Jerry

I would also add that I believe the primary application of this verse today is to cults and false religions, such as Catholicism and Seventh Day Adventists that teach you can't marry (for the priests and nuns) and that we are not to eat meats or certain meats.

Context. This is talking about false teachers who reject the truth and those in the end times who have itching ears. All the New Testament is for believers. 1 Corinthians 7 is the primary NT passage dealing with marriage and remarriage (and forbidding to marry is not dealing with remarriage, but marriage in the first place). God's Word does not contradict itself. If you have a conflict between your views and the Bible, the Bible is right. We also need to rightly divide the Word of God and put all passages dealing with the same principle or doctrine side by side and see how they fit together - see if any of it is fulfilled or done away with in the NT - though in this case you are dealing with two NT passages, therefore one is not done away with. Context is essential.

The best passage to look at is 1 Corinthians 7. And no, the Bible does not say you are automatically free to remarry. The verse posted above does not apply in this issue. The Bible teaches that you cannot remarry until your spouse dies or you are guilty of committing adultery.

This was noteworthy when I watched the producers talking about this: Dallas Jenkins said there was not much in modern media that gave a good descriptive image of Jesus, and one of the reasons they produced the show was to give people an image or picture of Jesus they could have in their mind when praying and reading the Bible. And on top of that, Jenkins and others are selling pictures and paintings of Jesus - INCLUDING pictures of the actor who played Jesus. No matter how you feel about movie and tv portrayals of Jesus in that story format - SELLING images of Jesus (whether paintings, portraits of the actor playing Jesus, etc.) for you to buy and keep in your home would definitely qualify as the promotion of idolatry. That is not Jesus in any shape or form whatsoever - it is a man-made image. To think about that, to focus on it while praying, reading the Bible, and "worshipping" God is exactly what the Bible forbids AND condemns. No one knows what Jesus looked like physically as the Bible never gives a physical description, and to identify the real Jesus with an artistic representation is wrong. As Paul said: Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

The Bible speaks about faith, hope, and love, but does not state they are gifts. It does state that charity/love is greater than all the sign gifts, and that these three things you mentioned remain after the sign gifts are done away with. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

It's not an issue of forgive and forget. If it was a manner of "the Lord taking over the situation" when you pray, then the NT wouldn't have instructions on how to deal with problem pastors or members. What is the church leadership doing (in this case)? Do they contradict the Bible in their doctrine and in their practices (for lack of a better word)? If a pastor has abused his authority or treated members in a wrong/sinful manner, has he made it right or is this an ongoing issue? If ongoing, then a person needs to take one or more witnesses to speak with the pastor. If the pastor repents, then unless the issue keeps coming up again, then it should be fine to put it behind you. If the pastor continually abuses his authority, then perhaps it is time to find another church. A spiritually-abusive pastor can do a lot of damage over time. This may answer some questions: https://www.wayoflife.org/free_ebooks/pastors_deacons_members.php

For those interested in this theme, here is an interesting message that deals with a little of what we were discussing in this thread. I do not know enough about this preacher to recommend him or not yet, but this message was good: https://youtu.be/DnS8mTN24XA

I am not sure who you are referring to - but this is what God's Word says (and what came to mind as I read this): Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. Woe to that country when women and children rule.

I think they get it from this passage: Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. But from Romans 6:23 and John 3:16 and other places, we know the gift is salvation. I have read Calvinistic authors, such as MacArthur, Pink, and some others state that the gift is faith (ie. the faith to believe and receive the Gospel).

