Leaderboard

It happen to me. But I never forgot the teachings. Then I came back. So here I am today. There you have it. A confession about my imperfect self. Still through it all. God was there. Waiting for me. Putting things in place in my life to guide me back. Then he welcomed me with his open arms. Now here I am. Maybe others were even praying for me. I do not know. So then I ask. Should we simply forget the ones who have lost their way?

That model you present is so very generic....it cannot apply to each individual or each church.....there are many reasons why one who starts out strong in the faith end up walking away.....what I see happening is a generational transition of our young people being divided in what they are taught in schools, society, and politics....this generation is so determined to believe in acceptance of everyone... and since the church preaches unacceptance it has lost it's appeal to them.....however there are those who are rising up strong in their faith even defying the social norms of their generation and suffering persecution and these are the ones that the Holy Spirit is empowering to rise up mighty in the Power of the Spirit to bring change....it is a spiritual battle that is beyond what I ever faced in my younger days.....I pray for them continually....there is so much worldly temptation to just go with what is popular. The church needs to start evolving and begin to see the needs of the youth....to start addressing the pressures they face daily from peers and teachers and leaders of society...from social media and the influences it has upon them.....the youth of today have so much more doors that Satan can attack than I ever faced in my days....but the youth of today are the church of tomorrow..... I agree with what @warrior12 said....our teaching institutions are given too much freedom to teach their biased beliefs to our children and it needs to stop.

No, no, and no I haven't. Instead I see hundreds of people, individuals from before birth to death being of the local body of Christ. The ne born are brought before the church for dedication, where the church body takes on the commitment to love and to protect and support the child and it's parents. The child is raised up with church support through early care, school and graduate association, activities till marriage,and then as married individuals or single adults on into their 80's and even a few in their 90's, often one having become married to another then they bring their own newborn child for dedication by the church body to their support too. And so it goes kind of a circle that repeats round and round. Kids of the church body that I once knew as students running around underfoot are now deacons, deaconesses, and elders, as well as missionaries, and lay members, all volunteering in many kinds of associations that share of our Lord Jesus in the community and throughout the entire world. It is such a joy to have been called by the Holy spirit into the body of Christ Jesus and led to attend, be a member of and support Jesus' local church body. Praise God for His kindness and mercy to us!

I speak as a life-long single....so, no, it is not necessary to marry. However, most people are not able to remain in such a state, so then it is better for them to marry. 1 Corinthians 7:9 - But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn (with passion).

Amen, and that's a fact: 1Co 7:32-33 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

This is true my friend . by grace I have been single for fourteen years . And man its a blessing . IF I say why I am single then that is where the constant fights begin . but truth is truth . For me to remarry ITS ADULTERY . period end of discussion . However some men just chose to be single , like paul . But its been a joy for me , to LIVE BY JESUS and not mens doctrines that contradict JESUS sayings . I hope that encourages you. I have another dream I will share later . It was a big one and very filled full of detail .

I see some on here are blaming the churches. I would say that it maybe some are to blame. But I don't put all the blame on the churches. When we reach our 20's we are for the most part no longer under the thump of our parents. I think for some, church going and all that goes along with that is just for show. Their parents make them. They want to please their parents. But in truth they never really let Jesus into their hearts or their lives. Then when they reach the age of adulthood, they go their own way. Not because of what the church did or did not do. But because they made a choice. So while yes I will agree that some churches can be to blame. But not all. Sometimes people just choice the Dark Side. Some of them attended my church. Some of them left and went their own way. Some of them did not come back. But I attended the same church. And here I am, following the path. So I can not say the blame is on the church alone. A choice was given. A choice was made.

The question is really, who judges your actions as sin or not. You may think that you have not sinned minus the so called biggies as you mentioned, but what about your everyday walk and engagements. Have you ever had your conscience bother you and for what reason. You see the total package of sin in your eyes, but the Lord is the judge of all. As I mentioned in previous post, then no reason at all for the sinless person now to say the Lord's prayer and ask for forgiveness, because why should you as you have done nothing wrong . You are falling right into the trap of the enemy. You want to equate yourself as with Christ on this earth, but that is impossible. There is a time coming for that as he would allow us to share in his eternal glory, but it is for a future time. Those who think they can live a sinless perfected life here are only fooling themselves and it all amounts to works. Now, we should strive for absolute holiness as scripture admonishes us to ,but we must recognize that we are not yet perfected and that comes with glorification. The believer rest on the what was done at the cross for him and our righteousness is not of our own, but we are made righteous through Christ redemptive work. I would think all believers and I don't use the word believers lightly, as a believer is one who accepts the whole counsel and teaching of the word and strives to obey it. We can lie to others but not to ourselves. What you are promoting is for lots of people to fall into a guilt trap as if they ever sin, then it can cause catastrophic consequences as they may think they have failed to please God. No matter how long you have been a believer, you are still a child to the master and can fail at times and yes you may be scolded, but not forsaken. Please note , I am not against holiness and living a righteous life, this is what the gospel encourages and teaches us to do, but I have to be realistic about the live we live here and know our human frame too. You had a visitation and something happened to you. I don't know how many had any of those kind of things. I do know that the spiritual world as mentioned in Ephesians exit and I have been in many terrible battle that proved it to me. I just pray brother that your visitation was truly from the Lord and not satan as he can come in as an angel of light. I know this may sound harsh, but I have had situations that showed me how deceptive the dragon is and have experienced many of his schemes and methods. You can't outfox him though, and hence the reason we rest in the bosom of Christ.

