fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398 
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 12, 2017 14:09:43 GMT -5
1/12/17
Aeneas and Dorcas
Acts 9 32-43
Peter performed 2 substantial miracles, one for Aeneas and one for Dorcas.
It says of Dorcas that she was always doing good and helping the poor, and it seems she was an excellent seamstress.
Well I don't 'think' God will use me for such miracles as Peter did LOL ( tho I suppose one never knows?),
but
I think it more likely my application is to be more like Dorcas, be doing good, and helping the poor.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 13, 2017 15:27:45 GMT -5
1/13/17
Acts 10: 1-23
Cornelius Calls for Peter
It seems like Cornelius was a saved Gentile (?) but had not received the Holy Spirit.
But an angel comes to Cornelius and tells him to ask for Peter.
Meanwhile Peter in a vision is told by God:
v. 15 "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
Tho the vision was showing food, it applied to Peter's beliefs about the Gentiles.
So Peter goes to Cornelius home.
v. 15 is a good application for me as well, tho I think of myself as pretty accepting of most people, I do in fact, find myself leery and/or cautious of some.
While there are times to be careful, I need to check myself to be sure I am not just feeling superior, prejudice,
or some other way,
of calling unclean what God has made clean.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 14, 2017 12:47:59 GMT -5
1/14/17
Acts 10:24-48
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The first thing I did when reading this was to look and see where these two cities were....
and then I was curious about Simon the tanner....
And I read something interesting that I didn't get while reading myself and that is that a tanner was considered unclean by the Jews ( due to dead animals I guess, and also it was a dirty smelly job).
And the strange thing then occurred to me was that interesting Peters dream had all manner of animals, some unclean it seems like)
But as one commentator pointed out, Peter was a little hesitant to go to a very Godly Gentile, yet he was staying at a supposedly very 'unclean' Jew's home.
I never caught all that before. And of course once again I need to as an application keep in mind what God said to Peter:
1) v.15 "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean"
and from the passage I read today which goes along with that:
2) v.34 "God does not show favoritism"
And while Peter was explaining to this group of 'unclean, uncircumcised gentiles,
v. 45 "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles."
This is so uplifting, I know I have both felt very unclean ( with a mysterious background, never even saw a photo of my bio dad)
to the opposite, of feeling above certain people ( with no reason at all to),
so the wonderfully news is that either way, God loves people without favoritism!
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 15, 2017 15:38:59 GMT -5
1/15/17
acts 11:1-18
Peter Explains His Actions
Peter had to explain to the circumcised Jews why he was with, ate with etc. Gentiles.
Peter finally says:
v.17 "......who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?"
Which is a good application for me as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 16, 2017 11:53:20 GMT -5
I don't think I have ever said that prayer: Father Glorify Your Name!
I am definitely going to!!!
This morning it was coooold out! Leonard as he was going off to drive the grand kids to school, poked his head back in, and said:
your little hummingbird is out sitting on a branch.
I knew I should give he or she, some new food....but I wanted to stay in where it was nice and toasty warm!!! And sit!!
But I got up and made some food, plus put some suet out for the song birds.
I was glad I made the effort tho, as the little hummer sat listening to me tell her how cute and adorable she is....
and then she flew hopped closer and closer and finally took a little fly about very close....it was so sweet.
Like she was saying hello,
then she got back on the branch so I could tell her more about how pretty she was.
I also told her ( as I often do with wild creatures):
that everything that has breath, praise the Lord.
Since it was so cold and she just wanted to listen to my voice, but I know they have to eat every 15 mins in the best of weather, I went in so she could go back to eating.
Several song birds flew in to eat while this exchange with hummie was going on.
But it was cold out there!!! 1/12/17
Aeneas and Dorcas
Acts 9 32-43
Peter performed 2 substantial miracles, one for Aeneas and one for Dorcas.
It says of Dorcas that she was always doing good and helping the poor, and it seems she was an excellent seamstress.
Well I don't 'think' God will use me for such miracles as Peter did LOL ( tho I suppose one never knows?),
but
I think it more likely my application is to be more like Dorcas, be doing good, and helping the poor.
The account of Peter’s raising Dorcas is very similar to the account of our Lord’s raising of Jairus’ daughter in Mark 5:34–43. “But Peter sent them all out” is literally, he “threw them out.” This is exactly what Jesus did in Mark 5:40. Jesus took the girl by the hand before He spoke to her, for He wasn't afraid of becoming ceremonially defiled. To avoid being ceremonially unclean, Peter did not touch her until after God restored her to life.
