Logostician

2 Cor 12:7-9 And lest I be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me What makes you think that Timothy and Paul didn't pray for Timothy's health? Paul loved Timothy like a son. The will of God prevails, and makes us stronger. Physical infirmities are common to all men in this life. And we will all die at the end of this life as a result of these infirmities. But those on whom "the power of Christ may rest upon" will live forever.

Lust seeks the welfare of self. Love seeks the welfare of others. Lust is based on pride/covetousness which is the source of all sin. Love is based on selflessness, and the ability to to look beyond oneself for what is right and true. Agape love comes from God. We have the capacity to love because we are created in God's image. We are told to love God, and our neighbor. This is real love that does not seek it's own carnal reward. It is a love that glorifies God. It is an empathetic love that seeks the wellbeing of others. If you want to know if it's lust or love, ask yourself is it for me, or is it for God, and my neighbor.

My favorite word in the Bible, which I've never seen anywhere else is "Lovingkindness". What a great word! It's the old English translation of the Hebrew "Checed". It's the perfect description of the loving nature of God. As for denominations, my denomination is Jesus. "Nom" means name. Jesus is the name with power that describes who I am better than anything, in terms of what I know, beleive, and identify with. A "Christian" is a Christ man. And that's what I am. And it's enough. I never try to hold to only part of what Jesus is and taught to suit "denomination". But I don't hold anything against those who hold to specific doctrine based on the Bible, as long as it is Christ centered. But we all have our own walk with Jesus. We all have our own personal relationship with him. And it's not denominational. It's Jesus and us. When we see Jesus face to face, doctrine, theology, and denominationalism will be replaced with a more perfect knowledge of the one who stands before us. Until then we should focus on Jesus, and try to return and share as much of his Lovingkindness as we can.

Nothing happens outside the will of God. All things work to his purpose. When Job is afflicted he never even thinks about Satan at all. He gives Satan his proper consideration, which is nothing at all. Job's conversation and thoughts are with God as they should be. As stated by others here Job is an object lesson for everyone who has faith in God. In times of trouble, we will either flee to God, or away from God. Job gets a little bit testy, and defensive with God, but he maintains his conversation with God. He knows there is nowhere else to go. His "friends" give a lot of bad advice. But Job is not deterred. His conversation is with God. That is how we need to maintain our relationship with God through Jesus. We will all face troubles. We will all question why we have to face these troubles, and struggle in the heart and mind with current and future consequences of these troubles. But we need to flee to Jesus and redouble our conversation with him, which is prayer. Jesus struggled with this same thing in a far greater impending hardship than Job could ever imagine. The suffering of Jesus was greater than the suffering of any man. Ever. But his relationship with the Father, and yielding to his will was unbreakable. Luk 22:41-44 And he was withdrawn from them about a stones cast, and kneeled down and prayed, saying Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And Jesus went on to die a horrific death on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of all mankind. Because that was the will of his, and our, father. That was the act that saved the world. Job is an object lesson in suffering. But Jesus is the fulfillment of all things. Look to him in all seasons, including times of trouble and suffering. He understands it better than anyone.

I beleive that you could make the case that when Jesus took on all of the sins of the world, past, present, and future, that the Father could not, or more approriately would not, look upon all of this sin, especially as it rested upon the shoulders of his beloved son. If the father did forsake the Son for this short time on the cross, however, he would seem to be a forsaking our own sins, rather than his beloved Son who bore them like a crown of thorns. I have no theological basis for saying that Father never truly forsook the Son. God knows. But this is what I beleive. The depth of love and the powerful oneness of the Father and the Son, seem to preclude even a moment of abandonment in all of eternity. Although surely God forsakes humanity that insists on forsaking him by not believing in him and establishing a relationship with him through Jesus. We cannot remain in our sins and see God. We need forgiveness through Jesus. Jesus accomplished this on the cross, for anyone who will beleive. There is strong theology in the mental, spiritual, and emotional suffering of Jesus. He was all man, as well as all God. As a man he felt all of the trepidation we would feel if faced with a tortuous death. And he felt all of the physical pain of this torture. And he felt the loneliness of being the true Lamb of God. Docetism is a false teaching that says that Jesus, as the Son of God, was a spiritual being that was spared this mortal pain. This is false. Jesus felt every ounce of the pain of the cross. Only by being a man, was he able to take the sins of man onto himself. Jesus is the link between God and man because he was both. I beleive he still is, and always will be. For those who love him, I beleive that Jesus took us into himself at the cross, removed the sin, and nailed it to the cross, keeping us sinless by virtue of forgiveness in him. I also beleive that as we were drawn into Jesus, he entered into us, through his Spirit. This is a powerful two way relationship. There is no other like it. Theology is too small of a word to describe the fact that Jesus is all God, and all man, and provides this relationship to us. This is the powerful love of God in an everlasting intense relationship with us. Everything hinges on it. It is now. Although the fullness of heaven on earth awaits.

