iFrank Loc: San Antonio

Just wondering if anyone out there wants me to continue posting on this site. Or shall I unsubscribe from this section. I appreciate hearing from you all. Thanks, iFrank.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

Well when all you do is ridicule and mock other Christians and act superior to everyone else that doesn't endear
you very well to others so for me personally don't let the door hit you on the way out!

BUT! If you're ready to repent, change your course and apologize for your actions, I'll forgive you and we can move forward. After all Jesus said if you truly don't forgive others, our Father in Heaven won't forgive us.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

No I won’t deviate from my interpretation of what Christ states in the Bible. Do you know the parable of the Fig tree that Christ told you to learn. He didn’t say tomorrow.

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

Just like the other sections, you are free to post...but, no one is obligated to respond to you.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

Of course, but if no responses then why should I post messages from the Bible, which are hard to adhere. These are the end times according to the Bible and sugar coating feel good messages which most have heard thousands times before is not in GODs best interest. So I have decided to chose passages that have an outlook changing properties, If GOD want to open their minds then He will. If people don’t want to know the knowledge that He wrote, then it on them. But it seems that people don’t want the challenges that the Word states.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

So, your interpretation -- I notice it's YOUR interpretation (again eisegesis) and not what the Holy Spirit teaches you -- of what Christ states in the Bible is to ridicule and mock others who don't agree with you and act superior to everyone else? There's another word for acting superior. It's called PRIDE!

Boo_Boo Loc: Jellystone

You are the only one who can answer your question.....Here is from a Jewish perspective, if your messages are truly Devine, then it is G*d who inspires and touches minds and hearts....not you. You are the tool, not the author. G*d does not require or even suggest anyone to act in His interest.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

People have different interpretations or views of the Bible, and as you quote from it, you’ve got no wiggle room for mincing words in the Bible. “Interpretation“ is the action of explaining the meaning of something. Don’t believe me, look it up.

So your argument is moot. That’s not pride. Boy you jumped on it before looking up the definition. Christ is at the door and you’re still drinking milk. So did you know the Parable of the Fig tree, it goes way back to the beginning of the Old Testament. No, still has you at a disadvantage. Christ said that five out of seven churches are dead cause they don’t teach what He wants them to teach. It appears yours is one of them cause you haven’t been taught line by line precept by precept. there is no place in the Bible that forbids my angle of bringing about the Words of GOD.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

It is profitable onto men to show other people what it says in the Bible. GOD is sending Christ back and He’s at the door, and He has our reward which is a good thing. And has a rod of iron for those who don’t or didn’t follow through. They’re are a lot of foolish virgins who don’t have enough oil ( truth) in their lamps. Why? Cause they don’t study GOD’s word. Remember GODs Bible is pregnant meaning if you study you will get another revelation of the Word. That where knowledge is.

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

There are two very important words concerning Bible interpretation, exegesis, that I use, and eisegesis, which you use.

Exegesis [ < Greek exègeisthai (to interpret) < ex- (out) + hègeisthai (to lead). Related to English 'seek'.] Definition: To interpret a text by way of a thorough analysis of its content. In its most basic Bible-relevant meaning, exegesis means finding out what the Holy Spirit originally was saying through its author in that Bible passage.

Exegesis essentially means using the words of the text in Scripture, through the lens of their original context, to determine their intent. In other words, if one analyzes Scripture exegetically, they won’t come to the text with any pre-conceived notions. They let the text itself reveal the what the writer is revealing to the reader. By doing this, we don’t read anything into Scripture that wasn’t there before, and we study the meaning of the passage that was intended for a specific audience.

Eisegesis [ < Greek eis- (into) + hègeisthai (to lead).] Definition: A process where one leads into study by reading a text on the basis of pre-conceived ideas of its meanings.

Eisegesis essentially means reading into the text with a pre-conceived notion we may have. This can often mean coming to the Scripture with a biased cultural lens that didn’t exist during the time the Bible was written. Of course, theologians frown upon this approach because it isn’t rooted in Scripture. At its worst, it can be used to twist Scripture to assert a certain belief.