- Actually, that is a wrong understanding. Here is the thing...... a lot of unbelievers as well as believers have misunderstood this concept...."taking the Lord's (or God's name) in vain" And all who have not understood this, misunderstand it exactly the same way. This is what they think it means... = "To take the Lord's name in Vain, is to use the Lord's name as curse word....." such as hearing "Jesus" or "Jesus Christ" in a movie as an expression of frustration or anger or contempt. Or, the word "Gd-Dm".... they also think, when this is applied in the same manner, is "taking the Lord's name in vain"......., but this is not the case. So, what is the case?.....what is it exactly to take the Lord's name , in vain?? Well, you have to understand THIS PART of that verse....."To TAKE".... To take what?.....>"The LORD's NAME". And how do you take it?...."In VAIN".. Now, how to understand this, is very simple........ think of it like this......"how do you take a wife, or a husband"?.... You take them by a PLEDGE of TRUTH, and this pledge unites the 2 as ONE......, as that is how you "TAKE someone's name"......its a union., a pledge, and a "oneness". The woman changes her NAME to the Man's last name.....as she has by vow, by union, by earthly and later after consummation, spiritually TAKEN HIS NAME, as her name. = "2 have become one"...= NAME So, if you take a vow, a pledge, or the Lord's Name, to yourself, you have Joined him, in verbal and life, commitment.., exactly like a marriage. You've taken His NAME, as you are the BRIDE, and Jesus is the BRIDE GROOM, and the Bride takes the NAME of the Groom, when MARRIED, or when BORN AGAIN... See it? So, to do this in VAIN, is to be a FAKE. In other words, its someone who is PRETENDING to have a RELATIONSHIP and a Commitment with God and Christ, by taking their name, as if you and they are "ONE".., when in fact this person is NOT at all. It is not being a backslider, or a wayward believer, as they are "one" because they are born again INTO God and Christ as eternally "one". So this "taking the name in Vain" is more extreme then being a hypocrite, as its actually pretending to (take His Name) = pretending to belong to God. These are the ones who did the Christian deeds, talked the Christian talk, but were never born again, and Jesus said of these...."I NEVER KNEW YOU"..! SEE IT? It IS THAT someone who does not understand "grace through faith" or Titus 3:5, or Romans 3:21-28, and is instead engaged in trying to save themselves by works of self righteousness, and are actually not born again. THEY HAVE in THEIR OWN WAY, but not God's way (John 14:6), become a religious type, that has all the Christianese speech, and all the works , but all this is in VAIN, as they have not literally taken God's <>NAME<> to themselves, and are not one with God and Christ, because they are not truly BORN AGAIN.

Simply put, if a man or woman is not born again, then the church cannot do not a thing for that person. You can exhort, teach and warn all you want. Ye must be born again and then something happens that makes that person yearn to want and serve the Lord. You cannot serve two masters. The institutes of higher learning has been teaching a theory as the truth and together with the explosion of social media, peer pressure and fear of the future, young people are yielding to satan plots and ploys. We must be reminded though of the prodigal son.

Without wanting to attack the church, yes. I have seen this happen a LOT in the last 20 years, even as a youth pastor for some time. Many differ on what they think the reason is, but my personal opinion is that it is because we do not raise up children in the way they should go, which is in the FEAR of the Lord (Psalm 34:11). We do not teach them about Hell from an early age, and I believe this is why as they get old enough to be on their own, they DO depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). Granted, I think it takes more than simply teaching them the fear of God; I think it also involves teaching them all the blessings that come with serving God, both in this life and the next. But as scripture says, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and that is where we must begin with them, or they will continue to be seduced away from the faith, as I have personally witnessed more times than I care to talk about.

I would say just keep giving your life to Him, 4Ld. If we keep giving ourselves to His service, eventually the call of God on our life becomes so strong that we have no choice but to enter ministry of some kind, and with that we find the Lord starts providing us with others who will help us in that ministry; people who are of similar or compatible callings, and who are like kindred spirits with us. I was referring to sexual self-control specifically, LoL. But there is also a type of control we need to keep over our emotional nature as well. I think this is indeed the case, and there is nothing wrong with that. All Christians need someone, and God never intended us to be alone, even if we are single. He intends for all of us to be a body together, and a family, so that everyone has their needs met. But again, you will find strong companionship in the Lord if you find your true calling and purpose, and begin pursuing it. Then the Lord can move you into relationships that are lasting and meaningful, and based on service to God. I say all that because I was actually alone and lonely as a believer for many years, despite being married and despite having a lot of believers around me. But as I started entering my calling more, suddenly I was of more value to people, and since then I have developed many friends, and a few friendships with people who serve God with me side by side. So just keep remaining faithful. The time will eventually come when He will provide you with such things.