Will We Know Our Loved Ones In Heaven? Yes, I do believe we will recognize our loved ones for the following Biblical reasons: 1. The Bible says that those we win to the Lord will be our crowns of rejoicing in Heaven – in other words we will be rejoicing in eternity spent together. 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For ye are our glory and joy. 2 Corinthians 1:14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 2. King David said one day he would go to Heaven see his son that had died – that certainly indicates he would know him. This thought of being reunited is what removed David’s grief. 2 Samuel 12:22-23 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. 3. On the mount of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah showed up to speak with Jesus and the three disciples recognized them. There is nothing in the passage to indicate that Jesus had to point out who these two were to the disciples. Matthew 17:3-4 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with Him. Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 4. In Hebrews 11, it talks about the OT saints who conquered through faith, and said God was waiting until they were united with us before He fulfilled all the promises. Hebrews 11:39-40 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. Hebrews 12:1 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, 5. Also, think of Abraham and Lazarus – Lazarus knew who Abraham was, though Abraham had died about 2000 years before. Luke 16:22-23 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 6. The promise of the Rapture is specifically designed to comfort believers over their departed loved ones – because they will be reunited again one day. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 7. While I do not believe the context of the following verse is referring to Heaven (but to the complete canon of Scriptures – when that which is perfect is come), I do believe we can make an application regarding it: 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Right now, as a believer, I can know the Lord “face to face” spiritually as I read His Word and see Him revealed therein, see His Word opened up to my eyes and see all the types and Old Testament prophecies explained, see how they all point to the Saviour – and then one day, when Jesus returns, I will see Him face to face physically. Until that day keep looking up! 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 1 Peter 1:6-8 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Now we see Him not – though one day we will be face to face with Jesus – when we shall be caught up together with all our saved loved ones and meet the Lord in the air! And so shall we ever be with the Lord! I hope this devotional was a blessing to you – as it was to me as I meditated on these various passages. September 27th/05 Jerry Bouey

Yes, one of the fruit of the Spirit is faith. When we walk with the Lord, our faith grows - of course, it grows as we keep reading and studying the Word of God. See Romans 10:17 and Galatians 5:22-23. But faith for salvation comes through hearing the Gospel. It is our response to what God has says. We place faith in His Word, in the truth, and He saves us. God doesn't give us the faith, He gives us the Gospel, and we respond in faith. The other way the Calvinists state it is putting the cart before the horse.

According to Romans, the gift is eternal life (ie. salvation) - and John 3:16 says Jesus Christ is who the Father gave (therefore a gift), but stating faith is the gift implies it is only GIVEN to those whom God chooses. All that we need for salvation comes through the Lord Jesus Christ, the ultimate gift. My regular pastor has never said anything wacky or attempted in any way to bring in false doctrine - but this preacher from our church that has stepped up to fill the pulpit and lead the services while our pastor is away has said several questionable things over the last couple of months. Usually he clarifies or fixes what he is saying when we talk about it during the service (usually Sunday School or Wednesday night as those are the services where we can interact with what he is saying). But the fact that he has recommended questionable authors and youtube channels and keeps bringing in stuff that seems off (or outright is off), really causes me concern.

I am curious, how many here have heard preachers say the gift of God is faith, rather than the gift of God being salvation? Saying faith is the gift of God sounds more like Calvinism - God choosing who would be saved or not, rather than making salvation available to all who will receive it by faith. I am mentioning this because on Sunday a preacher in my church said this. Earlier in the same sermon (I think it was) he made one other main point that was definitely teaching Calvinism (the Holy Spirit quickening the lost so they can receive the Gospel - stated several different ways - basically stating that we are regenerated so we can be born again). Because it was the Sunday School hour, there was space for interacting with the preaching so I was able to say something and correct what he was stating. He then backed off, basically claiming wrong/bad word choices in his explanation. But this morning I remembered this other thing he said as well, so I am listening to the sermon that I recorded on my phone. I have not gotten to the part where he was referring to the gift of God yet, but I heard clearly again earlier in the sermon where he referred to this idea of man being made alive (ie. first) so he could receive the Gospel, though it was only one sentence, so I didn't catch it on Sunday). And he made another comment from Jude when I was speaking to him before we prayed after service about something in Jude, and he referred to the word ordained in verse 4, stating that God chose that these false teachers would come into the churches (by way of testing, I think was what he was stating, but I was focussed more on the other part), that He ordained particular people to be false teachers and given over to His condemnation - rather than ordaining that any false teacher creeping into the church would be condemned. In other words, God chose those particular people to reject the faith and teach falsehoods that would damn them and potentially others. Has anyone else seen Calvinism creep in this way into churches? The only good thing I can see here is my pastor will be back on April 3rd on. He has not been able to cross the border to come up and preach in our church since all these Covid restrictions started. Yes, he could have crossed the border into Canada in the last few months, but it is him, his wife, and son, and they would have had to pay $200 each for every border crossing into Canada. Now it seems they have removed that requirement and, Lord willing, he should be back in 1 1/2 weeks.