Another interesting comparison is that Jonah went to Joppa to avoid going to the Gentiles, but Peter received his call to go to the Gentiles in Joppa!
1/13/17
Acts 10: 1-23
Cornelius Calls for Peter
It seems like Cornelius was a saved Gentile (?) but had not received the Holy Spirit.
But an angel comes to Cornelius and tells him to ask for Peter.
Meanwhile Peter in a vision is told by God:
v. 15 "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."
Tho the vision was showing food, it applied to Peter's beliefs about the Gentiles.
So Peter goes to Cornelius home.
v. 15 is a good application for me as well, tho I think of myself as pretty accepting of most people, I do in fact, find myself leery and/or cautious of some.
While there are times to be careful, I need to check myself to be sure I am not just feeling superior, prejudice,
or some other way,
of calling unclean what God has made clean.
Cornelius was as close to Judaism as he could get without becoming a proselyte. There were many “God fearers” like him in the ancient world (Acts 13:16) and they proved to be a ready field for spiritual harvest. It is interesting to see how religious a person can be and still not be saved. Certainly, Cornelius was sincere in his obedience to God’s Law, his fasting, and his generosity to the Jewish people (compare this to Luke 7:1–10). He was not permitted to offer sacrifices in the temple, so he presented his prayers to God as his sacrifices. In every way, he was a model of religious respectability—and yet he was not a saved man. The difference between Cornelius & many religious people today is this: he knew that his religious devotion was not sufficient to save him. Many religious people today are satisfied that their character & good works will get them to heaven. Cornelius was asking God to show him the way of salvation (Acts 11:13–14). The Bible exposition commentary
1/14/17
Acts 10:24-48
Peter at Cornelius’s House
The first thing I did when reading this was to look and see where these two cities were....
and then I was curious about Simon the tanner....
And I read something interesting that I didn't get while reading myself and that is that a tanner was considered unclean by the Jews ( due to dead animals I guess, and also it was a dirty smelly job).
And the strange thing then occurred to me was that interesting Peters dream had all manner of animals, some unclean it seems like)
But as one commentator pointed out, Peter was a little hesitant to go to a very Godly Gentile, yet he was staying at a supposedly very 'unclean' Jew's home.
I never caught all that before. And of course once again I need to as an application keep in mind what God said to Peter:
1) v.15 "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean"
and from the passage I read today which goes along with that:
2) v.34 "God does not show favoritism"
And while Peter was explaining to this group of 'unclean, uncircumcised gentiles,
v. 45 "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles."
This is so uplifting, I know I have both felt very unclean ( with a mysterious background, never even saw a photo of my bio dad)
to the opposite, of feeling above certain people ( with no reason at all to),
so the wonderfully news is that either way, God loves people without favoritism!
1/15/17
acts 11:1-18
Peter Explains His Actions
Peter had to explain to the circumcised Jews why he was with, ate with etc. Gentiles.
Peter finally says:
v.17 "......who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?"
Which is a good application for me as well.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 16, 2017 14:18:56 GMT -5
I guess I was thinking that this verse meant he was saved but did not have the Holy Spirit yet....( but now I see why that was not true).
Acts 10: 1-2
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;
he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly"
I misunderstood devout, God'fearing ,and prayers to mean he was saved.
I guess because of the apostles etc. at Pentecost were saved (?) but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit...and so I thought the same with Cornelius.....
but no, I missed the faith he had by inviting all his family!
Thank you for pointing that out!!
I have managed to memorize the fruit of the spirit ( as help that you mention when I start grumbling about this world age, pain, lack of beauty etc. instead to focus on the real beauty to show in eternity ( well in this life here also).
That was an application I have been working on.....remembering the fruits of the spirit when starting to be depressed or grumbling .
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 16, 2017 15:15:07 GMT -5
1/16/17
Acts 11:19-30
The Church in Antioch
I never really gave much thought to Barnabus, but this time he made an impression for this passage says of him:
v. 24 "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."
And he sends for Saul ( Paul) and they teach a full year there, plus the scripture says:
v. 26 "............The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
However all of this happened as a result of the believers being :
v.19 ".....scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed....."