Yes, we do need to keep looking unto Jesus....as long as we have confessed our sins and believe on our Savior, we do not need to fear any curses. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. Psalm 33:21 These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. John 15:11

If I understand Paul correctly, his celibacy was a gift from God. Not all people can live this way of course and the Lord loves the little children and gave us the means to have them. A family is a wonderful thing, and children are God's gift. We just need to obey God, and if He sends someone along for us to be united with, then that's wonderful. Otherwise some people enjoy the single life! Each choice involves sacrifice in different ways. As Paul said, if you are happy being single, do not seek a wife. But most of us are built for deep relationship with another person and, as a committed Christian, this would be heterosexual and after putting God first in our lives.

[for me anyway] the Word of God tells us plainly concerning this matter, that those given in marriage do well, and those given not in marriage do better: Why? because those given in marriage must needs care for the things of the world for their spouses sake; whereas those given not in marriage may keep their full concentration on the Lord: notwithstanding being married is not at all less than being not married, rather it is the taking on an extra yoke. (1 Corinthians 7:32-38)

The passage Gary Lee cited is the one you are looking for on this issue. To fully explain it would require a full teaching on the importance of fasting in the early church (1 Corinthians 7:5), which has a taming effect upon the sex drive. But Paul's teaching makes it abundantly clear that he considered the single life as preferred over the married life, at least for those who could succeed at it without losing self-control. The more a believer is free to pursue the things of God alone, the more he can be of use to Him, plain and simple.

1Co 7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 1Co 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 1Co 7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment. 1Co 7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. 1Co 7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 1Co 7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

It's a simple answer but hard to go through with. You just have to bite the bullet and be forthcoming about the situation. Ask God to forgive you for the lies, and ask Him to help you make it right with your family.

PHILIPPIANS - Christ, Name above All Names. The Apostle Paul is a prisoner in Rome but has just received a visitor, Epaphroditus. He has come from Philippi with a gift for Paul from the believers there. It was to the Philippians that of all his converts, that Paul looked back with most loving affection and confidence, for from them alone he would accept things to relieve his personal needs. While Epaphroditus was with Paul he was attacked by an illness which brought him to death`s door. News of this caused great distress among his friends in Macedonia. On his recovery, weak and shattered as he was, he longed for home, and Paul sent by him this letter. `Epaphroditus.....was longing for you all, and distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful.` (Phil. 2: 25 - 28) In Paul`s letter although he is in prison, he rejoices, for even here he can reach some of Caesar`s household with the gospel. `I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to the rest that my chains are in Christ.` (Phil. 1: 12 & 13) And at the end of the letter we read how not only the saints at Rome greet the Philippians but `also those who are of Caesar`s household.` (Phil. 4: 22 ) Thus amid great trials and difficulties the apostle encourages the believers to rejoice, and again he says `rejoice.` (Phil. 4: 4) And with his great heart for the believers he turns their minds towards the Lord - `Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.` (Phil. 2: 5 - 9) What need they to fear, for the Lord is above every authority and power, and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord. (Phil. 2: 10 & 11)

They are youth....scripture and wise counsel is what helps....if you just give them scripture do you also give them the application of it?

Here’s a crazy idea......if we sin ,we do the same thing with it that God does——put it on the cross! If you are in the Body of Christ, your sins are already forgiven .Asking for forgiveness will restore the broken fellowship that exists since you committed the sin.As far as Salvation is concerned,there is no effect.God’s Grace covers the sin and God may choose to chastise the guilty party so they do not “get away with it”. For His Own sake, God will “remember the sin no more”. There is no need to rely on “ lucky repentance”, that is making sure that sin is marked off your backlog of unrepented sins before you die, lest you be damned for your lack of quickness in scratching that off your list. ( never mind the sins we missed or forgot , and let’s not even go down the road of “sins of omission” ) God loved us enough when we were His enemies , that He sacrificed His Son on the Cross for us.If you are now His child instead of a foe, He will get us home—-even if He has to kick us in the seat pants all the way there.

I agree here. They appear to make very little difference between themselves and the world, and in mimicking the world they present to kids things which the world can do better. But now the problem for me is also that they need to present a form of Christianity that is more real; I believe the gifts of the Spirit with genuine supernatural manifestations are what kids today need to witness and experience. If not, it just comes off as a lot of theory, and kids don't buy into that sort of thing. Just my opinion.

Evolve as far as equipping them with how to deal with social media, peer pressure, teachers and their biases....and of course backing it with scripture.

Thank you. God bless you.

Jesus said if you love me you will obey my commandments. So if one does not obey or does not care to obey Jesus then they dont love him. And if they dont love him they are not born again. Once we are forgiven our sins and given eternal life we will love him. He who is forgiven much loves much. The bible says we can still fall to sin. Put on all the armour of God. But as mortal men and women we are not yet perfect. John wrote confess your sins and he is faithful to clease you of all unrighteousness. So its a walk we have with God. If we do this we are going his way. To be holy is to set your life apart to God. He already set us apart through the blood of Jesus.