Jesus is the truth. Jno 14 :6 Jesus saith I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but through me. There is no life without this truth that is Jesus Christ. Jno 11:25-26 Jesus saith unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosever beleiveth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Satan's primary weapon against Jesus and those would be saved by Jesus is deception, which is a denial of the truth of Jesus, and the truth that he is God. This has been seen from the Garden of Eden, to now, and until Jesus himself takes Satan out. Jno 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own. For he is a liar, and the father of it. One of Satan's biggest deceptions is the idea that there is no such thing as absolute truth, and that everything is relative to personal, subjective option. This allows sin to enter, because it denies that God is absolute, true, and absolutely in charge. Jno 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then. Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the TRUTH. Everyone that is of the TRUTH beareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, what is the truth. We are all evangelists because we know the truth of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and are expected to share this and grow the Kingdom of God. To deny this sharing of the truth is tantamount to condemning people to eternal death. Jno 15:7-8 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples. So what is this fruit? Acts of love? Certainly. But what is the greatest act of love that truly glorifies God? It is the gospel of truth that saves and brings His people into His kingdom, and the loving relationship with Him, that He has intended from the foundation of the world, and before. Jesus is the rock of truth that withstands and overcomes all else. Mat 7:24-25 Therefore whosever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them. I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and it fell not. For it was founded upon a rock. If we truly truly love our neighbor, as Jesus calls us to do, we will surely share this life saving truth, far and wide. And it will be the the greatest act of love we can give. Jesus gave his life on a cross. We can give this truth.

I don't know too much about the NASB. I'm just happy to hear anyone say that they are excited by the Bible. God bless you in your journey with Him!

Thank you and Amen. Heaven will be the fulfillment of the two great commandments of Jesus to love God, and love our neighbors. We will see Jesus as he is, and our love for him will be multiplied. And we will love everyone else in his kingdom. Imagine that. Loving everyone that you meet. No disease or death is wonderful, but love is the essence of God. Without it, eternal life would be meaningless. God is love. And there is nothing greater. Love is the reason Jesus created us.

Not all people who do evil and appear evil will become worse and worse. And we are not the judges of souls. Some will be saved and become new creatures. Jesus will judge, and save who he will. 1 Tim 1:12-13 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. We were all dead in our sins until we were saved by Jesus Christ. Jesus came to save sinners. Saul wasn't looking too good before his encounter with Jesus, and neither were we. But now we are Sons of God because the Father sees his Son Jesus in us. Only these new creatures in Christ are acceptable to God. Our past life without Jesus is left behind as we move forward with Jesus. Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things that are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The abomination that makes desolate is prophesy with historic and future fulfillment, as is the case with the ancient Roman Empire that destroyed the Temple in 70AD, and the revived Roman Empire that will rise up in the last days. Dan 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. In 167 BC Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria, desecrated the temple by halting the sacrifices mandated by God, and sacrificed a pig on an altar to zeus that he erected in the temple. This profaned the temple of God, and eventually led to the war of the Maccabees, which is discussed in the apocropha, which is not in the canonical Bible. But the ultimate fulfillment of Daniel's prophesy will be fulfilled by the beast, the son of Satan, during the tribulation. In chapter 9 of Daniel, the prophet gives his prophesy of 70 weeks of years covering 490:years. Verse 24 pinpoints the arrival of Jesus in the flesh, and was probably used by the Magi to seek a sign in the stars to find Jesus. But verse 27 refers to the future week of the tribulation, and the beast who first authors a treaty/covenant that allows the rebuilding of the temple with daily sacrifices, but then breaks the covenant at the midpoint of the 7 years. Dan 9:27 And he (beast) shall confirm the covenant with many for one week (7 years). And in the midst (middle) of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation (end of this world), and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. The beast's edict to halt the daily sacrifice in the temple makes it desolate (without purpose). But the true abomination that makes desolate is the beast himself. 2 Thess 2:3-4 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 (beast), the son of perdition (Satan). 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. The beast is the son of Satan who will for a short time defile the the temple, pretending to be the Son of God, until he, and his unholy army, are destroyed by Jesus and his heavenly host. Rev 19:19-20 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Jesus has always been hated and envied by Satan. Satan was cast out heaven for his pride and sin (Eze 28). Satan has always wanted to undermine God's plan, as when he caused the fall of mankind in the garden, and continues to be the prince of this world. Satan desires to sit on the throne of Jesus. And he will spend a short time there before being defeated by Jesus and his heavenly host. Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are a parody of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, seeking to assume the power and glory of God out of prideful envy. People who hate Jesus are simply displaying their fallen state, putting their own worldly pride before Jesus. There is nothing new under the sun. Those who have eyes to see the truth beyond this world, will see Jesus. Those who have eyes only for themselves, in this world, will remain in their fallen state. Nicodemus is a rare example of a Jewish leader during the time that Jesus walked among us, who reached past his own position of power to truly seek the things of God, through Jesus Christ. But is mankind any better today than it was when Jesus walked the earth? Even with the Word of God preached throughout the world? The way is still narrow. And the gate is still strait. And few find it still. It requires looking beyond oneself, and the world that is seen, to the source, sustainer, and savior of all things, Jesus Christ. He is the way. There is no other way. Any man who thinks he can have it his own way, and be his own way is deceived by the father of lies, Satan. Not surprisingly, Jesus said it best: Jno 4:43-44 Why do you not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own. For he is a liar, and the father of it.