So my application is to try to check my fears and worries and stress when something bad happens, and to be alert to seeing if the Lord will bring something good out of it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 17, 2017 10:45:09 GMT -5
I guess I was thinking that this verse meant he was saved but did not have the Holy Spirit yet....( but now I see why that was not true).
Acts 10: 1-2
"At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.
2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing;
he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly"
I misunderstood devout, God'fearing ,and prayers to mean he was saved.
I guess because of the apostles etc. at Pentecost were saved (?) but they had not yet received the Holy Spirit...and so I thought the same with Cornelius.....
but no, I missed the faith he had by inviting all his family!
Thank you for pointing that out!!
I have managed to memorize the fruit of the spirit ( as help that you mention when I start grumbling about this world age, pain, lack of beauty etc. instead to focus on the real beauty to show in eternity ( well in this life here also).
That was an application I have been working on.....remembering the fruits of the spirit when starting to be depressed or grumbling .
That's a good application and a good way to use it!
1/16/17
Acts 11:19-30
The Church in Antioch
I never really gave much thought to Barnabus, but this time he made an impression for this passage says of him:
v. 24 "He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord."
And he sends for Saul ( Paul) and they teach a full year there, plus the scripture says:
v. 26 "............The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch."
However all of this happened as a result of the believers being :
v.19 ".....scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed....."
So my application is to try to check my fears and worries and stress when something bad happens, and to be alert to seeing if the Lord will bring something good out of it.
First, remember you can't "try" to check your fears. You either do it or you don't do it, but there's no such thing as "trying". It's impossible to "try". Hold a pen or pencil in your hand and try to drop it. If nothing happens, then you did not drop it, but if it falls, you did drop it. Again, there's no such thing as "trying". See what I mean?
As far as checking your fears go, you can't simply tell yourself not to fear. It won't work. Instead you have to tell yourself why you don't need to be fearful about whatever it is. (and preferably tell yourself the truth from God's Word why you don't need to fear). You also have to pray and ask the Lord to help you guard your mind and heart. Once you've prayed, and you've told yourself why you don't need to be fearful, from that point on all you have to do is thank and praise God that you don't have to fear whatever it is because He is with you and will take care of things, including whatever truths from His Word speak to the situation.
Yes, be alert to seeing What good the Lord will bring of it, not "if" He will bring good from it, ok?
I wanted to give you an example of how we overcome fear or worry etc. Let's say I'm fearful because of a tornado, and living in a trailer, I know they're the first to go in tornadoes. So what do I do? I tell myself that I have no reason to fear because God is with me, He even dwells within me, and you can't get closer to someone than that, and nothing is more powerful than God, not even a tornado. I would remind myself of Psalm 91... parts of it say: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”” (Psalm 91:1–2) Notice the verse is speaking about someone that "dwells" in God's sheltering arms; not someone who runs to God when there's a problem but doesn't think about Him or His Word otherwise. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4) “If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge— then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9–10) After reminding myself of this psalm I would be able to rest in God's love because I know that I do in fact dwell in Him and He dwells in me. Therefore, no harm can come to me. Sure, I could be hurt or even killed, but those things can't harm the real me, because I'll always be with the Lord and He will always be with me - either here or in Heaven. And even if I do get hurt, I know He will use it to make me more like Christ. I know I can trust Him, He's proven that to me many times over the years. So after reminding myself of the psalm and knowing all this, my next step would be to thank and praise Him for being my shelter, my fortress from the storms of life and even from real storms. I'd praise Him for the wonders of His love that He's showered me with, and thank Him for His many blessings, both material and spiritual. I would continue to thank and praise Him until I could say with David, “But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131:2) and/or the storm was over or I was asleep (if it was nighttime) etc.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 17, 2017 13:03:02 GMT -5
So many helpful things:
1) "...tell yourself why you don't need to be fearful about whatever it is. (and preferably tell yourself the truth from God's Word why you don't need to fear). You also have to pray and ask the Lord to help you guard your mind and heart."
2)"...thank and praise God that you don't have to fear whatever it is because He is with you and will take care of things"
3) "Notice the verse is speaking about someone that "dwells" in God's sheltering arms; not someone who runs to God when there's a problem but doesn't think about Him or His Word otherwise."
Unfortunately this has been me, and even now is too often me, but I am working on changing that.
4) "Sure, I could be hurt or even killed, but those things can't harm the real me, because I'll always be with the Lord and He will always be with me - either here or in Heaven. And even if I do get hurt, I know He will use it to make me more like Christ.