Your family shouldn't be pressuring you to the point of this kind of anxiety, and if they are the type that disowns you because physical disappointment in this world then you'd be better off without them. IMO tell them the truth to test them. But if they're okay with it, then the anxiety you're getting is imaginary, but if its confirmed, then you'll be set free from them and thus your anxiety. Either way the truth shall set you free.

And for this reason it's important that we keep seeking truth and rely on the Holy Spirit to reveal truth as promised. Translating from one language into another is never a 1:1 proposition, and definitions of words change over time. Just by looking at the translations we have today, you can see how bias and interpretation are interjected. Thanks for taking the time to spell it out. Definitely keeping this view in the "possibility" column and fairly high up on the "probability" scale. May we all keep our eyes and ears open, and our hearts teachable by the Holy Spirit.

In the parable of the good stewards, we see how we can be rewarded for the good we do, that benefits the propose of Jesus Christ. We are good stewards, in something, someone else is a good steward in something else, and that does not mean that he cannot come back and be a good steawrd to the Gospel, in the new covenant we have repentance. The botom line is the rewards are beneficial to us if are given and we benefit from them in during our lifes here on eatrh, and we pass them on to benefit our children and wifes and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. If Jesus has desired that we good and provide for our family, and be good to them and be friendly, then this is our mission to do his will in this matter, and from there he will expant and broden our understanding, don't be weary of doing good, then the Lord can have compassion grow in our hearts not only for our own but also for "our neibour", . Then we may look back and see how he kept us away from the polution of this world, because we did not have time, for thinking and picking up the polution of this world, in general lines. And the recognition of the good we do, of coarse is mention in Heavens, and Jesus mentions our name and rewards us from the good we do from heaven, in some way to benefit us while here on earth. We may have faith that Jesus will rewards us for the good we do for the benefit of this life. But if we do not step out to do the good, how can we receive the reward of the good, if we don't do the good.

Greetings brother! This verse looks like it has been not only misunderstood (by me) but mistranslated as well. Behold a new reality: KJV only he who now letteth [will let], Literal Greek. Merely just now hold fast until. KJV until he be taken out of the way. Literal Greek until to emerge from out of in the midst. ‘Ginomai’ (he be taken) Definition to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen of events to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage of men appearing in public to be made, finished of miracles, to be performed, wrought to become, be made ‘Mesos’ (the way) Definition middle the midst in the midst of, amongst These are the two most important points from the verse in question and they completely change the understanding of 2 Thess 2:7. This is a profound change especially in light of the real meaning of “what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” In context what withholds is the fulfillment of apostasia and the revealing of the man of sin, that Jesus may be revealed in His time. The context of the passage is the 2nd coming and the fear of the people they missed it. Paul explains they did not miss this and relates what must occur first. Since apostasia and the revealing must happen before Jesus returns, WHAT withholds, not WHO, are the coming events of apostasia, and the revealing of the man of sin, and what they are withholding is the 2nd coming and the gathering of the elect. “only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way”, is mistranslated as it takes no help from the context. 2 Thess 2:3-8 concerns the conditions that must occur before the 2nd coming and the gathering of the elect, allaying the fears of the church. The coming fulfillment of the apostasia and the revealing of the man of sin are in fact withholding the 2nd coming so then only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way, is an oddity jammed into this section of revealed truth. If we adhere to the Greek and continue in the same context as Paul this fragment should read a bit differently, e.g. “Simply endure for now until he rises in the middle.” or, “Merely holdfast for now until he appears to the world from in the midst.” Maybe, “Wait until the coming into being in the middle,” is better. Or perhaps even better might be the idea that the withholding will continue until apostasia is complete and the man of sin is revealed, becoming or coming into being; manifesting to the world from right in between, or the middle, or in the midst of. Since this entire passage is about the delaying of the coming of Jesus, and the gathering of the elect, and why there is a delay, and what causes that delay, it makes sense there should be a mention of when that delay will end and what that will look like. Only after this ‘coming into being in the midst’ “shall that Wicked be revealed,” I see this as a reference to the prophecy of Daniel and the words of Jesus when speaking of the last week and the A of D. Paul is saying exactly what Jesus and Daniel combined are telling us; The beast is revealed in the middle of the week at the A of D and great tribulation begins; after that Jesus will return and gather the elect. Diaste