It seems that you have a negative view of Christians. Perhaps you have had some bad experiences. But I will not argue with you at a time like this. I will urge you to focus on the one all loving creator of the world Jesus Christ. When you feel alone or unloved, he is always there and always loves. I pray that he will ease your mind, and body. All "science", philosophy, and studies by men, pale next to the Son of God, Jesus Christ. I don't mean to lecture, But Jesus is the one and only thing that both of us really need. Please allow him to comfort you. He wants to.

Something will drive you, even possess you. Jesus said we must choose between God and mammon. Which ever one you choose will be your master, and you will serve that master. Many people will spend their lives chasing worldly wealth, and other pleasures of this world as their primary focus. And all that they amass will be taken from them when they die, and given to someone else. This world is all they can see. They have eyes that could see more, and we're made to see more. But they refuse to recognize the true source and creator of the things they see with their limited sight. They will think of themselves as independent, and making their own choices to seek pleasures as they will. In actuality though, their master is this world, and the prince of this world. But the wise seek first the kingdom of heaven and store eternal treasures in heaven. So how do we store treasures in heaven? By serving God with good works. By producing fruit which is bringing people to Christ. When you are saved, you give yourself to God. You are possessed by the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit will help you to fight worldliness. The Spirit Wes with worldliness in us, to draw us closer to God. 1 Cor 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own. For ye are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your Spirit which are God's. In summary, I serve God because he created me. He owns me. I do not own myself, nor do I want to. I gave myself to Jesus Christ when I was saved. He is the master. I am the servant. And servants serve their master. I was not forced to serve. But I was chosen to serve. And this gives me eternal life with Jesus. Nothing could be better than that. I'm far beyond doubt. My existence is inextricable bound with Jesus. And that's all I need.

The beast and the false prophet have not been revealed yet. And we may not be in this world when they are revealed.

Yes we still have a sin nature in this world. That is why we never see perfect people in this world, including ourselves. I think the point Paul is making is that with the Spirit of God we are no longer slaves to this sin nature. We will still be tempted. We can overcome most temptation with the help of the Spirit. When we do occasionally fall into sin, Jesus is faithful to forgive as he promised. But the only person who was ever tempted to sin, but did not sin was Jesus. As the only sinless man in the history of the world, he had the power and purity to lay his life down for the rest of mankind, past, present, and future. No other man was fit to do this. I beleive that the Spirit in us constantly battles the temptations of the fleshly man. The gospel armor of Ephesians is not for decorations. It is for the battle against evil that can still take hold of us if we do not remain strong in the Spirit.

I guess you can look at all interactions of viewpoints as either arguing or sharing points of view. I prefer the latter. I think most of us know immediately what topics will generate strong and sometimes conflicting opinions (eg. predestination vs free will, once saved always saved, faith and works). Christians should be able to voice their opinions about these and other things without animosity. If you initiate or respond to posts in topics like these, don't expect universal agreement with your opinion. And don't enter a conversation looking for a fight, or you'll probably find one, and nobody will gain useful insights. Jesus is the center of everything for a Christian (Christ man). We're all different. But were all the same because of him. Accept the differences, and rejoice in the unity with Jesus. And if you feel like somebody has hurt your feelings, remember that Jesus was crucified. And that hurt a lot, and was not the least bit deserved. We deserved the death penalty, not Jesus. He suffered and died for us.

