Logostician

Jesus is the only thing that this world, and worldly people, cannot take from you. If everyone in this world seems to be abandoning you, he is the one that will stay with you. Jesus is my saviour, and my best friend. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Faith is more than belief. It is a deep abiding trust. Faith is giving yourself to God with no reservations. It is giving your life to the one who gave you life. A small child doesn't just believe that his parents are real. He trusts and loves them.

I believe that evangelism started with Pentecost, when the apostles and disciples of Jesus received the Holy Spirit. They went from being learners to teachers in an instant, because God was speaking through them, with power and conviction. They went from a state of fearfulness to fearlessness. Look at how Peter who denied Christ three times prior to the crucification of Christ, comes out of Pentecost on fire. He is fearless, and his words convict everyone who hears them. An evangelist is a messenger of God, who's message is the Word of God.

Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He is the ultimate connection between God and man, because he is both. When he took all of humanity into himself, and died for for their sins, the sins of man died, but the mankind in him lived, and lives forever, in him, and with him, for all those who will believe in him.

I believe that those who die in this world do not die in the Spirit, and are rather brought instantly before Jesus in new bodies. So the body we leave behind is no longer important to God or to us. Remember that God transcends time. And when we enter his presence after leaving this word, we will no longer be bound by the dimensions of this world. Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the LIVING. 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the LIFE: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he LIVE: And whosoever LIVETH and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

There are different views on the rapture and the timing. And I don't argue with fellow Christians whose views differ from mine. But I do have a view, and it comes from the Word of God, the Spirit of God, and my own admittedly flawed perceptions as an imperfect man of God. I believe that the rapture, or being "caught up", will be a pre-tribulation event. And it may be so sudden that those who are left behind may say that we Christians are dead because we were wrong. No lie will be too much for them. I think the Spirit of God which restrained the evil of men, while we Christians were in this world, will depart from this world with us. And all hell, known as the tribulation, will break out in earnest. God will not leave the world entirely. He will send his elect, and his two witnesses, and many will be saved. We who are saved now have nothing to prove to God because the Spirit of God is already in us. Those who are lost will remain during the Tribulation. However, many of these, but I won't say most, will come to Jesus during the tribulation, with much suffering. But they like us will wash their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, and receive the only gift that ultimately matters, Jesus Christ. In this sense, the Tribulation will be the final act of mercy by God to this world, to bring them to him. It will be the ultimate act of tough love. Regardless of how and when Jesus returns, and how and when we join him, I pray that it happens soon. But I accept his will to do his work until that time comes. Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Perhaps for the same reason Jesus didn't write any books at all. Some people live it. Others who follow write about it. The followers of Jesus wrote about him in the New Testament only after he was crucified, and risen, and they had received the indwelling Spirit of God, who moved them to write. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Paul never met Jesus in the flesh. But he wrote more about him than any New Testament author. The word of God comes from the Spirit of God. The message belongs to God, and is merely transmitted to us through men. Moses wrote about creation even though he obviously wasn't there. But God was. And the words he gave Moses are the word of God.

Rev 4:10-11 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. All the power of men in this world and the next is an illusion, except that it is freely given up to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are in this world to do the will of God, and pull people out of this world, and into the Kingdom of Heaven. Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I'm vaccinated by the blood of Jesus Christ. That's all I need. And I'm ready to leave this world whenever he calls me.

I think you are right. Just as the wise may judge the foolish, but the fool cannot judge the wise. And there is no greater wisdom than the wisdom of God. And God gives us access to his wisdom through his Spirit in us. I believe that all the gifts of the Spirit, including spiritual discernment do not really belong to us. Spiritual gifts are the Spirit of God working in us. The more we allow the Spirit of God to work in us, the greater our works will be, because they won't be our works, they will be God's works through us. I also think that we can pray for, and receive gifts, as well as receiving more empowerment of the gifts God has already given us by praying. But it needs to be a prayer to glorify God, not self. And it should never be sign seeking. This is strengthening of our relationship with God, and our Savior Jesus Christ. The stronger the relationship, the more the Spirit of God works in, and through us.

