he taught us to prey for, but how will we get into this kingdom when it is established if we are already dead, i.e., non-existent in any form? It will be by means of a resurrection or recreating of us by God, “ Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” (Isaiah 26:19 AV) and “ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” (Job 14:13 AV). “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32 AV), “ But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13 AV)

This concept of a resurrection may be difficult for some to accept, but temporary resurrections have already occurred, “And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,” (1 Kings 17:22-24 AV), “ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 AV). However what Jesus Christ taught all of his followers to pray for “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV) was a permanent resurrection into a righteous kingdom under him as its king, and this will be “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 AV), “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:23-24 AV), “ And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15 AV), and “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:26-29 AV). Therefore, it is clear that at present all of mankind will die, be non-existent until the end of this system when Jesus Christ will set up his kingdom on earth, and then, if we have won God’s favor be resurrected to life in a righteous kingdom under Jesus Christ as its king. If you would like more information and/or a free Bible study with a qualified individual one-on-one let me know and I can arrange it. You can contact me at iris89@altavista.net or iris89@uymail.com

To fully understand what happens to mankind at death, we must understand first how man got here in the first place, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:27-31 AV) shows that God created mankind and every living thing on the earth.

Man was originally intended by God to live for ever so what happened? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 AV) However, Adam, the first man, disobeyed God and all of mankind inherited Death as a result, “And the serpent (Satan the Devil) said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5 AV), and “ And the LORD God said unto the serpent (Satan the Devil), Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:” (Genesis 3:14 AV). Therefore, eventuality of Death came upon all of mankind that descended from Adam, all of us; it was NOT God’s original purpose for mankind, “ Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 AV).

But God loved mankind and provided a means for obedient mankind to eventually have this sentence lifted from him/her, “ 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.)” (Romans 5:17 AV) and “ For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19 AV). Now that we have seen how Death came to be on mankind, we need to look at the condition of the dead to understand what happens when one dies, “ His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” (Psalms 146:4 AV), “ For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 9:5 AV), “ Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10 AV), and “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” (Ecclesiastes 3:19-20 AV). There is no ‘soul’ that goes somewhere at death since we are living souls, “ And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam (Jesus) was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV), “ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” (1 Corinthians 15:45 AV).

The Bible clearly shows that, “ Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4 AV), and “ And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23 AV). Therefore, when we die we cease to exist, but God holds out to all obedient mankind a hope for a resurrection onto a perfect earth under his kingdom, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV). Clearly there is hope for life again in a righteous kingdom under Jesus on earth as he taught us to prey for, but how will we get into this kingdom when it is established if we are already dead, i.e., non-existent in any form? It will be by means of a resurrection or recreating of us by God, “ Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.” (Isaiah 26:19 AV) and “ O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!” (Job 14:13 AV). “But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:31-32 AV), “ But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.” (Daniel 12:13 AV)

This concept of a resurrection may be difficult for some to accept, but temporary resurrections have already occurred, “And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the LORD came unto the prophet that brought him back: 21 And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the LORD, and hast not kept the commandment which the LORD thy God commanded thee,” (1 Kings 17:22-24 AV), “ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 AV). However what Jesus Christ taught all of his followers to pray for “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10 AV) was a permanent resurrection into a righteous kingdom under him as its king, and this will be “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40 AV), “Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” (John 11:23-24 AV), “ And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” (Acts 24:15 AV), and “For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:26-29 AV). Therefore, it is clear that at present all of mankind will die, be non-existent until the end of this system when Jesus Christ will set up his kingdom on earth, and then, if we have won God’s favor be resurrected to life in a righteous kingdom under Jesus Christ as its king. If you would like more information and/or a free Bible study with a qualified individual one-on-one let me know and I can arrange it. You can contact me at iris89@altavista.net or iris89@uymail.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:31 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] THE RARE FRUIT AND VEGETABLES - Stelechocarpus burahol.

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 858A]

