Atwood

Philemon: "For perhaps he was therefore parted from you for a season, that you should have him forever; NO LONGER AS A SLAVE, but more than a slave, a BROTHER beloved, specially to me, but how much rather to YOU, both IN THE FLESH and in the Lord. If then you count me a partner, receive him AS MYSELF. . . . Having confidence in your obedience I write to you, knowing that YOU WILL DO EVEN BEYOND what I say." The expression above, "brother . . . in the flesh," makes me think that it is likely that Onesimus and Philemon were half-brothers, like Isaac and Ishmael; one the son of a slave-woman.

I said: "The Abrahamic Covenant (involving blood indeed) has a general provision that through Abe's seed all of the nations of the world would be blessed. But that does not guarantee a new birth for everyone." The question came back: "I don't understand something. Why would God bless certain men or families on this old earth but not bring them to salvation in the end. What's the point of that, blessing Israel but not saving them or some." My friend, you don't understand something. LOL. I don't understand many things! As the old hymn says, "I give up myself and whatever I know, now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." We see through a glass darkly. "Why would God" -- my dogs may as well bark to each other asking why I do 90 percent of what they see me doing. They haven't a clue. God's ways are past our finding out. But God is loving, gracious, and just. He did not wipe out the whole human race when Adam sinned. He is the Savior of all men, specially of those who believe. All get a measure of salvation to common blessings of life -- the rain falls on the just and the unjust. He lets unsaved men have pleasures. The point is that God loves all. He gave His Son for all; Christ suffered to pay for the sins of all men. But man has this responsibility to believe. Behold, He stands at the door and knocks; of any man hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in. He offers salvation as a free gift. However, men have the ability to choose to refuse the gift. Consider Romans 2: "3 And do you reckon this, O man, who judges them who practice such things, and do the same, that you shall escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that THE GOODNESS OF GOD LEADS YOU TO REPENTENCE? But after your hardness and impenitent heart do you treasure up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; . . . ?" Whose behavior is shocking? That of the Lord or that of the human rejecter of His grace?

Let's See Now: Who was buried in Grant's tomb? No, the question was, "Who Populated Nod"? Answer = Winken and Blinken, of course. Wrong, actually Who is on first! But seriously you say, "If the only people on earth were living in the Garden of Eden, were there people also living in the land of Nod, and if so, where did they come from?" The only 2 people who ever lived in Eden in the Bible are Adam and Eve. Cain, Abel, Seth, and the "sons and daughters" of Adam (not named but referred to in the plural) never lived in the Garden in the Bible. Now with men living nearly 1000 years in those days, there might be quite a batch of children hatched in all that time. So, whoever lived in Nod would simply be descendants of Adam and Eve. I have no idea how many children Eve hatched, but 500 is possible. And when each of them got to be 20 (just to pick a number), if they started reproducing, you can see how quickly the population could rise.

Do you believe that "hate crime" is a valid category, distinguishing some crimes from others? Are some murders non-hate murders?

it looks like he has got some popularity by acting frugal with his own expenses, living modestly. It was posted " And completely misunderstood because despite all the biblical warnings not to go outside the Bible to interpret the Bible, people (even otherwise scholarly people) have gone outside the scriptures and created or bought into smart sounding interpretations... but as wrong as wrong could be." Where do you find "all the biblical warnings" not to go outside the Bible to interpret the Bible? Do you reject the spiritual gift of teaching? Now take the words that you just posted, are you quoting the Bible when you say them? If not, and people follow your admonitions, are they going outside the Bible?

Post 12 says: "How many Jewish people have gone to hell in the past 2000 years because they weren't born again. If God made this blood covenant and restoring in the future, then why aren't all Jewish people born again. What exactly is God restoring if some are still going to hell." I am not sure why the expression "blood covenant" is in the question. The Lord keeps all His agreements. The Abrahamic Covenant (involving blood indeed) has a general provision that through Abe's seed all of the nations of the world would be blessed. But that does not guarantee a new birth for everyone. Christ is the ultimate seed. Through His death, all man's sins were paid for. Now the gospel goes out without prejudice to all men, Jewish or gentile (no discrimination): "Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Indeed it is prophesied that when Christ returns to set up His kingdom, all Israel will be saved. But ever the condition of faith (believing) in the Lord Jesus is man's responsibility for salvation. Neither Abe's covenant, nor any other, ever guaranteed that all men or all Israel of all time would all be born again. Of both Israel and gentiles, there are the "whosoever-won'ts.

