Fidei Defensor

Where I live I was actually told by landlord to quote, "not share my religion with vendor and neighbors, because it makes them uncomfortable." Firstly, this violates the 1st Amendment, secondly the people who could have been offended brought up religion, politics, and supernatural with me. Ugh, so it seems I might need permit to preach the Gospel in my own home and backyard.

Indeed words change over time. However, I have to ask this. If a symbol like Pentagram, which has been used for Satanic and Luciferian practices for ages is suddenly used in a positive way, but Satanists still use it, does that mean it changed? Apply this to a words. Sure words change, and not always for the better. Take Begotten, it use to be mean "Come forth from, to be sent from" but now it means beget "give birth" and so when we say "Jesus the Only Begotten Son" we have to clarify, this happened to Gay which meant happy, and other words. The changing of words is not for our benefit, it is making everything more confusing and dialogue is become almost a battlefield because of semantics and what a person means by a word. Some words have 12 definitions, and they even are opposite definitions. I fear if people keep tampering with words, we soon will not be able to communicate properly.

I was reading Revelation and it says there will be no more sea/ocean, "Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea." (Revelation 21:1). We are told there will be a river in middle of the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1), although that could be allegorical. What are your feelings on there being no more ocean? I cannot be mad at Lord, He knows why, and for those who suffer from Thalassophobia and Aquaphobia, this will be a relief. Some translations indicate that sea is just passing away like other parts of earth being destroyed by God's fire for renewal, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea," but other translations are adamentg that the sea no longer exists, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed."

Make your argument, and then I will be obliged to listen. Until then God bless.

That is indeed the problem. My fear is that those who practice praying for the dead or asking them to pray for living are on their way to soothsaying and consulting the dead (necromancy). Its a gateway drug if you will into darker things, and most people aren't aware that certain traditions in Catholic Church are pagan: the rosary comes from Islamic and Hindu beads, Queen of Heaven Mary is Artemis/Ashteroth returned (see Jeremiah 44), the Saxons demanded the Catholic Church let them keep pagan practices and the Catholic Church obliged and adopted some of them including turning Ares, Thor, and Mars into St. George for the warrior class, and so on. The problem is that the Roman Church often tried to adapt to convert civilizations and in process adopted wicked practices. A very telling episode is Francis Xavier, who in China merged the Trinity with the Asian god Shanti, and it caused so much confusion.

I have spent time studying Eastern Orthodoxy. I have read books on their doctrines and theology, watched videos from their esteemed clergy, and so forth. From what I can tell its "labyrinth that goes in circles and ends with its a mystery." Eastern Orthodoxy from my studies is actually Constantine's Church created in 312-333 A.D. Constantine merged Sol Invictus (sun god) with the Son of God for his pagan people in what became Byzantium. If you attended Friday Vigil, they do ceremony to the sun, and it gave me 24hr head ache. I have tried to get through the dense material on their doctrines and it always ends with mystery, "salvation is mystery." Actually no, its not, it's very simple (John 6:40, Romans 10:9-10). There is a clause in Orthodox Theology, in particular Kallistos Ware's book "The Orthodox Church" that says God is unfathomable and unknowable. Tell that to the Apostles, and plethora of Scriptures: This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent," (John 17:3), "and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God," (Ephensians 3:19), "so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and to know God better and better," (Colossians 1:10), "Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory," (Romans 8:17), "Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 1:13), "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me," (John 10:14, Jesus is God Col 2:9, Titus 2:13-17), "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands," (1 John 2:3), "By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit," (1 John 4:13), and "Whoever keeps His commandments remains in God, and God in him. And by this we know that He remains in us: by the Spirit He has given us," (1 John 3:24), "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me," (John 10:27), "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing," (John 15:15), "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need," (Hebrews 4:16), and "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him," (1 Peter 3:18-22).