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths Proverbs 3:5 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Remember Psalms 62:8, [AV] “The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.” Clearly shows his power and why we should not rest on our own understanding. This is made even clearer at Proverbs 28:26, [AV] “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Stelechocarpus burahol, known as the burahol,[2] kepel, kepel fruit, keppel fruit, or kepel apple, is an annonaceous plant from the humid evergreen forests of Southeast Asia,[3] known for producing an edible fruit. The fruit is grown only in central Java, Indonesia.[4]
The plant is an evergreen, with stiff, elliptical, glossy leaves.[5]
The fruits of S. burahol grow on the lower part of the trunk,[4] on the larger branches.[5] They have a spicy flavor akin to that of the mango.[4] They are greenish-yellow and oval, 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) long.[5] The new growth is bright pink or burgundy,[3] known for producing an edible fruit.
One can propagate S. burahol from the seeds of ripe fruit.[citation needed]
The fruit of this species has traditionally been known in Java to have value as an oral deodorant. Out of the pulp, seed and peel, the peel has the best adsorbent ability. A 2012 study showed that it reduced the odor of feces by activating the probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidum.[6] Stelechocarpus burahol is also an antihyperuricemic, and has traditionally been used to treat gout.[7]
This fruit is an identity flora of Daerah Istimewa Jogjakarta. Stelechocarpus burahol was loved by Javanese princesses because it was a symbol of unity and mental and physical integrity. Because it functioned as a deodorant, many common people did not have this tree planted because they believed they would get cursed. That made this tree rare.[citation needed]
This fruit was also believed to be used by Javanese princesses as contraception. The fruit is believed to have the function of preventing kidney inflammation. The wood can be made into house tools, the leaves used to lower cholesterol.[citation needed]
This rare fruit can be found at Keraton Jogjakarta area, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Taman Kiai Langgeng Magelang and Kebun Raya Bogor.[citation needed]
References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stelechocarpus burahol.
1.
• "Stelechocarpus burahol (Blume) Hook.f. & Thomson". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
• "Stelechocarpus burahol". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
• Tropical & Subtropical Trees: an encyclopedia, Margaret Barwick, Timber Press (C) 2004, p. 381
• "Kepel Stelechocarpus burahol". tradewindsfruit.com. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
• Encyclopaedia of Food Science, Food Technology, and Nutrition: Eating habits-gelatine, R. Macrae, Richard Kenneth Robinson, Michèle J. Sadler, Academic Press, 1993, pp. 2, 126.
• Darusman, H.S.; Rahminiwati, M.; Sadiah, S.; Batubara, I.; Darusman, L.K.; Mitsunaga, T. (2 November 2011). "Indonesian Kepel Fruit (Stelechocarpus burahol) as Oral Deodorant". Research Journal of Medicinal Plants. 6 (2): 180–188. doi:10.3923/rjmp.2012.180.188. ISSN 1819-3455. OCLC 761052058. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
• Arief Rahman Hakim; Indah Purwantini; Purwantiningsih (2010). "Antihyperuricemic activity of the Kepel [Stelechocarpus burahol (Bl.) Hook. F. & Th.] leaves extract and xanthine oxidase inhibitory study" (PDF). International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2 (2): 123–127. ?[SOURCE - RETRIVED FROM https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stelechocarpus_burahol ON 3/17/2018]
Seeds can be obtained from Tradewinds, and here is their catalog description, 2444 - Stelechocarpus burahol - Kepel
An rare relative in the Annonaceae family (cherimoya, sugar apple). Bears brown fruits about the size of an orange, with highly aromatic flesh that has a passing taste resemblance to fruity-coconut. Fruits are born directly from the trunk. A large tree and is ultra-tropical, will not stand frosts or temperatures below 50F for any extended period of time.

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**Admin** Wed Aug 08, 2018 9:46 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] GOD ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAS NO MOTHER:

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 859A]

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Yes rejoice just as shown at Deuteronomy 16:11, [AV] “And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there.” Remember Job 31:7, [AV] “If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;” but keep walking only in the way of the Lord.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] GOD ALWAYS EXISTED AND HAS NO MOTHER:

There are some who say that God (YHWH) has a mother, but that is an absurdity as shall shortly be seen. How can God (YHWH) have a mother, he always existed “ Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalms 90:2 AV), and always in a spirit form, the Bible clearly says “ And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” (Exodus 33:20 AV) and “ Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17 AV) he can not be seen by humans if they are to live and that he is invisible so to say he has a 'mother' is not only impossible but absurd. Now, with respect to his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) that is indeed the case “And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” (Luke 1:26-31 AV), and “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:22-25 AV). So when Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves) was born of a virgin, she was NOT the mother of God (YHWH)[which as previously shown would be impossible and absurd], but the earthly mother of his son, Jesus (Jeshua or YHWH saves), who had a mission, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
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.
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.)" (Romans 5:12-17 AV), “ For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matthew 26:28 AV), “ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29 AV).

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**Admin** Sun Aug 12, 2018 10:50 am

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] How Satan Came To Be

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 860A]

Yes, we should not be judging our brothers in the faith and Luke 6:37, [Aurhorized King James Bible; AV] , makes this clear, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:’ Also, this is made clear by Romans 14:4, [AV] “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”

We shall all know Almighty God (YHWH) as shown by Romans 14:11 – 12, [AV] “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” And, this war foretold long before the modern era at Isaiah 45:23, [AV] “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.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] How Satan Came To Be.

All of God’s works are perfect; he is not the author of unrighteousness; so he did not create anyone wicked, “ He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4 av), and “ For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” (Psalms 5:4 AV). The one who became Satan was originally a perfect spirit son of God. When saying that the Devil, “ Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, (Jesus indicated that at one time that one was in the truth) because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44 AV). But, as is true of all of God’s intelligent creatures, this spirit son was endowed with free will, i.e., they were not robots. He abused his freedom of choice, allowed feelings of self-importance to develop in his heart, began to crave worship that belonged only to God, and so enticed Adam and Eve to listen to him rather than obey God. Thus by his course of action he made himself Satan, which means '‘adversary,’ “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (James 1:14-15 AV).

Now why did not God destroy Satan promptly after he rebelled? Serious issues were raised by Satan: (1) The righteousness and rightfulness of God’s sovereignty. Was God withholding from mankind freedom that would contribute to their happiness? Were mankind’s ability to govern their affairs successfully and their continued life truly dependent on their obediance to God? Had God been dishonest in giving a law that stated that disobedience would lead to their death? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 AV), and “But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:3-5 AV). So, did God really have the right to rule?