Hi Steve, Good morning from a brother in the faith! I read a lot of your posts and I do appreciate the solid ground on which you stand. It's both refreshing and comforting to hear sincerity and truth concerning our Lord Jesus! Even though your OP is the one to which I'm replying, I'm really addressing many people, should they choose to be in the audience. I don't know why this should be but it's ubiquitous that either Micheal or the Holy Spirit is the restrainer in 2 Thess 2. I have heard it myself a hundred times over the years. It's not the right interpretation but somehow people believe it all the same. So lets dig in. My comments will be in blue, scripture in black. Conventional wisdom holds that Micheal is the with holder of the man of sin in 2 Thess 2. Some think it's the Holy Spirit. In truth a 'he' is being withheld by a 'what' and it's not the man of sin that's being withheld; it's the coming of the Lord and the gathering of the elect withheld by the events of the apostasy and the beast declaring himself god. 2 Thessalonians 2 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him, The context is set. The following verses are all about the coming of the Lord and our gathering to Him. 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. It's pretty clear the Thessalonians had been troubled about this and they were hearing some contradictory reports. Paul is assuring them the Day has not come no matter what they have heard from any source, even forged letters. Relax Thessalonian brethren, the day is not here, you did not miss the gathering. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for [that day shall not come], except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; We are still in the context of the first verse, "...the coming of our Lord Jesus, and our gathering together to Him...". Two things have to occur before the coming of the Lord and the gathering: the apostasy and the revealing of the man of sin. I'm sure we're in agreement to this point. Super simple and clear enough that even my head understands. 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. So Paul is giving the details of what the man of sin will do. No doubt so the acts of this man are clear and won't be mistaken for something else. In our time of national identity and 'independence' these acts will be shocking to say the least. Maybe during the Daniel 2 empires this would have been the norm, but in the 3rd millennium? Not only do these acts from v 4 take a whole lot of arrogance but what power is wielded to support such claims and actions? 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? Calling to remembrance the Thessalonians memory of that which they should have already known. Now how is this, really? Paul is still alive, the Thessalonian congregation had just been established, and they forgot so quickly? Not only that, but there were false doctrines going about and even forged letters in the apostles name, which the people were believing, only barely removed from Paul's last visit. These people were very close in time to the source of truth and they were already falling away. No wonder the church is in it's current state. 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. The disputed verse. Several problems with common interpretations of Micheal as the withholder. First the context. It has not changed. If we do away with the parentheticals, those things not directly mentioning the context of verse 1, the first few verses of 2 Thess would read like this: Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him,That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; And now ye know what with holds that he might be revealed in his time. Reading thus we see the coming of the Lord Jesus is on hold for two events, the onset and continuing apostasy of the church and the rise of the man-god. A second point is the 'what withholds' in v 6. This is 'katecho', means to hold back. There is no personal pronoun here. This is simply an impediment to the 'he' in verse 6. If it was Micheal, or the Holy Spirit, then a name or a least a personal pronoun should appear as in, "...now you know WHO withholds that HE might be revealed...". Personal pronouns are in use several times in 2 Thess 2:1-7, and the name of the Holy Spirit and Micheal are well known to Paul. Paul, a scholar superior to all modern scholars, learned directly from the Lord Jesus himself, probably did not make a mistake when not preceding 'katecho' with 'autos', as it's events that are waiting to occur before Jesus comes again, not a Holy personality leaving so the beast can rise. This verse, "And now ye know what with holds that he might be revealed in his time." is really just a concise iteration of verses 1-3. A third point concerns antecedents. Working backwards from verse 6 the only possible antecedent to 'katecho' (of some troublesome condition or circumstance by which one is held as it were bound) are the events of v. 3, as verses 4 and 5 are parenthetical, and the direct antecedent to v. 3 is the day of Christ; all falling under the umbrella of the only context of verses 1-7, the coming of our Lord Jesus and our gathering together to Him. This shows the correct understanding of the text; The day of Christ and the gathering is being with held by the events of the apostasy and the rebellion of the man-god. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: No explanation needed. only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way. But this fragment deserves a fair amount of attention. The translation from the Greek to the Kings English has been shamelessly butchered. Ok, maybe God just hid this until we near the time of fulfillment and it wasn't really an evisceration of the original text, but I'm not sure why or if. I have found other instances where it looks like the translation was a preference and had no bearing on the intent or concepts of the passage, but this is an outstanding example. In the original this fragment mirrors verses 1-6, to wit: This verse looks like it has not only been misunderstood (by me) but mistranslated as well. Behold a new reality: KJV: only he who now letteth [will let], Koine Greek: monon arti katecho heos Literal English: Merely just now hold fast until KJV: until he be taken out of the way. Koine Greek: heos ginomai ek mesos Literal English: until to emerge from out of middle. ‘Ginomai’ (he be taken) Definition to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being, to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen, of events, to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage, of men appearing in public, to be made, finished, of miracles, to be performed, wrought, to become, be made. ‘Mesos’ (the way) Definition middle, the midst, in the midst of, amongst. These are the two most important points from the verse in question and they completely change the understanding of 2 Thess 2:7. This is a profound change especially in light of the real meaning of “what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.” In context what withholds is the fulfillment of apostasia and the revealing of the man of sin, that Jesus may be revealed in His time. The context of the passage is the 2nd coming and the fear of the people they missed it. Paul explains they did not miss this and relates what must occur first. Since apostasia and the revealing must happen before Jesus returns, WHAT withholds, not WHO, are the coming events of apostasia, and the revealing of the man of sin, and what they are withholding is the 2nd coming and the gathering of the elect. “only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way”, is mistranslated as it takes no help from the context. 2 Thess 2:3-7 concerns the conditions that must occur before the 2nd coming and the gathering of the elect, allaying the fears of the church. The coming fulfillment of the apostasia and the revealing of the man of sin are in fact withholding the 2nd coming so then, "only he who now letteth [will let], until he be taken out of the way", is an oddity jammed into this section of revealed truth. If we adhere to the Greek and continue in the same context as Paul, this fragment should read a bit differently, literally, "...alone now hold fast until come into being from out of the middle..." or more modern “Simply endure for now until he rises in the middle.” or, “Merely holdfast for now until he appears to the world from in the midst.” Maybe, “Wait until the coming into being in the middle,” is better. Or perhaps even better might be the idea that the withholding will continue until apostasia is complete and the man of sin is revealed, becoming or coming into being; manifesting to the world from right in between, or the middle, or in the midst of. Since this entire passage is about the delaying of the coming of Jesus, and the gathering of the elect, and why there is a delay, and what causes that delay, it makes sense there should be a mention of when that delay will end and what that will look like. Only after this ‘coming into being in the midst’ “shall that Wicked be revealed,” I see this as a reference to the prophecy of Daniel and the words of Jesus when speaking of the last week and the A of D. Paul is saying exactly what Jesus and Daniel combined are telling us; The beast is revealed in the middle of the week at the A of D and great tribulation begins; after that Jesus will return and gather the elect. Blessings.