Job is good man. Anyone and everyone should be able to sympathize with him. However he does fall into the trap of defending his human righteousness with God whose righteousness is beyond human reach, and is the source of all righteousness. Jobs friends don't help him at all by telling him he sinned, and is being punished. The lesson for Job seems to be whatever righteousness you have, pales in comparison to God, and whatever righteousness you have, can and will be multiplied by God.

God comes first. Always. Exo 1:15-20 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah. And he said, when you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him, but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. BUT THE MIDWIVES FEARED GOD, AND DID NOT AS THE KING OF EGYPT COMMANDED THEM, but saved the men children alive. Exo 1:20 Therefore God dealt well the midwives, and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. Pharaoh was the mightiest ruler in the world at this time. But midwives disobeyed him because God comes first. Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governor's, and the princes, the councillors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree that whosever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being opened toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks to God, as he did aforetime. Darius was the most powerful ruler of his time, but Daniel defied him and worshipped God, because God comes first. Nobody was going to tell Daniel he couldn't worship God, even with the punishment of being torn to pieces in a lion's den. And yet unconstitutional laws against church assembly have kept many from worshipping God to "save" us from Covid. And yet nothing "saves" but Jesus. I answer to one man. His name is Jesus Christ. He is the one that will judge me eternally. The rapidly evolving one world government has no hold on me at all. I will always follow Jesus regardless of man's laws. And I accept the consequences in this world, which could be death, as it already is in many parts of the world. Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye, if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. A single eye focused on Jesus, rather than the world is my calling.

I beleive that the way to move from a desire to change to actual change is to ask Jesus Christ for help. Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me. A change that we decide on, and initiate and attempt to carry out alone is pharisaical and self serving. A change that is initiated and effected by Jesus unifies us with him. He is the reason for the change, and helps to bring it about in us.

I don't think it's possible to compare my faith to others. I don't know the depths of their faith or even my own. I just know that Jesus loves me, and he is the only one who can see into the depth of hearts. Whenever I interact with a strong Christian, I am drawn to them. I don't compete with them. We are on the same side, and we strengthen each other.

Maybe you are trying to move mountains that God has already put in their places because he wants them there. Seek the will of God first and then pray with boldness and confidence. I have seen miracles in my life as the result of prayer. And they happened because I knew in my heart that God wanted the same thing I wanted, and that it would make me stronger, and more capable of serving him. A lot of people would say these things were wonderful, but not really miracles. But I say that anything you can't do yourself, that glorifies God, and is performed by God, as a result of earnest prayer is a miracle. Loving your neighbor, however, is the best way to grow and show your faith. There are no miracles required here. God is love. And we are made in his image. We were created from the start to love God, and each other. Maybe the real mountains are people, and we are supposed to move their hearts to Jesus Christ. Give away some love. It's the only way to get more. Faith and love are inseparable. And by the way God loves a contrite heart. So he definitely loves you.

Thank you. I am happy to be one of those knuckleheads who never sees the need to dispute the Word of God. I will continue to take it literally for as long as I am in this world. And when I leave this world, my eyes will be further opened to a fuller understanding of what God has told us. I don't know exactly how God did all the things he did, as he describes in his Word right now. But that's my shortcoming. Not his. This is faith. But it's also logic and reason. I've never been to Canada, but I'm pretty sure it exists. The trick for Bible doubters is to recognize their own inability to know everything, but continue to to use logic and reason, along with faith. It will point to God. In Ecclesiastes the smartest man in the world searches out all of the things of this world, seeking the deepest possible meaning for everything, and he cannot find worldly answers to his questions. He struggles mightily throughout the whole book, and then he shows the depth of his wisdom in his conclusion. Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. I agree with this wise man.

Prayer is the power of God made available to us for the asking. God will do monumental things, according to his will. But he waits for us to ask, so we will know that he was the source of the answered prayer. One prayer, by a Godly person, at the right time, within the will of God, can change the course of history. And many prayers by many people for a certain cause, will reveal the power of God to many, and glorify his name. God wants to show us wonders. But he wants us to ask for them. Pray boldly. It will not offend God. This is what he wants from us, strong faith, and full use of the grace he has given us.

Whenever Paul greets, says goodbye, and even when he admonishes the young churches, it sounds like he is talking to close family members that he loves very much. Because he is. 1Ths 2:7-8 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Awesome final thought. So true.