(2) The integrity of intelligent creatures toward Jehovah God. By the deflection of Adam and Eve the question was raised: Did God’s servants really obey him out of love or might all of them abandon God and follow the lead being given by Satan? This latter issue was further developed by Satan in the days of Job, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil. 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 1:8-11 AV), and “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (Job 2:3-5 AV). These issues could not be settled by merely executing the rebels.

Not that God needed to prove anything to himself. But so that these issues would never again disrupt the peace and well-being of the universe, Jehovah God has allowed ample time for them to be settled beyond all doubt. That Adam and Eve died following disobedience to God became evident in due time, “ And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.” (Genesis 5:5 AV). But more was at issue. So, God has permitted both Satan and humans to try every form of government of their own making. None have brought lasting happiness. God has let mankind go to the limit in pursuing ways of life that ignore His righteous standards. The fruitage speaks for itself. As the Bible truthfully says: “ O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23 AV). At the same time God has given his servants opportunity to prove their loyalty to him by their acts of loving obedience, and this in the face of enticements and persecution instigated by Satan. God exhorts his servants, saying: “ My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.” (Proverbs 27:11 AV). Those proving faithful reap great benefits now and have the prospect of eternal life in perfection. They will use such life in doing the will of Jehovah God, whose personality and ways they truly love.

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**Admin** Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:21 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] HYPOSTATIC UNION – PART 1 OF 4 PARTS

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 861A]

O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. Job 14:13 – 15, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Jesus (Yeshua) has been given authority to judge all that have died by his Father, Almighty God (YHWH), and this is testified to at John 5:27 – 30, [AV] “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] HYPOSTATIC UNION – PART 1 OF 4 PARTS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE: THIS DISCUSSION OF THE FALSE TEACHING OF THE HYPOSTATIC UNION IN FOUR PARTS IS ONLY FOR ADVANCED BIBLICAL STUDENTS THAT CAN APPRECIATE THE SHOWING OF HOW SOME SO CALLED RELIGIOUS LEADERS DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE TWIST REALITY SO BADLY THAT IT NO LONGER REALLY PRESENTS BIBLICAL TRUTHS, BUT ONLY COMPLICATED AND TWISTED WRONG REASONING'S OF MEN. TO GO EVEN DEEPER IN THIS SUBJECT, GO TO,

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/sinandcompositescriptures/learn-the-truth-on-the-trinity-doctorine-t1006.html

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A theological term used with reference to the Incarnation to express the revealed truth that in Christ one person subsists in two natures, the Divine and the human. Hypostasis means, literally, that which lies beneath as basis or foundation. Hence it came to be used by the Greek philosophers to denote reality as distinguished from appearances (Aristotle, "Mund.", IV, 21). It occurs also in St. Paul's Epistles (II Cor., ix, 4; xi, 17; Heb., i, 3:iii, 14), but not in the sense of person. Previous to the Council of Nicæa (325) hypostasis was synonymous with ousia, and even St. Augustine (De Trin., V, 8) avers that he sees no difference between them. The distinction in fact was brought about gradually in the course of the controversies to which the Christological heresies gave rise, and was definitively established by the Council of Chalcedon (451), which declared that in Christ the two natures, each retaining its own properties, are united in one subsistence and one person (eis en prosopon kai mian hpostasin) (Denzinger, ed. Bannwart, 148). They are not joined in a moral or accidental union (Nestorius), nor commingled (Eutyches), and nevertheless they are substantially united. For further explanation and bibliography see: INCARNATION; JESUS CHRIST; MONOPHYSITISM; NATURE; PERSON. [The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VII ]

“In giving a justification for our faith in Christ, the basic and decisive point of departure, of course, lies in an encounter with the historical Jesus of Nazareth, and hence in an “ascending Christology.” To this extent the terms “incarnation of God” and “incarnation of the eternal Logos” are the end and not the starting point of all Christological reflection.”[1]
Incarnation is certainly not the word of the apostles, but of later theology. Similarly, the word “hypostatic union” exists only and officially in the Council of Ephesus. These two words express Jesus’ identity and have the relation with each other. The notion ‘incarnation’ assumes the notion of Trinity with ‘second person’ of God.
In process of identifying Jesus Christ, the apostles had recognized that Jesus is from God and of God; he belongs absolutely to God, so much so that he is God. Once given, theologians or the first Christian community searched for the word to express it; for example, the second person of God, the Word of God, incarnation, hypostatic union.
Following this way again to recognize Jesus as the absolute saviour who belongs to God so much so that he united with God as hypostatic union, and then he is the second person of God incarnate. This paper will present the understanding of Jesus Christ through the experiences of the apostles, then the Christological affirmations of the councils, and finally the comprehension of Jesus Christ through the hypostatic union and incarnation. The third section of this paper uses the idea of Karl Rahner to express it.

On this ground Saint Cyril I, the pillar of faith established his famous formula: XXX "one incarnate nature of God the Logos" and not XXX which means "only incarnate nature of God the Logos". By "one", he means one nature of two natures, the distinction between them is "in thought alone" (as he frequently explained. Moreover, he explained the phrase "Hypostatic Union", to mean the union of two natures naturally in one simple person or Hypostasis. To Saint Cyril, the word hypostasis means the person together with the nature that he carries.
[http://www.uk-christian.net/boc/106e.shtml]

In part, the question can be answered by looking at the rise of the Monophysite movement among the Empire's Christians in the centuries preceding the Muslim invasion. In the middle of the fifth century, the church was deeply locked in Christological debates that arose out of the ecumenical councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, and at a time when church and state were integrally mixed, strains within the church necessarily meant strains within the Empire. The debates focused on the hypostatic union -- the fusion of the divine and the human natures within the person of Jesus Christ. On the one side were the 'orthodox' who insisted that Christ had two sperate natures -- human and divine. On the other side were the Monophysites who argued that Christ had but a single nature -- composed of the human and the divine, but tending to emphasize the former. The theological issues were somewhat blurred, however, by social and political issues that tended to reflect regional interests and traditions.

