Your closest friendnt

an interesting thought, even though, Lucifer is not a human. We can learn about spiritual gifts, from this example, we see: a) the gift will bring things from God in general to the entity that has the indueling gift. In the case of Lusifer that he was cut off (is the term "cut off" ok?), from GOD, the indueling gift from GOD, it's impossible to remaine with him. But the maturity, the knowledge, the opening of the mind, and other inborn talents he had that made him deferent from the others remaint with him. He did not become stupit. And he did not loose his leadership skills, and his persuasion and craftiness, and those skills did not remaint still, but continiou to involve, and became more skillful than ever before. We have an exable, when the Lord put spiritual gifts in people, which guided them from within and teach them how to be craftsmen, and builders, to craft and build everything needed for the temple. The recipients learn a trade from the gifts. They Now have skills of their own. They have the know how, without the help and the guidance of the gift, and they can experience and improvise growth, and continioun to develop and invent, and they can teach others, to learn the things they learn from the gifts, with Peter is deferent in this situation, "go with them, don't worry what to say to them, but when that time come, I will put the words in your mouth to speak, or what to say". That's a holy spirit taking over, situation. With Kornilious. The same with Paul"I believe in the resuraction" and that divided the people, THAT'S WHOW JESUS saved the day, that time. Another famous quote of the holy spirit is: "I APPEAL to Ceasar". They are gifts to develop skills how to present the Gospel in General and how to present the Gospel in very specific and unick situation, which can happen only with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. That knows the seed that needs to be shown. The technics of the spirit and the discipline of the mind and the emotions for the moment, they can not be taught by any manual, only by the LORD, suggestions are diferent. And similar situations are diferent.

Jesus was telling Nicodemus, that soon you are going to believe in me, after I died and resuracted, then you are going to be a BORN FROM AVOBE PHARICIAN, or BORN AGAIN JEW. Gods new family, will be of the spiritualy born from above people. The children of Jesus Christ. As Jesus is, so are we. Adam was also BORN AGAIN SPIRITUALY but from the FALLEN ONE. Adam was born into the Fallens Nature, with his disobedience and became spiritually separated from God. Like the Fallen One. Robing Hood makes a point, and he gets a point from me, (and who am I?), but that does not mean he is right. And niether he is wrong. To believe in Jesus as a Savior, it means you are Born from above. Regardless if you know it or not and Regardless of how much spiritualy mature you are to understan that fact. There many believers (in Jesus) that in ignorance, believe, that they are going to Hell, when they are not.

I am not quite sure, what enemies is referring to, enemies of the Gospel to our advantage or for our sake. Is Paul referring to, that the Jews had to denied the Gospel of Jesus, and put him to death, if not the Gospel will not be establish and be given to Gentiles?" enemies of the Christ for your shake". Or is it that after the proclamation of the Gospel by Peter, the Jewish prosecution began agains the faith, resulting in the Gentiles receiving the Gospel. And the Jews prosecute Paul from city to city, resulting in the spreading of the Gospel through out Gentile nations? Your other point is that they are beloved, for the shake of their great forefathers, this is so truth, the good news were preach to them first by Peter and many REPENTED and then from Jerusalem to other cities of their Nation, Jesus still calling them to repentants, and wants them to believe in him, so they can be together with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and David and Moses and Aaron and Samuel, and not to be perish as their ancestors, perish in the dessert because of unbelief, and he wants them to believe in him so they can entered the heavenly Promish Land, to your other question, about promises and keeping them. Are these Promises made by whom? and within which covenant? The old, or the new? We know that Jesus call Peter to be the Rock of his Gospel, and he kept him safe from death, and he supplied him with Gifts as he needed them to carry on his missions. The same Jesus did for Paul. And he gave gifts of healings to many through them, and he never took the Gifts of healing from the people to make them sick again, after healing them, even today he gives gifts of healings. And the gift of the Holy Spirit, who still is with us and will always be, and never be taken away. The gift of the Cross? It has happen. How is possible to reverse it? The Gift of righteousness and the Gift of eternal life by faith alone,(he did the obedience and the works), how can someone adds works and obedience for these Gifts. He wants everyone to be saved, especially the Jews. About the personal gifts to people, if they abuse them and how they use them, that's strictly his Judgement, if he who gave the Gifts to them, then is his call, to deal with them.

I am going to second the above. Will they come at the age they were taken, would they have documents of birth right to be allow to remain in that country, and not deported. Did I say deported where? Would they be able to prove their mother or father were citizens of the host country? What would their names be? The languish they speak, licence to drive, income, maybe the get a wife,

If it happens that we were Jewish, leaving at the time of Habakukk and had the righteousness of the Law, and happen to here Habakkuk spoke these worlds, we will strongly oppose him. We will say, no you are very wrong, you give the wrong guidance. We must year after year continiune to observe and keep the calendar and practice everything that is commanded in the Law, keeping the Sabath, the Passover, the unleavened bread and so on, leading to the eligibility to partake in the Attoment and,........if not we will be cut off (and the cleansing sheremonies too) from our people, can you get the message?