Actually most of the cuss words are derived from Satanic and antichrist words: The F word is a term that came from Satanic Orgies which is now called SRA (Satanic Ritual Abuse). The S word derives from Satan's name in Arabic The B word mocks a person for not having a father The B word in the UK (England) has to do with mocking Christ's Blood (in fact the UK profanity is full of antichrist language) The origin of words matter. Words have power, and if they were created to invoke evil things, why would we be involved in them? As Jesus said, "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak," (Matthew 12:36). These profane words have power, I have watched teachers at college, and students start saying them, and suddenly the whole room changes, and everyone is shouting obscenities. Is it not true during worship, the words we use effect the room, examples being "Hallelujah!" "alleluia!", "holy, holy, holy!" and so forth. Isn't it the same for evil words?

You are not alone. Toxic families are common. Jesus Christ had a toxic family! The Gospels records that Jesus had to deal with an unbelieving and even cruel family, "Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat, And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21). These family members are the children of Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:25, Matthew) and they did not believe in Jesus, and here they tried to sieze him and told the crowds that He is crazy! "Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you." Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he looked at those around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:31-35). Here Jesus disowns his family, because before these verses, they had just tried to seize him and called him crazy. So you have evidence that it is alright to disown you family, Jesus Christ our God and Savior (Titus 1:23, Colossians 2:9) did it. "But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee." (John 7:2-9). Here Jesus saw how toxic his family was that He even chose not to go the Festival of Shelters (Tabernacles) with them, and shows up later alone. This is comforting if you do not want to travel with family members. Aside from these direct disintegration of family in Jesus' own family, we have promises from Jesus that families will fall apart: "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29) "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--along with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30) "Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." (Luke 18:30). "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27) "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37). "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--Your enemies will be right in your own household!" (Matthew 10:34-36). It is evident that there are circumstances when Christ will cut you out of your family, particularly if they are against Jesus, or want to obstruct your relationship with Him. Thankfully, what family we lose "blood is not thicker than water," we shall receive a new family in this life and in the next: "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters." (Matthew 23:8) "So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 2:11) "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Hebrews 3:1) "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family." (Ephesians 2:19 NLT). "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith." (Galatians 6:10) "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5) "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58), "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you." (Galatians 3:29). We receive a new family in Christ Jesus, those are the saints, believers, and church in this life. There are also those who wait for us in heaven and coming new Earth (Revelation 21:1-4). As Jesus said, we shall receive one hundred percent more than we have lost (Mark 10:29-30) and our new family is a better family, because it is a family of fidei (faith) and we know that they shall definitely be with us in paradise, and the coming kingdom of God! This world says blood family is "the most important thing," but they are wrong. Your family of origin, your linage and living members can become your enemies, "Your enemies will be right in your own household." (Matthew 10:36). It is a blessing to have believing family who supports you in your faith walk, but if yours happens to be toxic, remember that Jesus Christ who is God and Savior (Titus 2:13, Colossians 2:9) had a toxic family too. Truly the author of Hebrews is right, "This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings (tempations) we do, yet he did not sin." (Hebrews 4:15). You are not alone, Jesus knows what it is like to have a family who does not believe in you, and who even tries to hinder and marginalize you. Christ cut them off, save for Mary who was seen at the cross (John 19). You are not alone, Jesus who made everything (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16) was rejected by his family. God was rejected by his family, and so He knows just what you are going through. Turn to Him, and he shall help you endure this heart ache, and rejection. Only Jesus can sooth the wounds family leaves behind.

The doctors where I live can remove the surgically if need be. Otherwise, you wait for them to leave, the floaters are a microscopic piece of gelatin that we are born with and tend to come off about 50-80yrs of age.