19D posted: "Atwood, I have a original 1611 KJV, and an original 1599 Geneva Bible, and whenever I open either up and try to read it, I usually get a small headache." Are you joking? You mean the antique writing annoys you? If you have a genuine original (not a reprint), I think they would be worth a lot of money. As you no doubt know, one can get a book rebound.

I think it would help if a Christian gets some other people to pray the intercessory prayer of Ephesians 3 for the Christian. Notice the words about the Holy Spirit, strength, and power there. It is interesting to note on James 5:17 that literally the word "earnestly" or "fervently" does not literally occur; that is not to say that the translation is wrong. But what it literally says is that Elijah prayed WITH PRAYER! So I ask if we are praying "with prayer"?

Oakwood posted: "They particularly covet Jerusalem. Why? Because their false prophet Mohammed told them so. Mohammed was supposedly told by Allah (during a night dream or journey) that Jerusalem was his. Of course, this dream was either a fabrication or a satanic illusion. It was most likely a fabrication because Mohammed described the Jewish temple to his followers (which he referred to as the great mosque) as proof that he had been to Jerusalem and seen it." Help me out on this one please. This stuff about Muhammed and Jerusalem-temple: it is not in the Qur'an is it? Where is this material found?

Forgiveness implies that you don't regard the sin vs you as a debt that requires retribution. Forgiveness implies that you know no man after the flesh (2 Cor 5) -- you know them (relate to them) as persons for whom Christ died and for whom Christ has supplied a new nature as child of God (whether or not they appropriate it). You don't relate to them merely on the basis that they are Adamic sinners. Forgiveness means you don't nurse a grudge or let the sun go down on your anger (giving satan an opportunity).

So what are they doing? Embedding a few chicken legs into the corsage in case the girl gets hungry?

The Q/A was put forth: "What's the difference between the Christian church and the Jewish people (God's blood covenant) with Israel." The question does not make sense to me. What does "the Jewish people () with Israel" mean? I think you accidentally scrambled your words. 1) "the Christian church": There is only one Church, the Body of Christ, to be sure it is Christian. 2) "the Jewish people" . . . Israel. What do you mean by "Jewish"? Do you mean the people who follow the religion of the Talmud? 3) Perhaps your question is only, "What is the difference between the Church and Israel"? To that it may be said that a) Israel is the new name that the Lord gave to Jacob, who was the recipient of the national promises given to Abraham and Isaac. Jacob had 12 sons, whose offspring is the nation of Israel. This nation was given the Law of Moses, including animal sacrifices and a concrete national code to follow, along with a small piece of real estate, Eretz Israel, which runs from the River of Egypt (probably the Wadi el Arish) to the Euphrates. That nation fell into sin and idolatry and was expelled from its land by Assyria and Babylon, fully around 586 BC. The restoration of that nation was prophesied in which Israel would be the head and not the tail. This destined blessing included the land promised to Jacob. A remnant returned to the land and set up shop around 516 BC. The future of Israel was prophesied in Daniel 9 as 70 sevens, best taken as weeks of years. There is the prophecy of the Messiah coming, but being cut off in a gap between week 69 and week 70. That gap continues unto today. The promised Messiah came, the Lord Jesus, proclaiming, Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Israel wanted a kingdom with the physical blessings promised, but did not repent; instead the nation rejected the Messiah, delivered Him to Pilate for crucifixion. Meanwhile, the Lord Jesus seeing His rejection in progress, prophesied a new group which did not exist at the time: "I will build My Church" in Mat 16. Another term for the Church is "the Body of Christ." One gains entrance to this group by the baptism of the Spirit (not so with OT Israel). The baptism of the Holy Spirit began after Christ ascended after His resurrection, as recorded in Acts 1-2. As 1 Cor 12:13 says, by One Spirit we were all baptized into the Body of Christ. In contrast with Israel, the Church (the ekklesia) was a mystery at the time of Christ. This mystery was revealed largely via the Apostle Paul. Read Ephesians and Colossians. In the Church there is neither Jew nor Greek. The Church has no piece of land on earth like Israel had and no earthly king. Our citizenship is in Heaven.