Brother, thank you for an excellent question. Considering that sexual lust was my personal “Achilles heel” sin for the first 38 years as a follower of Christ, it is a most appropriate qiestion. First, let us clear up a major point. Let’s re-read the verse you quoted. ”But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28 Do you see what I see? What was the purpose of that man’s hearts he looked on a woman? To lust. That is why he looked. Right? If I am surfing the internet and decide to look at porn, I am not doing so to for any other reason than to lust. Correct? So I have already sinned. However if I am surfing the internet and a photo of an attractive woman comes across my screen, and the temptation all of a sudden hits me like a ton of bricks, have I sinned? Nope. Not yet. Now, the temptation is real, no doubt. But is temptation sin? Of course not. Yielding to it is. Previously in my life, before my visitation, when I was walking as an old natured but born again believer, I would still fall, every time. It was a moot point as to whether or not I purposed to lust or accidentally fell into it and gave myself to it. Either way it resulted in sin. Why? Simply because I had not shield of faith up, and so when Satan shot his arrows at me, they always found their mark. ALWAYS. I had no protection. So I lived with constant fear, constant guilt. Someone could tell me that there was no condemnation to them that know the Lord, and my only conclusions were: a) What had they been drinking? b) God was a liar c) I was fooling myself and was not saved at all At the time, I did not see option “d”, which was I was saved, but I was not safe. So how does one get “safe”? It is what I have been asked to share by the Lord. It is realizing that no matter how I try, I simply will never grow strong enough to give me adequate protection from the devil, no matter what my particular sin of choice is. It is then believing that there has to be a place in the Lord where one can truly be free of the claw that has a stronghold in our brain, or Jesus was a liar telling us we could be FREE INDEED. Once we are desperate enough, and yet refuse to lower the standard of God that heart holiness is important, and also refuse to believe that God somehow, some way, cannot free us to the point of being “free indeed”, we are ready. Ready for what? To cast any remaining hope that we can overcome lust by our efforts.... Bible memorization, prayer, fasting, accountability partners, smashing our computers, letting go and letting God, tearing out the bra and panty sections of our old Sears catalogues, or public confession. I listed these because I had tried all of them. Thank God I did not take it literally when the Word tells us to pluck our our eyes or cut off our hands if they offend us, lol. So that brings us to the point that we are left absolutely hopeless in victory unless Christ gives us a miracle. So when the Lord asks us in Romans 6 to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God, even though it sounds radical, we are so desperate (and it sounds a lot better to us than being a blind, one handed believer), that we cry out to God to “do it for us”. This reckoning is exactly the verse God asked me if I had ever done in all my trying to walk obediently to Him. I had memorized the entire 6th, 7th and 8th chapters of Romans, but in all that time, I had never seen that there was something we were asked to DO. Knowing the truth that we died when Christ died and we rose to newness of life when Christ was resurrected is wonderful, but I had never seen that I needed to do something. And what was that? I was asked to exercise my minuscule, mustard seed sized faith and believe that those truths were MY truths. I was asked to, by faith, appropriate them as MY truths. And I was asked to believe, not that some day in the future I would be free, but that I was free NOW. Why? Because hope is for a future event. Faith is alwaysxNOW faith. So I spoke, out loud, so my ears could hear the truth coming out of my mouth. And when I did, everything changed. I had obeyed the Lord and put off the ‘old me’ and put on the new nature Jesus died to give us. And when I did, scales fell from my eyes. I finally understood the mystery that had been hidden from my eyes for 38 years. Christ had been with me the whole time. But I needed Christ IN ME to be my life. Ok, back to the issue of our thoughts. Currently, you say that sin can happen in a second, tripping us up. Here is what I have found. Yes, temptation can happen that fast, seemingly coming out of nowhere. But as we have discussed, temptation is not sin, right? Ok, this part is critical. If it is now no longer you that lives (the old you) but Christ who now lives in you (as the new man), then when the temptation comes to you as a thought, a flaming arrow, is it YOUR thought any longer? It seemed like your thought previously because you did not have your shield of faith raised high, but it is not your thought. It is satan’s arrow with a hook in it, and it’s purpose is far more than to get you to sin. He is after your faith that it is not you that live any longer, but Christ who now lives in you. Glory to God, do you see? If that thought is not yours, and you immediately reject it as simply a temptation cast at you from the enemy, how wonderful it is to smile and say “Not this time, Satan” and watch him retreat in defeat. This is how we bring every thought unto the obedience of Christ. Now.... does it work? How can it not? It is truth, and truth sets free! I would be remiss to not mention that slipping IS possible, especially when one first steps out in faith. If we slip....not when.... it is critical we understand why. We stand by faith, we abide by faith, we overcome the world, the flesh and the devil by faith. But when we first step out to believe our God, our faith is small and can waver. That is the ONLY reason we fall. Why? How do we know this? Because we are dead! So, IF we sin, we certainly confess it, we repent and turn from it. But there is one more critical step. We immediately raise up our shields of faith again as to who we are in Christ and that we are kept by the power of God in us through faith! We may have just blown it big time, and Satan comes in accusing, calling us hypocrites, telling us we are the same old failure we always have been. And we may feel like hypocrites as we confess that we are dead to sin abut alive unto God. But we are not. We are holding fast to the truth. And.... our faith grows. Glory to God. Blessings to you, brother, and if you have any other questions, you have but to ask. I will do the best I can to answer them. Blessings, Gideon