Some modern day scholars have tended to take the bitter and labyrinthine debates over two natures within Christ -- which were perhaps overly dominated and confused by vocabulary -- and reduce the entire Monophysite controversy to a simple "quarrel about words." At the same time, some scholars have suggested that these same theological debates were in actuality a vehicle by which the deep seeded anti-imperial sentiment of the dominated peoples of Syria, Palestine, and Egypt could be expressed. Although these socio-political factors have their place -- and indeed a very central place -- in the Christological controversies that emerged after the council of Chalcedon in 451 C.E., it is the purpose of this paper to re-examine the theological differences between Monophysite and orthodox Christianity in order to find a more balanced view of the role of theological and socio-political issues within this, the first lasting schism in Christendom. Therefore, this paper will first make an analysis of the Monophysite theological positions by taking into account the theologies of Euteches of Constantinople, Severus of Antioch and Philoxenus of Mabbug, three Monophysite theologians. The Chalcedonian position will then be examined in its relation to the Monophysite position. Finally, relevant social and political factors will be taken into consideration as they relate to the Monophysite controversy itself. Before beginning with an examination of Monophysite Christianity, however, a brief history of the events leading up to the council of Chalcedon is needed in order to understand the rise and development of Monophysitism.
The council of Nicaea in 325 C.E. stated that Jesus Christ was God; co-equal , co-eternal and homousious (i.e., "of one nature") with the Father.[1] Although the pronouncements of the council satisfactorily dealt with the fourth century Arian controversy (at least in the eyes of the Church, if not in reality), at the same time, it also raised new questions about the person of Jesus Christ.[2] After Nicaea, all orthodox Christians could agree that the Son was fully divine, but Jesus of Nazareth was nevertheless an historical person; a man who lived and breathed and even died within the context of history. How could this finite man also be the all-powerful God of the Judeo-Christian tradition? The Christian scriptures had no definitive answer, and therefore the relationship between this historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth and the divine Son of God was open to debate.
[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2961/mono1.htm]

If Jesus Was the Father, Why Would He
Pray to the Father?
by
Jason Dulle
JasonDulle@aol.com

Q: I have another question for you. I am having a difficult time understanding the nature of the distinction between the Father and the Son. I understand that the Son is different from the Father inasmuch as he possesses a human nature, while the Father does not. Starting from the Oneness assertion that Jesus is the Father's hypostasis (Greek word for person) incarnate, and If we follow the method of Chalcedonian Christology, then in Jesus there is also union of the divine and human hypostasis in a way that makes Christ a fully integrated and fully functioning person. Therefore, the distinction between Jesus and the Father is the union, which the Father lacks. At the same time, the hypostasis of Christ is also the hypostasis of the Father, for the hypostatic union does not destroy the distinctness of each, as Eutyches and the Monophysites said about the dual nature. It is here, however, that I run into problems when I see the way Jesus prays to the Father and refers to him. If Jesus shares the hypostasis of the Father, It is difficult to see him praying to the Father, for a person only prays to another person. If you were to say that he prays because of the presence of humanity in his hypostasis, then I would protest that this sounds like the Monophysite solution: the two hypostasis would have to blend in order to make one distinct from the first, for if there is a union in the Chalcedonian sense, then one person (hypostasis) could not pray to (orient itself externally from) itself, union or no union.
To put it differently, Jesus is the indivisible sum of the divine and human hypostases; however, he still contains the original divine hypostasis distinctly. Since there is only one divine hypostasis according to Oneness theology, and a hypostasis cannot pray to itself, then it would seem to follow that Jesus cannot pray to the Father, since He still contains, whether he is equivalent to or not, the Father's hypostasis.

Also, traditional Oneness theology says that God indwelled Jesus; however, you have said in one of your essays that this is not merely the case: God also became flesh. How could Jesus be God, yet say, "The Father is IN me?" I guess this simply ties back with the question of the hypostatic union, so it may be answered when you answer the other questions.
Well, I appreciate all of your help, especially since you have spent so much time and energy talking to me. You have been an angel of God for me, and without your help I would have floundered theologically a while ago.
[http://www.apostolic.net/biblicalstudies/howjesusprayiffather.htm]

His criticism of Chalcedon was never based on the acceptance in any form of the heresy of Eutyches. Indeed in his work, Philalethes, or the Lover of Truth, he explained that,
Had it confessed hypostatic union, the Council would have confessed also ‘one incarnate nature of God the Word’, and would not have defined that the one Christ is ‘in two natures’ thereby dissolving the union.[1]
Severus was sent to Constantinople and wrote his first major work there in 508 AD. While in the capital he became known by Emperor Anastasius who had greater sympathy with the anti-Chalcedonians than with the pro-Chalcedonians led by Patriarch Macedonius. In 511 Patriarch Macedonius was replaced by Timothy, and then in 512, after a synod assembled by the Emperor in Sidon, the Patriarch Flavian was ejected because he would not anathematise Chalcedon and Severus was consecrated Patriarch in his place.
In his enthronement address Severus affirmed Nicaea, Constantinople and Ephesus. He also affirmed the Henoticon of Zeno as an Orthodox document, but he also explicity anathematised Chalcedon, the Tome of Leo, Nestorius and Eutyches, Diodore and Theodore of Tarsus. In 514 his Synod anathematised Chalcedon and the Tome while explaining the Henoticon as annulling Chalcedon.