I know I can trust Him..."
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 17, 2017 13:16:29 GMT -5
1/17/17
Acts 12:1-19
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
I am no mathematician but I think there were 16 guards assigned to Peter's incarceration?
And when the angel lead him out of the prison they got passed 10 soldiers ( including the 2 sleeping with him).
And because Peter escaped Herod had all the guards executed....not a nice man.
The application I got from this is I have been in many 'prisons' ( no not the kind with metal bars) but various sin prisons that seemed to have me as carefully contained with no apparent escape, as Peter was.
But of course, with God nothing is impossible.
Just as an aside, its been 2 plus weeks of not watching any Netflik series,
and
also
I am now in the beginning process of cutting waaay back on constant news.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 18, 2017 13:11:43 GMT -5
So many helpful things:
1) "...tell yourself why you don't need to be fearful about whatever it is. (and preferably tell yourself the truth from God's Word why you don't need to fear). You also have to pray and ask the Lord to help you guard your mind and heart."
2)"...thank and praise God that you don't have to fear whatever it is because He is with you and will take care of things"
3) "Notice the verse is speaking about someone that "dwells" in God's sheltering arms; not someone who runs to God when there's a problem but doesn't think about Him or His Word otherwise."
Unfortunately this has been me, and even now is too often me, but I am working on changing that.
4) "Sure, I could be hurt or even killed, but those things can't harm the real me, because I'll always be with the Lord and He will always be with me - either here or in Heaven. And even if I do get hurt, I know He will use it to make me more like Christ.
I know I can trust Him..."
1/17/17
Acts 12:1-19
Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison
I am no mathematician but I think there were 16 guards assigned to Peter's incarceration?
And when the angel lead him out of the prison they got passed 10 soldiers ( including the 2 sleeping with him).
And because Peter escaped Herod had all the guards executed....not a nice man.
The application I got from this is I have been in many 'prisons' ( no not the kind with metal bars) but various sin prisons that seemed to have me as carefully contained with no apparent escape, as Peter was.
But of course, with God nothing is impossible.
Just as an aside, its been 2 plus weeks of not watching any Netflik series,
and
also
I am now in the beginning process of cutting waaay back on constant news.
Herod had several believers arrested, among them James, the brother of John, whom he beheaded. Thus James became the first of the Apostles to be martyred. When you ponder his death in the light of Matt 20:20–28, it takes on special significance. James & John, with their mother, had asked for thrones, but Jesus made it clear that there can be no glory apart from suffering. “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” He asked (Matt. 20:22). Their bold reply was, “We can.” Of course, they did not know what they were saying, but they eventually discovered the high cost of winning a throne of glory. Please note that the Jerusalem church did not replace James as they had replaced Judas (Acts 1:15–26). As long as the Gospel was going “to the Jew first,” it was necessary to have the full complement of 12 Apostles to witness to the 12 tribes of Israel. The stoning of Stephen ended that special witness to Israel, so the number of official witnesses was no longer important. It is good to know that, no matter how difficult the trials or how disappointing the news, God is still on the throne and has everything under control. We may not always understand His ways, but we know His sovereign will is best. The Bible exposition commentary
I'm not sure I understand your application...could you explain please?
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 18, 2017 14:08:02 GMT -5
I was thinking that Peter was in a prison with iron bars and 12 or so guards, so supposedly, in human terms, there was no chance for Peter to escape, but with God in the picture, Peter was able to escape the impossible.
I have not been in a prison with metal bars but various sins has held me captive just as effectively, as if I were in a human prison.
Alone on my own, I had no chance of escaping from the various sins that held me captive.....
But with God,(even those besetting sins) can be escaped from....not all of them once and for all in this life.....
like Peter, sometimes, I am back in my sin prison, but each time God leads me to hate them, ask forgiveness, repent, take my thoughts captive, replace with God's word, prayer etc.
Sins on my own I could never rid myself of, either have gone, or are going, and attack me less and less.
Do that explain my application any better?
Its funny you mention some people can have a 'pretend' relationship with Jesus....that is something I have feared from time to time....especially, when doubt comes knocking at my door.....
I know now to take those thoughts captive, but never before the enemy ( and maybe I am my own worse enemy) says....
If you doubt, you are not really in love with Jesus
Then I often think of all the wonderful things Jesus has done for me, and how even when He hasn't changed something in my life, He was with me in it making it bearable.....
but I have the occasional moment when I think how can I doubt and it not be a 'pretend' relationship?