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

I have a concordance with the Greek and Hebrew dictionary, so you can discern GODs Words. When you read the Bible, then go word by word with the Hebrew or Greek application, you can feel the Words come alive. It’s like a breath of fresh air so to speak. I’m into GODs Word. Nothing else then studying in this manor is sufficient for my quest. I’ve been at many churches in my life and this is the best way for people to get into GODs mind by studying the Bible.

Still no answer on my question of the parable of the Fig Tree. Christ said learn it today, but since many teachers don’t study themselves, how can they know to teach their congregations. That’s what Christ said about the dead churches. They rather have functions and maybe marry gay people.

billy a Loc: South Florida

If it doesn't trouble you to post, Frank, please continue. Just because folks don't respond, doesn't mean they diddn't read your efforts.
These are troubled times, and people need that seed planted. Did you notice? The Religion/Spirituality section out-posted the General Chit-chat section today! Good Work!
Love and Light....

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

Do you even pray to the Holy Spirit to guide, lead, and teach about what your're reading or do you depend on yourself for interpretation?

Parky60 Loc: People's Republic of Illinois

Jesus told the Parable of the Fig Tree—Luke 13:6-9—immediately after reminding His listeners of a tower over the pool of Siloam (John 9:7; Luke 13:4-5) which unexpectedly fell and killed eighteen people. The moral of that story is found in Luke 13:3: “Unless you repent, you will likewise perish.” To reiterate this moral, Jesus then begins telling the story of the fig tree, the vineyard owner, and the gardener who took care of the vineyard.

The three entities in the story all have clear symbolic significance. The vineyard owner represents God, the one who rightly expects to see fruit on His tree and who justly decides to destroy it when He finds none. The gardener, or vineyard keeper who cares for the trees, watering and fertilizing them to bring them to their peak of fruitfulness, represents Jesus, who feeds His people and gives them living water. The tree itself has two symbolic meanings: the nation of Israel and the individual.

As the story unfolds, we see the vineyard owner expressing his disappointment at the fruitless tree. He has looked for fruit for three years from this tree, but has found none. The three-year period is significant because for three years John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching the message of repentance throughout Israel. But the fruits of repentance were not forthcoming. John the Baptist warned the people about the Messiah coming and told them to bring forth fruits fit for repentance because the ax was already laid at the root of the tree (Luke 3:8-9). But the Jews were offended by the idea they needed to repent, and they rejected their Messiah because He demanded repentance from them. After all, they had the revelation of God, the prophets, the Scriptures, the covenants, and the adoption (Romans 9:4-5). They had it all, but they were already apostate. They had departed from the true faith and the true and living God and created a system of works-righteousness that was an abomination to God. He, as the vineyard owner, was perfectly justified in tearing down the tree that had no fruit. The Lord’s ax was already poised over the root of the tree, and it was ready to fall.

However, we see the gardener pleading here for a little more time. There were a few months before the crucifixion, and more miracles to come, especially the incredible miracle of the raising of Lazarus from the dead, which would astound many and perhaps cause the Jews to repent. As it turned out, Israel as a nation still did not believe. But individuals certainly did (John 12:10-11). The compassionate gardener intercedes for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree, and the gracious Lord of the vineyard responds in patience.

The lesson for the individual is that borrowed time is not permanent. God’s patience has a limit. In the parable, the vineyard owner grants another year of life to the tree. In the same way, God in His mercy grants us another day, another hour, another breath. Christ stands at the door of each man’s heart knocking and seeking to gain entrance and requiring repentance from sin. But if there is no fruit, no repentance, His patience will come to an end, and the fruitless, unrepentant individual will be cut down. We all live on borrowed time; judgment is near. That is why the prophet Isaiah wrote, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon" (Isaiah 55:6-7).

iFrank Loc: San Antonio

Thanks for the positive outlook, GOD Bless you in His will.