Rufus Loc: Deep South

Amen and Amen. I was raised a Baptist preacher's kid in New Orleans. Down there you can throw in some hoodoo on somebody and get away with it. Dummy Boy would be wise to carry a monkey's foot and a black cat bone. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Armageddun Loc: The show me state

I humbly suggest you read the account of the discussion between satan and God concerning Job from the beginning. I believe you will find the meeting took place in heaven.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

No, I'm not Jewish. However, I have taken to studying some of the Hebrew language and exploring Messianic Hebrew doctrine and practices. I mean, Christianity did emerge from the Hebrew culture, most of the OT was originally written in Hebrew. And, of course, Yeshua was a Jew.

You might say I am a seeker of knowledge.

Aleikhem shalom! Toda Raba!

Rufus Loc: Deep South

It's all good Blade. We are grafted in. :thumbup:

ColdDrink

Christianity, in my limited view, did not "emerge the Hebrew culture," it emerged from God, as did the Jews. I see nowhere said in the Bible that religion is necessary. And nearly everywhere see in the OT and NT where religion was the root of discord and sin.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

If that's the way you see it. Kind of a dark view of Christianity, especially since it only emerged after Jesus ministry and sacrifice and is only recorded in the NT. However, His human genealogy goes way back.

ColdDrink

Not a "dark view" of Christianity, an obvious dismissal of that preposterous and worldly entity invented by pride and blindness. For me, according to Christ, there should be no such thing as Christianity. That animal does not exist.

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

If Christianity does not exist, then you are shooting in the dark at a phantom--at least in your mind. However, 2.2 billion people beg to differ.

BTW: The word "Christian" was originally a pejorative term coined by the Roman pagans when referring to the followers of Jesus.

Artemis

Excellent Point :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Dummy Boy Loc: Michigan

Cool avatar for Alpha and Omega!

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

Some may think that if we need to repent we should not want God's blessings. We should ALWAYS want God's blessings, if for no other reason, no man can possibly know all the ways God blesses individuals or nations.

"He sends the rain on the just and the unjust." Do we really desire a drought to last until the entire nation repents? I for one will accept any morsel of mercy God sends my way as I, in my ignorance, seek forgiveness for any foolishness I may have sent His way.



Yet he says about the rich, "They have been blessed above other men." Abraham for example.



Yet our "Triumph" is in the cross of Christ. It is a blessing.



Not sure what is meant here, because I for one never thought others should "obey America's will." God's will, yes, because God wants it, not because I say so.



Refusing food to the hungry is not vengeful. It is unmerciful. Vengeance is something else, and "Belongs to God."



The opposite of "Pure in heart" is impure in heart. While I agree with her on the issues she raises, they are not in opposition to the blessings she references. I agree with her obvious anger though.



The "right" do not start wars. They finish them.



Agreed! And a wonderous ride too!



Some! Some, not so much!



I do not agree with that. There are many on the so called "Left" who are just as "patriotic" as any on the Right. And Reciprocity too!



You may have a point to ponder!

Very deep post, very much thought involved.

Rufus Loc: Deep South

:thumbup: I read the Bible through each year. Yesterday I came across this passage. " In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. " Isaiah 24:21 So it may very well be that Lucifer and his followers have some limited access to some level in heaven. My study Bible seems to think this may be a reference to rebellious angels that will be judged. It reminds us of this by a reference to 1 Corinthians 6:3 which says, " Do you not know that we will judge angels ? How much more the things of this life ! "

Artemis

Thanks I don't know about Alfa and Omega, but it mean Universal Peace

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Revelation

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Then He said to me, "It is done I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. "He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

Theo Loc: Within 1000 miles of Tampa, Florida

That is not quite accurate. While it is true, "ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN" it is NOT true that all unrighteousness has the same consequence.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death;

1 John 5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

If a man sees his brother sin a sin not unto death, he can intercede on behalf of his brother in prayer to God to intervene on behalf of the one sinning such a sin, and prevent it from becoming "unto death" as in the case of Abraham and Abimelech, as told in Gen 20 -



Genesis 20:1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.



God did not command men to work to earn His favor. He commanded them to work so as to strengthen their own selves in order to prepare them for the strong tests that life provided. Spiritual exercise is more important than physical weight lifting that is designed to build muscle for physical strength.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath BEFORE ORDAINED that we should walk in them.

The great debate about works in the new testament had to do with Paul's instruction to the Hebrew people that "works of the law" would not save them. But James taught that doing the works of God is not the same as doing the works
of the law.


John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might 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.

Another work of God is found in the activity of repenting -
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.




John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might 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.

Another work of God is found in the activity of repenting -
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.


James 2:14 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.