SEE PART 2 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION AT VOL 862A

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Wed Aug 15, 2018 5:12 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] PART 2 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION [VOL 862A] OF 4 PARTS

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 862A]

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesus 3:19, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Almighty God (YHWH) did indeed create mankind from the dust of the earth as highlighted at Genesis 2:7, [AV] “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” As Job 34:15 testifies to, [AV] “All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.”

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] PART 2 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION [VOL 862A] OF 4 PARTS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE: THIS DISCUSSION OF THE FALSE TEACHING OF THE HYPOSTATIC UNION IN FOUR PARTS IS ONLY FOR ADVANCED BIBLICAL STUDENTS THAT CAN APPRECIATE THE SHOWING OF HOW SOME SO CALLED RELIGIOUS LEADERS DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE TWIST REALITY SO BADLY THAT IT NO LONGER REALLY PRESENTS BIBLICAL TRUTHS, BUT ONLY COMPLICATED AND TWISTED WRONG REASONING'S OF MEN. TO GO EVEN DEEPER IN THIS SUBJECT, GO TO,

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/sinandcompositescriptures/learn-the-truth-on-the-trinity-doctorine-t1006.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

All of this activity gives the lie to the prevalent opinion that in 451 AD the Oriental Orthodox went quietly into exile and schism. Here we see that the Church was alive with those who opposed Chalcedon, and it was those who supported
[http://www.orthodoxunity.org/article02.html]

132. See below Book VI. c. xiv. For the twofold error of Pelagianism cf. a striking article on "Theodore of Mopsuestia and Modern Thought" in the Church Quarterly Review, vol. i. See esp. p. 135; where, speaking of Pelagianism, the writer says: "as the hypostatic union was denied, lest it should derogate from the ethical completeness of Christ, so the efficacious working of grace must be explained away lest it should derogate from the moral dignity of Christians. The divine and human elements must be kept as jealously apart in the moral life of the members as in the person of the Head of the Church. In the ultimate analysis it must be proved that the initial movement in every good action came from the human will itself, though when this was allowed, the grace of God might receive, by an exact process of assessment, its due share of credit for the result."
[From: A Select Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, Second Series, Volume 11, New York, 1894 (http://www.ccel.org/fathers/NPNF2-11/jcassian/nestnote.html)]

All of the Reformers were Roman Catholics, and unhappy Roman Catholics at that. They were also influenced by the philosophies of their day (such as nominalism, and rationalism), and by the Renaissance. In short, they brought with them (in their revolt against the Church) those Catholic doctrines which they still agreed with, and which they believed could be proved from Scripture, and they jettisoned those which seemed too mystical or irrational (e.g., prayer to the Saints, purgatory, the Real Presence, etc), as well as those seemingly based only upon Tradition. In other words, they developed a hybrid of Roman Catholicism and Rationalism (e.g., they believed in the trinity and the hypostatic union, but denied baptismal regeneration and the Real Presence). The precursors to the modern liberals of the 19th and 20th centuries were the Reformers themselves. The modern liberal critic is simply following the Reformation to its logical conclusion (e.g., he doesn’t believe in any doctrine which is irrational to him, and so jettisons the trinity and hypostatic union as well).
[http://www.cathinsight.com/apologetics/authority.htm]

To combat this error, the Council of Nicaea adopted the phrase, "in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father." This last phrase, "being of one substance with the Father," gave rise to the orthodox teaching of "homoousios, a Greek word meaning "same substance." Those more comfortable with the teachings of Arius rallied for homoiousios, which translates, "like substance."
The Council of Constantinople (381), the second ecumenical council, had to reconcile Biblical teaching with this latter concept of homoiousios. The adherents to this view have been called "Semi-Arians" because their view is a compromise between the two positions debated at Nicaea. The Semi-Arians taught that Christ was like God but not of the same essence. The Council decided against their position and developed the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed, which "happens to be the creed that is read in churches today under the title the Nicene Creed" (Blaising, 269). The Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed added to the Nicene Creed the phrase "and the Son" to its description of the origin of the Holy Spirit; the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father "and the Son."
The third ecumenical council was held in Ephesus in 431. Central to the meeting at Ephesus were the teachings of Nestorius. Prior to this Council, Nestorius had already become suspect by many orthodox theologians for rejecting the hypostatic union. At the time of the third council in Ephesus, Nestorius was claiming that Mary could not have given birth to God. The creature--by his reasoning--could not give birth to the one who creates all things. Ultimately, Nestorius' Christology led to a dividing of the person of Christ, and, as a result, Nestorius was condemned at Ephesus. In his defense, however, it should be noted that items pertaining to Christology exceed human understanding apart from Scripture. Scripture, to state it once again, must be the authority for Christological study.
The fourth ecumenical council, the Council of Chalcedon, was also formed to determine matters of Christology. Once again, the council determined to reconcile the tension between the two natures of Christ. The Council "dealt with the unity of the two natures and concluded that the deity and humanity of Christ exist 'without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.' Thus, the two natures coalesced in one person and one substance (houpostasis)." Once and for all, it seemed, the church was united in its Christology.
[http://www.christiandiscipleshop.com/introduction_to_holy_spirit_and_christ.htm]