Some times, and very often it happens when, we at least expect it, one time I sided with a person with mendal problems, they said he had the demons, and after failing to free him, they decided, that the only way for their solution it was to kick the person out of their church, before the demon goes to sobody else. Christians justified what they do. Having some compassion I defended him, I try to comfort him, and they said, birds of the same feather flock together and they ask me to leave. I learn not to trust them, when they quickly say, we are glad to see you, and I say inside me, you are going to see me but you are not going to see my money, let's see what are you going to say later on, I would rather help some needy person.

Some Christians use the name of Jesus to do their will, others to justified what they do, some have sush an ego and is all about them, their so, selfsenter that if you say, something about Jesus, they forgive you, but if you say something about their Pastor or their sometimes twisted doctrine they act like the pharicians, there are also the excellent ones, the ones they put love above all. When something happen to me, I did not like it, and bother me, even to hate them. But now I am glad that it happen, I am very glad. all we need is Jesus first, and the brother after. I wanted to see Jesus in them, now I know better.

Interesting post. Thanks. I disagree but appreciate what you have posted. A while back, I was taking classes at a seminary. A good friend and mentor told me to go to 5 different churches and observe the services. I went to a RCC church, a Lutheran church, a Congregational church, a Baptist church, and a Unitarian Universalist church. I found that the first 4 churches taught that Jesus died for sin, was buried and rose again. That Jesus is God, and believe in the Trinity. With those basic beliefs, the RCC, Lutherans, Congregational and Baptist all fall under the title of christian. The Unitarian Universalist church is not a christian church. But, I saw some heresies/serious error at the RCC church. One was the need to confess to a Priest, and the authority of the Priest to give a penance and absolve the persons sin. Only God can forgive sin. The use of statues and kneeling before the statues. The is a violation of scripture. Praying to the dead as I have mentioned. Worshipping Mary (Hail Mary). Praying for the dead. Venerating the saints. There are a whole bunch more. I knew of an older lady who was Catholic. I went to her house a few times to visit and help. She asked me to search for something in a drawer in the dining room. I found what she wanted but also found a statue in the drawer. I mentioned the statue and was told that it was a saint of impossible cases or something like that. She had been praying to the statue to help with a situation for a long time, but had not gotten an answer. She mentioned it to the local priest and he told her to put the statue in a drawer and do not take it out, until it answers the prayer. That's what I was trying to do, to show both, their faith in Jesus crucified and raise from the dead for our sins. The Savior, and their religious culture, I am not advocating for anyone and that not my propose. With their faith are under the blood of Jesus Christ, like me and you and any other believer, no matter how they see it. And as long as they keep their faith in Jesus. Culture is culture or Works of something. Give me your input, it's interesting.

My parents been Catholics teach me to believe in Jesus Christ, that he was the Son of God, and born in the flesh through the virgin Mary, and they read to me the stories of Jesus from the original scriptures, all about his death and his resuraction. That what the believed. How they practice their faith, and in what culture this is another matter, The importance is that they practice it with the correct faith. That Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. My Father said to me. You don't need to be a Catholic when you grow Older, but remain truth to the faith of Jesus Christ, that he died and raised from the dead and is Gloriefied in the heavens with the Father. Today I am not a Catholic, and I can not say that I am a "Christian" because I was a Christian all the time. If you you want to judge the Catholic culture that's your prerogative as is also mine, but you must take into account that Jesus is accepting every one who believes in him outside of any culture. Also as believers the Catholics are also born again trough their faith in Jesus Christ, they are also his children if they practice their culture with faith in him. But if they practice RCC without faith in the SAVIOR then we must explain to them who do. to believe in the savior. I know they are some who practice RCC for many other reasons without faith in Christ. But very many they do. Discern the diference and don't say all. Take it on an individual basis, the way our Lord Jesus does. If you believe they have some heresies, consider that not all heresies lead to spiritual death.

Not easy for me to understan, my own faith, with my own understanding , and this imputed faith, I think you are trying to explain.

See Wikipedia article on Mysticism. Christians should always remember, and remind others who are being sucked into Mysticism, that the Lord said "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN" (Jn 3:7). That is God's method of "human transformation" based solely on His grace and the Finished Work of Christ for our redemption. Amen, brother Ezra, excellent post, God bless

Thank you for your vision

The Great Assembly, the Ekklesia, the Church, the spiritual house / holy nation built of living stones by the Chief Corner Stone which the builders rejected.... . Same for me, his kingdom or his nation started from the women he met after his resuraction, then Peter, the rest of the disciples , the others around them, from Jerusalem and then just like the circles when you throw a peple in the water, it expanded from Jerusalem to Samaritan, in the regions around, in Egypt, Ethiopia, Syria, Greece, Rome, Persia, India, and reach the whole wold, just like he said, to his disciples, go yet in the whole world, beginning from Jerusalem, we are his nation his Kingtom and his is our king. Should also say that before the women, the people, the captives and prisoners who believe in him, when he preach the Gospel to them in the depth of the earth, if it is acceptable to you.

Paul, Peter, Jonh, Stephan and James are saints and they are not dead, (they are alive with Christ.) Without prejudice, I am not quite sure if That is what you are trying to communicate?