However, like you have pointed out to me, you have seen changes in me, and so have I.
I used to be depressed 90% of my life
Now its almost....almost the reverse
I have been really reflecting on your post yesterday where you said we will never die.
I know you have said that many times before......but yesterday, that hit me on a much much deeper level of believing.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 18, 2017 14:21:20 GMT -5
1/18/17
Acts 12: 20-25
Herod’s Death
Herod allowed the people to call him God and he did not give praise to God , who immediately struck Herod dead.
What came to my mind was how many false religions there are that have followers believe they are on the path to godhood ( Jehovah's witness, Mormons, new agers etc etc.)
I am stunned they can actually believe such a thing, its mind boggling, do they think they will be able to create a universe, and create living beings etc.?
In any case, the application for me is to give God more praise.
I am most often apt to be asking Jesus for this or that ( even for loved ones salvation which is a good thing, but tho I do thank God....my praise and thanks are nowhere near my petitions for this or that.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 19, 2017 15:21:36 GMT -5
I just thought that when I start to get depressed, I should immediately give thanks and praise to the Lord.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 19, 2017 15:49:54 GMT -5
1/19/17
Acts 13: 1-12
On Cyprus
Barnabuas and Saul were picked by the Holy Spirit to do a work. They traveled all over the Island of Cyprus...
finally coming to the town of Paphos
( it was interesting looking at some maps and photos of several town of Cyprus),
There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus ( I guess such folks have always been around and are everywhere) sigh!
v.8 "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith."
However Paul rebukes him and by a miracle make Elymas blind for a time ( which Elymas was spiritually...dark and blind).
The result of this was:
v. 12 "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."
My application is once again, to be aware that God can use something bad ( at the time, it seemed to be for Elymas )....
can be used by God, for good, as it was for the proconsul.
|
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 20, 2017 10:24:37 GMT -5
Hey guys :)
I just finished the Epistle to the Galatians.
I know its is necessary to post what useful I learned and how to apply in my life, I will post some thoughts about the last book.
From the 1st Corinthians until now I see gradually problems in these first churches, problems and conflict. False teachings, and now in Galatians some people wanted to convince Christians that the law was higher than Jesus... So they were confused. From one point it amazes me that those first Christians had these problems, because it haven't been a long time since Jesus was resurrected, and the events of the Lords Ministry on earth was very close to them.
But in fact what matters today and what mattered then was to stick to the Bible, this is and was the only way to know what is true and what is not...
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 20, 2017 11:31:20 GMT -5
I was thinking that Peter was in a prison with iron bars and 12 or so guards, so supposedly, in human terms, there was no chance for Peter to escape, but with God in the picture, Peter was able to escape the impossible.
I have not been in a prison with metal bars but various sins has held me captive just as effectively, as if I were in a human prison.
Alone on my own, I had no chance of escaping from the various sins that held me captive.....
But with God,(even those besetting sins) can be escaped from....not all of them once and for all in this life.....
like Peter, sometimes, I am back in my sin prison, but each time God leads me to hate them, ask forgiveness, repent, take my thoughts captive, replace with God's word, prayer etc.
Sins on my own I could never rid myself of, either have gone, or are going, and attack me less and less.
Do that explain my application any better?
Its funny you mention some people can have a 'pretend' relationship with Jesus....that is something I have feared from time to time....especially, when doubt comes knocking at my door.....
I know now to take those thoughts captive, but never before the enemy ( and maybe I am my own worse enemy) says....
If you doubt, you are not really in love with Jesus
Then I often think of all the wonderful things Jesus has done for me, and how even when He hasn't changed something in my life, He was with me in it making it bearable.....
but I have the occasional moment when I think how can I doubt and it not be a 'pretend' relationship?
However, like you have pointed out to me, you have seen changes in me, and so have I.
I used to be depressed 90% of my life
Now its almost....almost the reverse
I have been really reflecting on your post yesterday where you said we will never die.
I know you have said that many times before......but yesterday, that hit me on a much much deeper level of believing.
Yes, we absolutely are our own worst enemy! That's why Jesus came to save us because we can't do it because we're our own worst enemy. Seriously! If you listen or read sermons from the 1700's and 1800's, they say things like that all the time and constantly talk about how "self" is our biggest enemy, especially self confidence and self centeredness. They nail all the "self sins" whereas today you rarely hear about them unless you're listening to John MacArthur of a few other really good teachers that have gone back to the basics.