In part, the question can be answered by looking at the rise of the Monophysite movement among the Empire's Christians in the centuries preceding the Muslim invasion. In the middle of the fifth century, the church was deeply locked in Christological debates that arose out of the ecumenical councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, and at a time when church and state were integrally mixed, strains within the church necessarily meant strains within the Empire. The debates focused on the hypostatic union -- the fusion of the divine and the human natures within the person of Jesus Christ. On the one side were the 'orthodox' who insisted that Christ had two sperate natures -- human and divine. On the other side were the Monophysites who argued that Christ had but a single nature -- composed of the human and the divine, but tending to emphasize the former. The theological issues were somewhat blurred, however, by social and political issues that tended to reflect regional interests and traditions.
[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Olympus/2961/mono1.htm]

Shirley MacLaine reads the Bible and sees a Jesus "very much like metaphysical seekers in the New Age today."2 Popular Christian novelist Madeleine L'Engle breaks the unity of Chalcedon: "Jesus of Nazareth lived for a brief life span, but Christ always was, is and will be."3 New look Christology ditches the delicate unity of the divine with the human for a pagan notion of divinized humanity. Pagan witch Mary Daly affirms that "the idea of a unique divine incarnation in a male, the God man of the `hypostatic union' [the Chalcedonian formula] is inherently sexist and oppressive. Christology is idolatry."4 This is not simply word-shuffling. The implications are momentous for the future of the Christian faith. So we ask first, who is Christ according to the new spirituality, and then, who is Jesus?
[http://www.spirit-wars.com/html/Cosmic%20Christ.html]

Even more remarkable is the contrast between Mark and Paul when we turn to the title "Son of Man." For Mark this is the self-designation used by Jesus himself, and used only by Jesus, not by others. It occurs fourteen times in the Gospel, and is unquestionably understood by Mark to refer to Jesus’ heavenly office or nature -- "a supernatural being who ranks between God and the angels." (P. 42.) Mark assumes that his readers will recognize the reference to Jesus, and will find its meaning in "the scriptures."(Mark 9:12; 14:21) But back of Mark is certainly a process of exegesis, which combined sayings in the Old Testament that could be understood to refer to the coming of the Son of Man with other sayings that could be interpreted to prophesy the sufferings, death, and resurrection of someone -- presumably now also the Messiah or the Son of Man. What is distinctive and most striking about this exegesis -- "the one unheard-of novelty" -- is the conception of the Son of Man living upon earth prior to his coming in glory: he not only will come, sometime in the future, on the clouds of heaven; he has already come, has suffered, has died, has risen again! Even the passages (Mark 2:10, 28) which used to be interpreted of "Christ’s human nature" or "man in general" are now recognized to belong with the others referring to "the Son of Man upon earth" prior to his death and glorification.
Now one might expect that this pattern of interpretation would have been retained by Paul, if historical -- that is, if set forth by Jesus himself or found in the earliest tradition of his sayings or expounded in the early church -- or one might even think it possible that Mark derived from Paul some hint of this system of exegesis of the Old Testament and of interpretation of the career of Jesus as a heavenly being appearing upon earth prior to his exaltation and his dying (as a heavenly being) upon the cross, though unrecognized in his true nature until the Resurrection. But the astonishing fact is that Paul never uses the term "Son of Man"! As against Johannes Weiss’s exegesis of I Corinthians 15:45-47, Werner insists that Paul’s "man who is from heaven" is simply exegesis of the first two chapters of Genesis, and has nothing to do with Daniel 7; the very order is reversed -- the earthly man comes first, the heavenly is the second. (This cannot possibly refer to the two stages in Christ’s existence: Christ is not ; and the two "men" are contrasted, Adam and Christ.) What Paul is controverting is the idea that there were two steps in the creation of man, first the Primal Man, the heavenly, spiritual Urmensch, then the mortal copy of this immortal being, the first representative of the human species -- a widespread Hellenistic conception which had left traces of its influence even upon Judaism. On the other hand, Mark’s use of the term "Son of Man" owes nothing to Paul -- since Paul does not use it -- but is centered in the early Christian interpretation of the Son of Man vision of Daniel 7. That both Mark and Paul think of Christ as a supernatural being does not argue the dependence of one upon the other -- the whole development of Gentile Christianity, Pauline and non-Pauline, took that for granted.
It is the title "Son of God," as Werner maintains, that most clearly expresses Mark’s Christology. It occurs in the title of the Gospel, and again at the end of the passion narrative.(Mark 15:39: "Truly this man was the Son of God" -- so Werner translates.) From 8:38 it is evident that the Son of God and the Son of Man are identical: "When he [the Son of Man] comes in the glory of his Father." When Jesus became Son of God, Mark does not say; but the moment of his baptism, when the Spirit came upon him -- or to him, literally "into" -- was probably the moment when he was so chosen and dedicated. At once follow the words of divine approval, "Thou art my beloved Son: in thee I am well pleased" -- here Jesus is first "set forth as Son of God," though not yet "with power"; (Rom. 1:4) that came later, at the Resurrection. It is not at all probable that Mark thought of Christ as pre-existent; the title "Son of God" is only one more messianic title, and does not connote a metaphysical, hypostatic union with the Father -- 13:32 and 10:18 rule out that idea.