You are not alone. Toxic families are common. Jesus Christ had a toxic family: "Then Jesus went home, and once again a crowd gathered, so that He and His disciples could not even eat, And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3:21). These family members are the children of Mary and Joseph (Matthew 1:25, Matthew 6:3-4) and they did not believe in Jesus, and here they tried to sieze him and told the crowds that He is crazy! "Then Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, "Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you." Jesus replied, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then he looked at those around him and said, "Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:31-35). Here Jesus disowns his family, because before these verses, they had just tried to seize him and called him crazy. So you have evidence that it is alright to disown you family, Jesus Christ our God and Savior (Titus 1:23, Colossians 2:9) did it. "But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him. Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on. I’m not going[a] to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee." (John 7:2-9). Here Jesus saw how toxic his family was that He even chose not to go the Festival of Shelters (Tabernacles) with them, and shows up later alone. This is comforting if you do not want to travel with family members. Aside from these direct disintegration of family in Jesus' own family, we have promises from Jesus that he will tear families apart: "And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19:29) "Truly I tell you," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--along with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30) "Truly I tell you," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life." (Luke 18:30). "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26-27) "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37). "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn "'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law--Your enemies will be right in your own household!" (Matthew 10:34-36) The hope of New Family "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters." (Matthew 23:8) "So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters." (Hebrews 2:11) "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, set your minds on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess." (Hebrews 3:1) "So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family." (Ephesians 2:19 NLT). "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith." (Galatians 6:10) "So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." (Romans 12:5) "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58) " There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you." (Galatians 3:29).

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Ephesians 4:29) "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:8) "But now you must put aside all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth." (Colossians 3:8) "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (Galatians 4:6) "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice." (Ephesians 4:31) "Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." (2 Timothy 2:23)

Indeed, well said. I have noticed how semantics and how words are precieved can change a whole conversation. For instance, the word veneration can be to some the word "worship" but to others it can mean to "honor, to honor their memory." Another case is the word anointing, for one person this is a spiritual dispensation or authority given by laying on of hands, another it is simply the act of anointing with oil as the kings and prophets of Israel were anointed, or anointed can specifically the Messiah (Christ, the anointed One), and finally anointed can be that a person has anointed speech, or speaks with authority, "The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." (Mark 1:22). Jesus indeed could read men's thoughts (Matthew 9:4, ), because He is LORD (Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:11), and the LORD reads men's thoughts (Jeremiah 17:10).

I have learned from the Master a long time ago, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:1-3). If you are going to sow seed, you need to be able to receive seed (food for thought). Of course you should always stand by your convictions (Romans 14:23, James 4:17), but its always good to hear the opposite point of view or a different view.

We run risk of going in circles in any discussion. I've learned if I prefer not to talk about the subject any further, to bow out, and cease getting involved in conversation (this happened recently to me on forums). Remember this, while I am not applying this Bible verse I am about to share to Judas (he's a friend, I am Protestant and I believe he's said he's Catholic), we have to remember that those who won't hear us out and attack us are what Jesus warns about, "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you." (Matthew 7:6). Only each of us can decide in a given situation if it's worth carrying on the conversation, or if it wasting our time.

I think the best balance on this subject is found in the Book of Judge, the last book before The Book of Revelation: "And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives." (Jude 1:22-23, Holy Bible).

I respect you very much Yown, I have joined your threads on Solae Scriptura and more. However, I must say I don't think Judas is being gung ho, he's sharing his perspective and discussing a point of difference. We all are making our cases ardently, as should be in a debate (oh how debate is so rare in these days, especially a civil/kind debate).

Of course not. But I am using dead in its definition of (separation, we are separated from them at present time). That is what death meant, but now it has other contexts. Even the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15) is separation from God, which means these people are separated from God and in hell. I can quote about how there is no more death, but I am talking about death in that we are here on earth, and the other saints are in heaven. We can't communicate, there is a chasm of separation (called death).

I think the angels response to women is great way to think about it, "their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" (Luke 24:5). Why are you looking to dead saints, when you can share with living? The case that "why ask someone to pray for you," doesn't work, because the separation of death does not allow the living and dead to talk and is forbidden (Deuteronomy 8:11, Leviticus 19:28-31). Besides that the man in hell, not mention those in Sheol shared that no one can cross chasm, "And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." (Luke 16:26). If they cannot cross between the paradise and inferno, why would they cross into earth or listen to prayers? Is not all subjected to Christ in all three realms, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.." (Philippians 2:10). Why would you pray to those dead who have no power, when you pray to Jesus who was dead and is now alive, and is God (Colossians 2:9, Titus 2:13)?