As far as pretend relationships go, those are generally easy to spot, at least after a little time they are. Think of it this way: If someone you knew was pretending to know me, but really didn't, how would you be able to tell that they didn't really know me, that they were just pretending to know me? Eventually you'd catch them in lies because they'd say I said or did something, only you'd know that I'd never say or do that. So you'd be able to tell that they were just guessing, or making stuff up. It's the same with a relationship with Jesus.
We can read what Paul said about people who have pretend relationships with Christ: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.” (2 Timothy 3:2–5) Paul isn't saying that real Christians won't have to fight against those sins, of course we will. He's saying that people who don't have a real relationship with Christ will have these characteristics, these things will be part of them. Whereas a real Christian may sin in any or all of these areas, but they won't live in unrepented sin constantly in these areas, and therefore no one could say that they loved evil, or that they were conceited all the time, or loved pleasure more than God all the time. Yes, they may fall and love something more than God until they realize what they've done, but then they'll repent and work on correcting their behavior with God's help. That's why Paul says that fake Christians have a form of godliness but deny it's power. They don't have the power of the Holy Spirit to change them, and we do. See what I mean?
1/18/17
Acts 12: 20-25
Herod’s Death
Herod allowed the people to call him God and he did not give praise to God , who immediately struck Herod dead.
What came to my mind was how many false religions there are that have followers believe they are on the path to godhood ( Jehovah's witness, Mormons, new agers etc etc.)
I am stunned they can actually believe such a thing, its mind boggling, do they think they will be able to create a universe, and create living beings etc.?
In any case, the application for me is to give God more praise.
I am most often apt to be asking Jesus for this or that ( even for loved ones salvation which is a good thing, but tho I do thank God....my praise and thanks are nowhere near my petitions for this or that. I just thought that when I start to get depressed, I should immediately give thanks and praise to the Lord.
1/19/17
Acts 13: 1-12
On Cyprus
Barnabuas and Saul were picked by the Holy Spirit to do a work. They traveled all over the Island of Cyprus...
finally coming to the town of Paphos
( it was interesting looking at some maps and photos of several town of Cyprus),
There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus ( I guess such folks have always been around and are everywhere) sigh!
v.8 "But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith."
However Paul rebukes him and by a miracle make Elymas blind for a time ( which Elymas was spiritually...dark and blind).
The result of this was:
v. 12 "When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord."
My application is once again, to be aware that God can use something bad ( at the time, it seemed to be for Elymas )....
can be used by God, for good, as it was for the proconsul.
This event is an illustration of the lesson that Jesus taught in the Parable of the Tares (Matt. 13:24–30, 36–43): wherever the Lord sows His true children (the wheat), Satan comes along and sows a counterfeit (the tares), a child of the devil. Paul recognized that Elymas was a child of the devil (John 8:44), and he inflicted blindness on the false prophet as a judgment from God. This miracle was also evidence to Sergius Paulus that Paul and Barnabas were servants of the true God and preached the true message of salvation (Heb. 2:4). The Roman official believed and was saved. The Bible exposition commentary This incident is significant for three reasons: (1) It marks the beginning of Paul’s leadership in this journey; Acts 13:13 refers to “Paul and his companions.” (2) From this point on the ministry took on an even more decidedly Gentile slant. (3) It is filled with figurative nuances. A Gentile with the name Paul accepted the message while a Jew opposed it. The Jews’ blindness pictured the judicial blinding of Israel (cf. 28:26–27). Luke by this means emphasized the transitional nature of the Book of Acts. On one hand Gentiles became the primary object of the gospel, and on the other God temporarily turned from the Jews and thus judged them. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
The curse echoes Deuteronomy 28:28–29, in which Moses gives a list of punishments that await the Israelites who forsake Yahweh for idolatrous allegiance to other gods. Acts.
Hey guys :) I just finished the Epistle to the Galatians. I know its is necessary to post what useful I learned and how to apply in my life, I will post some thoughts about the last book. From the 1st Corinthians until now I see gradually problems in these first churches, problems and conflict. False teachings, and now in Galatians some people wanted to convince Christians that the law was higher than Jesus... So they were confused. From one point it amazes me that those first Christians had these problems, because it haven't been a long time since Jesus was resurrected, and the events of the Lords Ministry on earth was very close to them. But in fact what matters today and what mattered then was to stick to the Bible, this is and was the only way to know what is true and what is not... |
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 20, 2017 14:19:08 GMT -5
LOL
I am sorry I shouldn't laugh,
but I couldn't get it right in 2 tries
( and many many words),
and you said exactly what I was trying to say in a sentence!!!