SEE PART 3 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION AT VOL 862A

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT WWW.JW.ORG

**Admin** Fri Aug 17, 2018 4:25 pm

COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] PART 3 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION [VOL 863A] OF 4 PARTS

[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 863A]

For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Ecclesiastes 9:5, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

And as Romans 5:12 says, [AV], “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” clearly showing all will die due to inherited sin. And as Psalm 115:16 – 19, shows, [AV] “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men. 17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence. 18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.” But as John 5:29, [AV] “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” Clearly showing there will be a judgment day and that the ones who have done good will be resurrected to life.

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Your Friend in Christ Iris89

Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!

[2] PART 3 OF EXPLANATION OF TERM HYPOSTATIC UNION [VOL 863A] OF 4 PARTS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE: THIS DISCUSSION OF THE FALSE TEACHING OF THE HYPOSTATIC UNION IN FOUR PARTS IS ONLY FOR ADVANCED BIBLICAL STUDENTS THAT CAN APPRECIATE THE SHOWING OF HOW SOME SO CALLED RELIGIOUS LEADERS DUE TO THEIR FAILURE TO RECOGNIZE THE REAL TEACHINGS OF THE BIBLE TWIST REALITY SO BADLY THAT IT NO LONGER REALLY PRESENTS BIBLICAL TRUTHS, BUT ONLY COMPLICATED AND TWISTED WRONG REASONING'S OF MEN. TO GO EVEN DEEPER IN THIS SUBJECT, GO TO,

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/sinandcompositescriptures/learn-the-truth-on-the-trinity-doctorine-t1006.html

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What, then, becomes of the theory that "Mark’s Christology is quite as high as that of Paul"? For Mark, Jesus of Nazareth became Son of God at his baptism, through the endowment of the divine Spirit; for Paul, on the other hand, the Son of God was a divine being who existed with God before the creation of the world, who became the intermediary cause or agent in the creation and remained the sustaining principle of the universe. In due time, this being became man; then after fulfilling his earthly life he died, rose again, and was exalted by God to a place in heaven even higher than that which he had enjoyed at the beginning.(Phil. 2:9) His specific messianic office he will fulfill at the Parousia. It is hardly necessary to go into a detailed comparison of the two Christologies; in their main outlines they are wholly incompatible. As Werner puts it,
[http://www.religion-online.org/cgi-bin/relsearchd.dll/showchapter?chapter_id=1765]
[The Earliest Gospel by Frederick C. Grant
Frederick C. Grant was Edwin Robinson Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York, and President of Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, Evanstaon Ill. He was a member of the Revision Committee for the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Published by Abingdon Press, New York and Nashville, 1943. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
Chapter 9: Was Mark a Pauline Gospel? ]

The dangers of falling into Tritheism, i.e. polytheism were exceedingly great. Roman's Hellenistic Church Father consequently integrated yet more Greek philosophy into their theology. They turned to Platonic, Trinitarian theology. One spoke now of the `hypostasis' (= `individualization,') of the three components of a single `ousia' (= substance). That is to say: one `ousia' and three `hypostaseis,' all of them, together, constituting a single `theotes,' i.e. Godhead in eternal "homoousios" (= equipoise). The term appears only once in the New Testament, but that is hardly decisive. After all, Ignatius' decisive words which legitimized the Roman Church's power-play are also absence from the New Testament. That sole entry occurs in the Letter to Hebrews 1:3:
"He is the radiance of God's glory, the stamp of God's very being [literally: the mark of the very being of him = `Character tes hypostaseos autou'] and he sustains the universe by his word of power."
The final pay-off came at the Fourth Ecumenical Council at Chalcedon in 451 C.E. In that council's 101st canon, Pope Leo `the Great' of Rome declared that Jesus' death on the cross created the sacraments. It has so remained since then. In the liturgy of the eastern orthodox church's mass the ritual still exists of reading John 19:34 out loud before the deacon pours wine and water into chalice. (M. Werner, Die Entstehung des Christlichen Dogma, p. 483.)
[http://www.thecosmiccontext.de/christianity/apostolic_trio.html]