The NT refers to saying amen at the preaching, the giving of thanks - it nowhere states that we should clap. How about conducting our worship services according to God's Word? This is the only verse that even refers to clapping in reference to worship. Psalm 47:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Are you clapping to the sensual beat of the music? That would be wrong. Are you clapping to the message? That is inappropriate, as a few others here expressed. If someone was blessed by a sermon I preached or something I shared in a service, I would rather hear them say Amen or Praise the Lord (something like that) - which is directed towards the Lord, than have them clap for me. Or are you clapping to the Lord in the same way you would shout and give praise to Him? If it is not to Him, is it appropriate in a church service - Biblically I mean?

Donating the leaves for what? I didn't say it was evil or Catholic - just that I don't see the need for it or understand it. I see preaching about Jesus coming into Jerusalem for His final week as He went to the cross and the events of that week for sermon themes, but observing the day in some sense, I don't. At least not as a regular thing every year. If some church decided to do a series of meetings about Jesus going to the cross and being our Messiah who fulfilled all OT prophecies so far about His first coming, then I can see a purpose for that - but not as an day to be observed. In the sense I mentioned above, I could see observing it in that sense as a believer or a church may occasionally observe the Passover - as an opportunity to preach and fellowship over what our Saviour has done. And this is my opinion - I am not saying it is wrong, just that I don't see or understand the purpose of it. We should do all to glorify the Lord and edify the true believers in our local church. What is the reason you or your church observes the day? And is it something they observe every year?

Clap for what? It is not entertainment, it is preaching. If the music has so strong a beat that you feel the need to clap with it, it probably shouldn't be in a church.

We have a service every sunday. We don't have one where we specifically observe Palm Sunday (and not sure why someone would feel the need to observe that random day in the life of Christ...), but we have preached on the events of Christ's life many times, including Him coming to Jerusalem in the final week (and the events of that week) before going to the cross.

I did not question your salvation anywhere, especially not in this thread so am unsure why you said that. There is nothing wrong with explaining or connecting Scriptures together while someone is teaching or studying the Word of God. Obviously this subject is not as plain to you as you are saying or we would all believe the exact same thing on the issue.

Again with the Baptists this and the Baptists that. ALL kinds of churches in the endtimes are wandering further and further from the truth. IFB's are probably one of the ones that are overall less wandering - though certainly there are many individual Baptist churches (yes, even ones that call themselves IFB's) and even conventions that are turning from the truth. That is a sign of the times. Historically, Baptists (and IFB's) have been closest to the truth. Free Presbyterians are a close second (from what I can tell by my research). But apostasy and compromise can be found across all professing "Christendom." YET, there are many IFBs that have not and will not compromise - don't paint all Baptist (and especially Independent Fundamental Baptists) with the same broad apostate compromising brush. It is just not true to life or the Scriptures. Though the majority of the churches today are like Laodicea - churches of ALL KINDS - there are still faithful ones that are like Philadelphia and Smyrna, or anywhere along the spectrum shown by the seven churches in Revelation 2-3.

Actually, Job 19:26 says AFTER worms destroy his body he will see God with his eyes. Job 19:26-27 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Also, after his reins - his insides - are consumed within him. Based on the book of Hebrews and Revelation 5, I think it is fair to say Jesus will be the same in Heaven as He was after His resurrection - a spirit does not have wounds in their hands and side, yet in Revelation 5, the Lamb is identified by His wounds. Just to clarify, if you are still willing to talk about it (even if you don't want to debate), are you saying you believe when you die you will have a spirit body (which is correct) or in eternity, on the new Heaven and new earth? That would not line up with the Word of God. This is posted for anyone else reading this thread - even if you are not interested in more on this subject, as others may be wondering what else the Bible says on this topic. The Bible teaches our spirits are united with our bodies at the rapture - therefore no believer, not even Jesus, will have a "spirit" body in eternity (though, of course, it will be spiritual in some sense, due to its nature - ie. not just physical or not just the same as His physical body that He had before He arose from the dead). At the resurrection of the just, all believers who have died throughout history are resurrected - that is referring to their new bodies, as their spirits are already dwelling in Heaven (this mortal will have put on immortality - a body without sin that can never die again). And at the resurrection of the unjust, the wicked are are reunited with their bodies before they are judged at the Great White Throne Judgement, then they are cast body and soul into Hell (lake of fire) - though there are obviously some changes to their physical body because it will never be consumed in the flames or by the worms that are eating them.