. I like your post.

Here we look in the Kingdom within, that which will come to the spiritual children, (when you see the son of man lifted up the way Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, then, the children born from above will appear, with the spirit of God within them to show them a Kingdom diferent that the Kingdom they hoped for as the children of the flesh. The fact that the spirit has come to beleivers, it is evident that the Kingdot of God has come within, that God can be the king in our harts and lifes and ruled over us from within, to bless, to guide and help and lead the believers to the things of God as the.in the 3rd and 4th post, reveale to them their heavenly inheritance.

. I seperate the people from the church, I learn about Jesus from my parents and they had a bible at home and we were celebrating the Passover and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, with fasting and prayers. I still have marks on my body for not praying earnestly. (marks of disobidience). And they teach me to see Jesus seperate from the people who claimed to represent him, some of the leaders of the church.

Definatlly they did not have the scriptures available to see that they may enter the holy place with thanks giving aided by the grace and the love of the savior and make their supplications before the Throne of Grace without fear, but the did what they knew and they had the blessings of the Savior never the less, thanks for the explanation, And Jesus is always merceifull, ready to help. And we learn that their faith was unwavering and were ready for the ultimate sacrifise, even unto death. Thanks for the input.

. Hi, please elaborate a litle bit, tell us something about, I mean good, I tried, but I can not read your mind, please say a few words on this matter. Thank you

I have been bless reading your posts, and I am learning all the time, I have a stumbling block growing in Love but with his grace I will be able. God bless

. I don't think it's recommended to make such a drastic change in substituting words, because we believe we have a good reason to protect, and or to guide the mind of readers and or listeners in a certain path. Both words were available to the speaker, and he had, I believed the soundness of mind to know the diference between the two, and he choose the word "entos" (evtos), which has a very specific meaning similar to the word "within". The word in the" midst" and " among" are strange words to this scripture, with your own admission. Not only the Farisees, his disciples too, and all the Jweish had the incorect concept of the Kingdom of God. Jesus was teaching that when he will be lifted up (re:Nicodimus) then the spiritual or born from above children will appear, with the spirit of God within.

When Jesus went to Hades (Seol), he was out of the body, and that's the only way to go down there, and he went there to bring the good news to the captives and prisoners, he had the life in him, and he gave the life to all who believed in him, he set them free and took them to the new heavenly inheritance with him. He had not judge them to be there in the first place, they were Heirs or victims of the fallen Adamic inheritance. Both Jews and Gentiles. He is not going there again, it's impossible, for many reasons. Now the people who are there, are because Jesus is their judge, he is the one who judge them and they can not be in heaves if they have denied him, because heavens belongs to him, and he is the one who now has the keys of Hades and death, he opens and not one can close, and he close the gates of Hell and no one can open. God gave him the Gates of his enemy the Devil also for his inheritance. He is the Lord of Lords now. And he the Thrne of heavens for his inheritance. Every power is subjected to him now. What is your concern to have this hope? Jesus is not quick to sent his believers to Hell, because of disobidience, or unrepentance of sin and or because they took their own life, all this accusations will come before him, and he will point to the cross, and also say: O death where is thy sting, because of sin, Sin can not give death to a believer, even one with the faith of a musrard seed. The believer is under the eternal founded of the blood of Jesus Christ as long as he believes.

. You mean to say something, that they don't perceive things they way you do, that's ok, no ofence is taken. But you can not stop Jesus for loving them, neither you have the power to make them Antichrist, maybe the Antichrist is trying to use you in your ignorance to disturb the bewtifull and dutiful and faithful and also those who are thirsty for the holy spirit and they have dedicated their life's to win people and increase the citizens of his heavenly kingdom, I don't know them, and I don't want to know their back ground, and it does not bother me, even thought I perceive in what culture they are born, you sould have been very happy to meet them, they have repeatedly and they don't need to, that Jesus is the son of God, he is the life and the resuraction, they wittness that Jesus have come from above, and that's he went after his resuraction, to receive his authority from God, and you have judge them, I am not judging you, you belong to God the same way the do, because you believe Jesus died for you, if you are under his blood so they are, if you are like Jesus because of your faith, so they are. Just as a reminded, Paul said , to the sircumsition, you burden the people, for you maybe you need it because you are living withing this culture, and not every one in your family is a believer, but those are Gentiles they don't have your problem, but if you judge them that Jesus does not accept their faith, and they are going to hell because of the sircumsition, that's a heresy it's not trouth, you are falls prophets to that part, but that does not mean you are going to hell, it is not a heresy that gives death, not all "heresies" give death. To denied that Jesus is the son of God (has the life of God in him, not the fallen one) then someone has death, has denied the life, It not right to call beleivers with the life Antichrist, Even those who have denied Jesus as the Christ, they are still alive, how do you know that they are not going to believe. I have said my peace in this matter as a believer save by grace. my works may add or take away blessings or some of the fellowship of Christ, but the can not separate me from the blood of Christ, and as a matter of fact even put me there.

That's bewtifull , thank you for sharing it with us.