It just seems to me that God would not have us pray to dead or receive they prayers, if he says don't consult them or try to contact them. I mean Prayer comes from Old English Word to mean "Come hither I pray," which means come here and talk to me.

I am glad this has blessed you. I think Scripture itself makes it clear, "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12). I always ask with respect, how can the Bible (66 Books) judge my thoughts and attitudes? The Prophet Jeremiah says, ""I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve." (Jeremiah 17:10). We know the LORD is Jesus (Romans 10:9, Philippians 2:11, Colossians 1:19, Colossians 2:9, John 10:30, John 17:20-30), and we know Jesus lives in us believers (Colossians 1:27, 1 Corinthians 3:16), so it stans to reason that the Word of God here is definitely Jesus, not the Scriptures (though they come from Him 2 Timothy 3:16).

Very interesting, I like how you tied it into the Grand Deception that is coming, "This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:9-11). While Paul's words here seems specifically for unbelievers, I am not so certain, Jesus says in Matthew 24:24, "If at all possible the Elect be deceived." Now some think, this means "Its not possible, if possible being, like as if, not going to happen," but I think it could fall into category of "It is possible, but highly unlikely or if possible in sense of it is possible. The Falling Away from Faith is laid out in many of verses I've already shared, and while we shouldn't live in terror of falling away, we should be vigilant, "This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith." (Revelation 14:12).

An excellent place to start is to learn about Muslims, that they live on 25-28 fears every day (including if they go to sleep right before Allah), that Muhammed says in the First Hadith that he believed the angel that came to him was Jinn (Jin, Genie, evil spirit). How to be the Christian underground amongst Muslim Radical Extremists. All of this and more you can read in William Wagner's "How Islam Plans to Change The World." Another way is to pray for them, show Christ's love to them, and share this: "In the Quran it says Isa (Jesus) is the Word of God. The Prophet says Isa is only one to have this name. Where is your word? They respond by pointing in at their heart and head: right in your heart and mind, and it comes from you right, you voice it and its part of you. If Isa is the Word of God, is he then God?" Another way is to keep asking them questions, "I am confused, the Prophet says you must only have one wife, but he had many wives and even married a little girl," "Muhammed says all scripture is true, and you must read all holy books, why aren't you reading the Holy Bible?" Always be respectful, and try to lead them to thinking out these things without being abrasive.

We mourn the temporary (albeit long from our perspective) separation from the person who has gone to sleep in Christ (repose). Mourning is the feeling of loss, that the person is not going to be near us for a however long we live here on Earth. The best explanation comes straight from Emmanuel, "“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one." (John 16:16-22). Like the apostles we lament and weep when a loved ones passes away, but in time those tears will turn to joy when we reunite with those reposed believers. The only true lingering tears are when someone doesn't believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:18), and they are destined for the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15).

We should never lose the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12, John 6:40). We should marvel that God humbled himself, became a Man (John 1:15), limited his powers (Philippians 2:5-11 NLT), suffered (1 Peter 2:21), and carried the weight of our sin upon his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). He wrote love in blood, writing a new covenant with nails in his hands, and saying to our sin, "It is Finished." (). No other gods humbled themselves, limited their powers, lived in weakness, and died for man. Jesus Christ says to mankind, "They say, all others say you must prove yourself and earn God's favor, I say to you I have proved myself to you and earned you favor. Where those fallen demand, I say decide, where the fallen say grovel, I bore your sins with shovel, where devils say bow, I the Divine bowed myself low on a cross to set you free."

I still see no command to pray for dead saints (asleep, reposed) nor that they pray for us in Scripture.