The problem with this world is that there needs to be a class of spiritual people that can adopt the fatherless/motherless. Not everyone that has children are mothers/fathers, this world is very broken because of that fact. It's a creation of life when someone who doesn't have children has the means to mentor someone who doesn't have a father/mother figure in their life, in which there are MANY, hence the world being in such a broken and sad state... This is why I think 1 Corinthians speaks so highly of the person that doesn't marry the virgin in favor for spiritual family of heaven, which in being childless, they can devote their entire life to it. For those that understand what a physical bond of blood is like, it's much harder to adopt someone as if they were blood, but those who don't have blood have no choice but to emphasize the spiritual. In that, we basically do what God did to Abraham in giving him spiritual children through Christ, and through Christ, we have the power to do the same to others. So it's right here that I tend to see why 1 Corinthians speaks so highly of remaining single, for we have a stronger assurance and ability to adopt the fatherless/motherless as our own through Christ. Whereas having physical children comes with the perils that they may end up falling into the ways of the world regardless, but if you adopt someone through Christ, you have the assurance that he brings, in that death is no true separation. In addition you can certainly adopt more of the fatherless/motherless than those whom are married can bear children, which brings to mind what Isaiah 54 says: "Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,”

My goodness, Ephesians is the book we have to read over and over to grasp the richness and intent of what God wants us to see - His great and marellous gifts to us that lie in the inheritance we will receive as His children (and part of the Body of Christ)! Can we ever "get it all"? It is overwhelmingly wonderful.

As a new believer and a woman I found some of the things Paul said hard to digest. However after reading God's Word all these years and being enabled to see the bigger picture that is shown through all his letters, one comes to the conclusion that he was totally given over to serving Jesus all the days of His life and God gave him wisdom in the ways of instruction to the new Christians at Corinth and elsewhere. He was indeed a great disciple and apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ and handpicked by God for the journey he went on. Praise the Lord.

Letters you loved my brother . I work and interact with some folks . And you aint alone . While I can greet and be kind It seems few to none want to stick to a conversation about GOD . or if they do , quickly they throwing worldy lusts and desires into a conversation . I remember visiting lots of churches . And by grace I would get some fired up into a conversation about GOD . But it seems so many were just quick to want to talk about football , or some sporting event , or this or that . Or money talk or whatever . If I wanted the things of the world , then I would speak of such things JUST LIKE I USED TOO. That stuff is dead to me , I pray many will die to the cares and pleasures in life . But , I have been happier than a pig in three foot of slop , I did find a tiny church . And those people love the LORD . The way is NARROW in Christ .

I agree. No amount of heart motive can override an express command of the Lord. Gideon

The ultimate source is Hell......nobody can read the Bible from the front to the back and come out a Catholic...thank God some people get saved DESPITE the farce of Catholicism.....

I have acquired plenty of self-control regarding that; thanks to God. As for fasting, I remember I did it a few times only (officially). But still I am living a very lonely life and I desire so much at least one close friend. But I need a miracle to change this in my life. I do not have what I would call a real conversation with people for many years already. What is self-control in this context? Is it the ability to remain alone and not desire anyone near you?! If it is that then I am lacking, I confess I am surviving by grace alone here... I desire so much at least one friend in this life. It is a miracle I can have and express joy; speaking in human terms I had all reasons to be depressed. This is true. But in my case I believe I need human help. It is so hard for me to interact with people in the real life that I feel I need people to help me.

My friend, please share the SOURCE of these Canon's. I hesitate to comment on them not having this information. Thank you and Easter Blessings, Patrick

Judas was never saved. Joh 17:12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. Judas repented but in the world's way. It was not leading to trusting in Christ. He was never restored to fellowship with the apostles. Instead he give back the money that bribed him but then committed suicide.