I thank God for all the things he has given me. Especially the life he gave me, when Jesus Christ laid down his own life for me. There is no greater love. I thank God for giving me the ability and inclination to give away the things that he gave to me to others, that have, or might come to him, knowing that the one gift that I truly need, will remain forever. And that gift is God himself. Amen.

I talk to Jesus anytime, and anywhere, I feel moved to do so, including when I'm angry. And I always feel stronger, and more at peace for doing so. There is no wrong time to call on the Lord. I am never disrespectful, because I know he is God. And I am never shy, or doubtful, because, although he is God, he is also my best friend. The only time I feel weak, and alone, is when I stop talking to Jesus, even for a short time, trying to deal with my problems on my own. If you love Jesus, return his love by seeking him always, as you would a friend. And always keep in mind that he is much more. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Matthew 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

I'm not sure about the question. But here is my take on God in the Old and New Testaments. Elohim is the name of God in the initial creation in Genesis, and it is a plural form, indicating Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus created the universe in the opening verses of Genesis, although he is not named separately from Elohim. The Spirit of God that moved upon the face of the waters is clearly the Holy Spirit. The breath of life into Adams nostrils is surely the life giving Holy Spirit. And while the creation is clearly the will of the Father, it is the Son who is the active agent of creation. John 1:3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jesus did not come into being when he was born of Mary. Jesus has always been with God, and has always been God. But he did make a tremendous sacrifice just to become a man, in order to fulfill the great sacrifice of dying for the sins of mankind, so that the man he created in the beginning could continue to live in the presence of God, in full unity with God. This was God's plan all along. It is the will of the Father. All salvation is by faith through grace. There is no salvation by the law. And faith has to be personal, just as grace is the powerful love of God. This has always been true for both Jew and gentile. Salvation through faith came first to the jew because God revealed himself to Jews first. Faith is what saved Abraham. And the God of Abraham was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Even when Jesus became flesh he mainly spoke as the Jewish Messiah to Jews. He is the Jewish Messiah who fulfills the Old Testament prophesies. But Jesus's sacrifice on the cross is what brings gentiles into a knowledge of God. And this ultimate act of love is extended to all mankind. This is the will of the Father, followed faithfully by his Son Jesus. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus has always been God. Salvation has always been through faith, by the grace of God. God's plan has always been to draw Jew and gentile to himself, in his time, and in his way. And only a remnant of each will come to God in faith and love. Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Ask.

I judge the actions of people with the discernment of the Spirit of God. But Jesus is the judge of all mankind. Nobody knows the deep things of the hearts of man like him. He created all things, and died to save us. He has more than earned the right to judge all things. He became a man to know our state intimately. He is ultimately qualified to judge us. He was and is without sin. He is the only man righteous to judge. The only one.

Psalm 14:1-4 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.

Yes, the Antichrist could be alive right now. But we may still never know who he is in this life, because we could be caught up to join Jesus at any time between right now, and the signing of the covenant between the Antichrist and Israel, which is the beginning of the tribulation. And of course is broken by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the tribulation. And yes, I do believe in a pretribulation rapture. So I agree that we should prepare and pray earnestly every day, because Jesus could be calling us any day now. If I'm wrong about a pretribulation rapture, there is still plenty of reason to pray. Perhaps more. Knowing who the Antichrist is and experiencing any of the tribulation that he ushers in will magnify the current perversity, sin, and suffering by many orders of magnitude. Whatever the case, and only the Father knows, the answer is always the same. Jesus. There is no other way. He is the way. In a very real sense, I don't care about the Antichrist, or when he is revealed. I look for Jesus. And his imminent return. May it be soon. God's peace.

Yes. I'm sure.

My feelings about the Rapture are summarized by the last two verses of the Bible. Rev 22:20-21 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Jesus comes first. Always. Matthew 6:22-29 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! Jesus is the focal point of life. All else is darkness and death.

I like songs where people bare their souls and call out to Jesus, like James Taylor in Fire and Rain: Won't you look down upon me, Jesus? You've got to help me make a stand You've just got to see me through another day My body's aching and my time is at hand And I won't make it any other way 2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Matthew 19:30 But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

Humility.