To try to fit the current headlines into the Bible is precarious, though who would not see Israel's return to the land as fulfilling prophecy. I won't be surprised to see Russia make a resurgence as the leader of the Eastern leg of the Roman Empire (Daniel 2). Now Mr. Putin is a professing Christian, Russian orthodox I believe. I could see Russia becoming a professed Christian nation, as it was under the Czars. How would Americans view it if Russian completely outlawed baby-murder and sodomy and enforced the laws? How would Americans view it when hearing a Russian ambassador in the UN denouncing western countries for violation of the human right to life? I don't see any connection with Ezekiel 38-39, which I think takes place in Daniel's 70th week. I suspect that the Beast will take credit for destroying the Russian invasion leading to the refrain, "Who can stand vs the Beast?" We can always speculate about how current events might connect to the "tribulation" of course.

Opinion follows: Who knows what will happen over there. But I expect for the two-legged version of the Roman Empire to continue two-sided, though in fragments, as pictured in Daniel 2. Nato seemed to be getting close to swallowing up the nations bordering Russia on all sides but the East. The Russians are not likely to go along with that. And I don't see the western leg of the Roman empire getting so big that the Eastern leg is inconsequential.

You raise a great issue. My guess is that while there must be millions of would-be Bible teachers and preachers, there are few disciplers. Yet the great commission is not to make converts, but to make disciples (not that it is bad to be an evangelist or to make converts).

I love to sing that song. God is not a man that he should lie; Neither the son of man that he should repent; Hath He said, & shall He not do it? Behold, I have received, Commandment to bless; And He hath blessed and I cannot reverse it; For God is not a man that He should lie; Neither the son of man that he should repent Oh . . . Oh . . . Unfortunately Balaam failed to get the spiritual point that he prophesied.

Last I knew, a bank was a thin strip of land along a lake or river. Now on a modern map of Israel, one sees this relatively huge bulge to the West of the Jordan River, a bulge over half the way to the Mediterranean Sea from the Jordan. Why are they ever calling this bulge the "West Bank" and not Ephraim-Manasseh?

It seems to me that there used to be this "Palestinian Mandate," run by the British. Like India with its Muslims and Hindus (at each others' throats), this "Mandate" had Jewish and Muslim (Palestinians) persons living in it. Israel is a postage stamp nation today, but the Palestinian Mandate was more than twice as big as Israel today, extending on the East side of Jordan way out. So, as the British divided India into Pakistan and India (Moslem and Hindu), this Mandate was divided creating Jordan on the East side of the Jordan with also territory reaching into Jerusalem on the West side of Jordan. Jordan, just taking the territory on the East side, got the big half of the pie. So there was this 2 state solution, what with the Palestinians getting the big half. Jordan is a Palestinian nation. Of course that is not good enough for the Moslems, who want a second Palestinian state carved our of Israel's small half. Now should they get it, what would you expect? Will they be content with a 3-state solution? Or will they again agitate for a half of the half of the half? Then a half of the half of the half of the half. Then a half of the . . . .? Where will it all stop?

I am asked, "Blessings Atwood 2 KIngs4:38-41..........Since you only wrote a part of the 40th verse I am curious to know why this is your favorite ? It is a favorite since I have a sense of humor; it makes me laugh. Let's try another: Prov 14: "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox. "

Interesting how the conversation drifted to the new political-correctness. Control population? I guess self-destruction would help a nation control its population size. Does the Lord want us to destroy ourselves?

Yes, you can take your highlighter and mark the subject of Salvation from Genesis - Revelation.

God is still on the throne.

You posted: "6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." Is it not amazing how many read such verses and conclude that "Israel" is thus expanded beyond the descendants of Jacob, though the passage is restrictive, narrowing Israel to less than the physical descendants of Isaac.

From 2 Kings 4: O man of God, there's death in the pot!

One thing that could be said is that the Lord tells us in His word with regard to asking Him for something, how He gives to all liberally and does not upbraid.