1Timothy, I think you are misunderstanding Jim. The Bible teaches we will have the SAME body, but it will be glorified - it will no longer be fleshly. Jesus' still had the same body with the wound in His side and nail prints in His hands and feet, but it was glorified - it could go through walls, appear and disappear when He chose, but still eat food and drink liquids. Though, notice Jesus did not say "flesh and blood", but "flesh and bones" - all His blood was shed on the cross and is now in Heaven, as the book of Hebrews teaches us. Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Job will STILL see the Lord in his same body - but it will have been resurrected and glorified, redeemed, no longer any trace of our sin nature remaining in it. Job 19:25-27 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Though my body is consumed, rotted away, eaten by worms, YET I will still see the Lord one day in this body. Romans 8:18-23 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 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. If our resurrected body was not at least in part the same body, then this passage would not make complete sense: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 2 Corinthians 5:1-4 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. In much the same way, the new earth will be a renovated earth, with all the effects of man and of sin burned up off of it. If it is not the same earth at all, then the Bible contradicts itself when it over and over again promises the land/earth to the Jews (and even describes the territory they will possess FOREVER). Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. New in respect to freshness, not in respect to age - that is literally what the Greek word means.

I felt like something was missing (to me, in my thoughts on this) when I read this yesterday, but I just now realized what. No, we are not commanded to observe the Lord Jesus' resurrection as a specific day of the year - though certainly there is nothing wrong with observing Passover or some aspects of it as a memorial to what Christ has done; however, the fact that the NT church meets on Sunday is an observance every week of the resurrection of Christ.

Your other points about the seven churches fit but not this. In chapter 1, Jesus said this: Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter; The things which thou hast seen - the vision of Christ in chapter 1 The things which are - the seven churches and the church age The things which shall be after the church age, after the church is raptured away - chapter 4 onwards. Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. The seven year Tribulation period does not start until the first seal is broken in chapter 6, after the Lamb is given the book with seven seals. Therefore the church is no longer here for those events - they are caught up hither, they are taken out of the way so the man of sin can arise. The seven churches are seven literal first century churches, that also picture any church or individual throughout history - someone will always fall somewhere into that spectrum, and the complete church age pictured to a tee by seven distinct eras (and historically it was only in this age of Laodicea that preachers began to see it as a picture of church history - which makes sense as Daniel was to be sealed until the time of the end, and likewise there are things we would not be able to see until we get closer to those events).

Good point. The Lord's Supper is about observing His death and shed blood for our sins. The Easter eggs come straight out of Ashtoreth worship, Ashtar the fertility/moon goddess. Israel got in trouble when they mixed their worship of the true God with that of the pagan gods around them, especially that one. If it offended God for His people to participate in those pagan practices in OT times - and the Lord God has not changed - what do you think He would think about it today? Let's see how Elijah deals with this question. Baal the Sun god and Ashtar the moon goddess (and her prophets referred to as the prophets of the groves - Asherah or Astarte) often go together - hm, sunrise services with fertility symbols - no, no connection at all today... 1 Kings 18:18-19 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. The whole chapter is worth reading. 1 Kings 11:4-5 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 1 Kings 11:33 Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father. 2 Kings 23:13 And the high places that were before Jerusalem, which were on the right hand of the mount of corruption, which Solomon the king of Israel had builded for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Zidonians, and for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the children of Ammon, did the king defile. 1 Samuel 7:3-4 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only. 1 Samuel 12:10 And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. Does it still bother God today? You decide (and please base your conclusion on the Bible)... Judges 2:12-14 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. Judges 10:6-7 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

John, did Constantine write that article? Paganism to the max. Easter and all its activities and rituals - as well as Halloween - is paganism and idolatry. Any Christian participating in it - whether they rename aspects of it or not - are outright involved in evil, which the Bible forbids. It does not suddenly become acceptable because so many are doing it. God has NOT changed, NOR has His Word. Jeremiah 10:2-5 Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. Hm, Christmas trees (referred to by Jeremiah in the above passage) and easter eggs (exact same Bibical principles apply here!!!)! Seems the Lord God told us to LEARN NOT THE WAY OF THE HEATHEN!