Hi Daniel 11:36.... I have heard this over and over again. It is utter nonsense....... What are you going to do with Mark 13 and Luke 21 where the Olivet Discourse is also recorded? These were Gospels written to the gentiles. Mathew is the only one of four Gospels which specifically mentions the Church....Math 16:18, and 18:17. What about Mathew 28 19-20, where we see the 'Great Commission" which is considered to be the 'marching orders' for the Church? Or the Old Testament that was written for the Jews and by the Jews?....Is it also not relevant for the Church? The fact of the matter is that ALL of God's word is relevant to the Church either directly or indirectly.

Aw, you know I love ya bro...I dont mean to pick on you....you just happen to say things that I feel I can address, at times. Sorry if I misunderstood you this time, I thought you were objecting to the terminology.

THIS IS THE MINDSET of so many . Well I am just going to sin eventually etc. LETS LOOK at the approach of sin THROUGH the mind of CHRIST . GO and SIN NO MORE now lets see whose mind was in paul. LET ALL WHO NAME THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART from inquity . Does that sound anything like HEY let all who name the name of Christ try not to sin , understand that we still will, but try not too. NO WAY NO HOW . This is the problem . AS A MAN THINKS SO IS HE . but the mind of CHRIST it don't think as the mind of men . AND if we have HIM , we have the mind of Christ . Churches gotta wake up fast . AND if any does err, YA GOT to pull them out asap fast . Our give up approach has got to end , the only thing we need to GIVE UP is the old man , oh he is going to try and rise up, but WHO IS greater the old man , OR CHRIST . EXACTLY . CHRIST IS ..............and greater is he in us than he in the world . TIME to stop limiting the HOLY ONE of ISRAEL and start RATHER OBEYING the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL , KNOWN AS CHRIST the KING of kings and LORD of lords . TIME TO AWAKE TO RIGHTEOUENESS and SIN NOT .

Israel is the ensample to the church. In scripture Israel is the church in type, in many instances. As Israel went, so went the church. Israel was even called the church in the wilderness.

+1 The OP has pointed out the stratagems that the enemy uses and the ones which we uses to gain advantage over him. Put on the full armor of God, is a strategy that each believer must not take lightly as the enemy seeks ways to gain entrance to the castle as so depicted in John Bunyan masterpiece "The Holy War". It is an allegory, but nevertheless so true as to the believers battles . Download that small pdf and have a read, its free, just google it. Taken from the introduction of the book "The Holy War is in this volume presented to us by an old, experienced, faithful warrior; it is an allegorical narrative, written by a master hand, guided by deeply penetrating, searching powers of mind. It is his own severe brunts with the great enemy, who is aided by his army of pomps, vanities, lusts, and allurements, many lurking within, disguised to appear like angels, while under their masquerade dress they are very devils. It is written by one who possessed almost boundless resources of imagination. It is more profound, more deeply spiritual than the pilgrimage from Destruction to the Celestial City; and to understand its hidden meaning, requires the close and mature application of the renewed mind. There are, alas! comparatively few that are blessed with spiritual discernment; and even of these, there are but few inclined to mental investigation and research. These are reasons why it has not been so popular a book as the ‘Pilgrim’s Progress.’"

true friend, but when we know the Love of God, that love compels us to make his love known. So our actions don't gain us his Love, our actions don't gain us his love, our actions are our response to His Love.

Why would we as Christians want to sin, knowing Jesus paid for us to set us free with such a high price? It is my desire to do His will and if I sin (which will happen now and then) I confess my sin and God will look at me through the eyes of Jesus and will remember my sins no more Do I want to sin? Of course not, only the truly born again Christian can understand this truth, holiness is a term to walk close with Jesus and don't we all desire a closer walk with our Savior? For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.Phil.2:13 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.Romans 7:15-20 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 1 John1:8

Hello Sister yes the word and getting the bigger picture no short cuts to this, as i am finding out. yes indeed all praise to Him.

"How can you love God, whom you have not seen, if you don't love your brother who you have seen?" Some people speak about loving God so much, but isn't God wanting us to focus on those who are suffering all over the world? God Bless Pamela

Has anyone else concluded that the reason there are so many pedophile Catholic Priest's, is because they are not allowed to have a normal sex life, (which the NT says is a doctrine of devils)....Yeah, it really teaches this Truth....> 1st Timothy 4:1-4. So, is it any wonder that if this demonic Catholic theology is forced like a straitjacket on normal males, then many many many of them are going to find it impossible, at some point, not to find some type of outlet for their normal God given, "replenish the species" sex drive that is strangled and unnaturally suppressed? There IS a reason that the NT told us that it is, "better to MARRY then to BURN". So do you See what "BURNING" DOES< when it is inflicted on men by a false religious theocracy? And its because of this "burning", if not dealt with by sex, through marriage, or by man <> woman.......If this drive is subverted and harmed for the sake of Religious lies, then the outcome is that the males are going to reach out for the nearest RELIEF. = Pedophilia. Imagine a religious cult whose theological Doctrine actually causes perverted sexual practice, within their LEADERSHIP. Well, the bad new is, you don't have to imagine it, as its a REALITY. This is truly the insane asylum being run by the inmates.