The Council of Chalcedon [now Kadiköy in Turkey] ( fourth Ecumenical Council, AD 451, Eutyches and much other esoterica). Convoked by the Emperor Marcian, it was attended by about 520 bishops or their representatives and was the largest and best documented of the early councils. It approved the creed of Nicaea (325), the creed of Constantinople (381, subsequently known as the Nicene Creed), two letters of Cyril against Nestorius, which insisted on the unity of divine and human persons in Christ, and the Tome of Pope Leo I confirming two distinct natures in christ. It rejected the Monophysite doctrine of Eutyches that christ had only one nature.
The Council banished Eutyches, condemned his ‘heresy’, and established a centrist doctrine that came to serve as the touchstone of Christian orthodoxy in East and West. The Council held that christ had two perfect and indivisible, but distinct, natures: one human and one divine. Thereafter, Eutyches disappeared, but his influence nevertheless grew as Monophysitism spread throughout the East.
The Council then codified these doctrines in a formula known as ‘the Definition of Chalcedon’. The establishment had by now become very leery of attempts to put official dogma into new words, but the civil authorities over rode their timidity. The Definition of Chalcedon contained the deathless phrase, attributed to Basil of Seleucia, that ‘christ’ is “acknowledged in two natures unconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly and inseparably”.
Thus, there remained multiple confusions and sotto voce grumblings that were to echo down the centuries. So also were planted the seeds that eventually resulted in the Great Schism. The subsequent history of Monophysite doctrine in the Eastern Church is the history of national and independent churches (e.g., the Syrian Jacobites) that, either for reasons of reverence for some religious leader or as a reaction against the dominance of the Byzantine or Roman churches, retained a separate existence.
Besides reinforcing canons of earlier Church councils, as well as declarations of some local synods, the Council issued disciplinary decrees affecting monks and clergy including a ban on marriage after taking vows or orders, and declared Jerusalem and Constantinople to be patriarchates. The overall effectcontents
contentswas to consolidate the growing power structure of the church and to give it stable institutional dogma and character.
[http://www.abelard.org/councils/councils.htm#ec4]

Pierre Hadot’s Porphyry
At the center of the questions about the character of these alternatives, and the consequences of taking them, is how Augustine’s doctrine of the Trinity is understood. To enter this question we must concede the results of two more of these Catholic scholars, the Jesuit Paul Henry and Pierre Hadot, who significantly passed from the priesthood to being the teacher of late ancient philosophy as "way of life" for those with or without religion. They demonstrated that Augustine’s trinitarian doctrine depended upon Porphyry’s telescoping of the hierarchically ordered Plotinian hypostases (the One, NOUS and Soul). Augustine followed a crucial step taken by Porphyry when he understood the persons of the divine Trinity as co-equal and interpenetrating substantial activities of being, knowing and loving. Certainly what Augustine took from Plotinus via Porphyry determined what he made of the human and the divine; he is explicit about that. Without the Platonists, Augustine would not have known that substance could be immaterial. The Augustinian self is Plotinian in that regard. But Augustine unifies the selves which in Plotinus are divided and he makes equal the divine hypostases which Plotinus subordinated to the One.
For Plotinus each of us is many. With Plotinus we do not need to deconstruct the illusory unity of the rational self, we are before their problematic unification. This ‘before’ is part of the attraction of Plotinus to deconstructing postmoderns. There are at least three selves in Plotinus: (1) a thinking self eternally established in the divine NOUS, (2) its psychic image in time, chained to and concerned with the body, and (3) the individuality both founded in and seeking to transcend itself in union with the One. The first self remains always above and exists by a continual contemplation of which the historical self is only rarely conscious. The second, the temporal image of this noetic idea, exists by conversion toward what is established in the realm of true being; Plotinus writes that it wraps itself around its prior. The third is the ground of what appears in the other forms of perception but is itself more given in eros for union with the super-abundant source than in knowledge. Because the self as it is in the One is not self-reflective, these selves cannot be unified.
With Plotinus as with Augustine, the true self is immortal mind but, beyond Plotinus, the Augustinian human self is simultaneously above and below, intellectual and historical, both wisdom turned toward its archetype in God and also science, imagination and sense turned toward the physical world. Remembering is not only that by which the soul retrieves its knowledge of the principles above, but is also that by which mind gathers its historical experience into its eternally established self. Eternal salvation is not a matter of leaving the historical self behind. The human individual is immortal and intellectual as well as historical, self-conscious and soul. Its being is as self-related self-conscious subject. The human mind (mens) is like God because mind is a circular activity of remembering or being, self-knowing and self-loving. The human historical individual is trinitarian image and placed face to face with God. Whatever else may need to be said about it, this is true.
But Augustine did not achieve this absolutely crucial result immediately, simply by a radical transformation of the Plotinian hypostatic hierarchy and the plural Plotinian selves. In between Porphyry intervenes. As a result reconstructing what Augustine really did and what its consequences are is preceded by questions about the meaning of what scholarship has identified with Porphyry. These questions become more and more momentous. There is an increasing tendency to find the origins of Greek Christian as well as Augustinian trinitarian theology in what is identified as Porphyry’s work. Behind the difference between Augustine and the Pseudo-Dionysius may lie a common filiation from Porphyry. Christian Trinitarian theology, what many would regard as what most distinguishes Christian theologians from pagan Neoplatonists, may in fact have its most fundamental logic in a move within Neoplatonism.
A piece of scholarly guess work has prompted all this speculation about the relations between pagan and Christian thought. In 1968 Pierre Hadot, working out questions raised by Paul Henry and others, published a 2 volume study which identified an anonymous commentary on the Parmenides of Plato as the work of Porphyry. Hadot found in the doctrine of the commentary as transmitted by Marius Victorinus the roots of Augustine’s trinitarian theology. As a result the following questions occur. Is Christian trinitarian theology merely the development of a logical possibility within Neoplatonism? Is a totalizing ontology one of the alternatives within Neoplatonism? Is this the alternative

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