I am laughing at me and shaking my head, I have a way to go leaning to express myself clearly.
You said it perfectly for me:
"application would be to remind yourself that God is making you more like Christ every day even when you feel imprisoned by your sins."
But you helped sooooooooo much when you explained the difference between a real and a pretend relationship!!!
Because I was thinking, that I do fall into most if not all the evil characteristics ( in fact maybe the one or two that I did I think...
I am not tooooo bad on those,
however, I have learned that I can give myself a pass on certain things, until......the Lord points out....not so fast.
But I do not 'love' those sinful characteristics and will be truly joyful when they are forever gone!!
In fact, as I go over the fruit of the spirit several times each day, I often wonder, if God lists them sort of kind of in order of importance.......
then I get stuck on #2 of importance
( well in all truthfulness, I suppose Love is not my high point either)
but JOY really trips me up.....
Peace....so maybe I feel a wee bit more peace now than I ever have ( even when in a sense the world is probably less peaceful than in my life time)
patience ( ummmmm maybe not so much but a little more than I ever was)
kindness....yes I sometimes am kind....this is one I think Jesus has been working on me a lot
Goodness......also a work in progress
faithfulness.....very slow going
gentleness.....another one of the few I see some progress in thanks to Jesus
Self-control occasionally
but JOY.....I am not sure I have ever felt true joy....
momentary happiness....but I don't 'think' that is joy?
But I do think when ever atom of sin is gone and Jesus puts His arms around me, I will in fact, feel true joy.....
But I wonder why is joy 2nd in the list?
In some ways, to me, it is the hardest of the bunch...oh I don't mean to say the others are not impossible without Jesus.....its just that joy seems like a mystery to me so far.....
I understand, at least in theory, what goodness is.....but the only way I can think of joy would be, to be sin free....and that is not possible in this life????
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 20, 2017 15:24:09 GMT -5
1/20/17
Acts 13:13-30
In Pisidian Antioch
Paul say in the synagogue, that God said this concerning David:
v. 22"...............a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do
My application is to aim to do what God wants me to do ( I would use the word 'everything' like in this passage,
but I know that is not a goal attainable for me in this lifetime.).
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 21, 2017 17:20:24 GMT -5
1/21/17
Acts 13:31-52
a continuation of what God thru Paul said
v.38....I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin...."
But what really stood out to me was:
v. 46 "Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles."
What hit me, was that the Jews essentially did not:
consider themselves worthy of eternal life.
My application is when I find myself guilty of this attitude, to replace it with the truth that I ought not call unworthy what God has chosen to call worthy.
This is a very hard thing for me, because, I know I am NOT worthy, not even a little bit......yet, because Jesus has paid with His blood for all my unworthy sins, and has given me His righteousness, I cannot call His righteousness unworthy.
Yet, it seems there is an undercurrent which will pop up from time to time, which tries to convict me, I cannot truly be saved, because I am unworthy....but I have never really worked hard on taking those thoughts captive and replacing them with God's word.
It seems easier to work on other sins, but I guess my worthlessness was so ingrained, I never even stopped to think, it was a thought to take captive, nor what an insult it is to Jesus.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 22, 2017 15:10:05 GMT -5
1/22/17
Acts 14: 1-7
In Iconium
As usual, the one thing I like doing, is searching on the net where these places are and images of the various cities.....I think that is a plus for the net ( Lots of negatives, but things like FH, and being able to at least get an glimpse of biblical places that I can't travel too, is a good thing, I think).
Anyway, v.2 stuck out to me because, usually ( at least I think) the Jews didn't have much interaction with Gentiles and yet for evil they managed to overcome their distaste it seems:
2 "But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers".
However, because Paul and Barnabus spook boldly for Jesus, He enabled them to perform signs and wonders:
v. 3 ".....speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders."
My application is to be careful when telling the truth about some false religion or gospel, to keep the facts about the lies and untruth about the false gospel and not to stir up hatred about the people trapped in them.
Tho, I do think that many people trapped in these false cults etc. are in fact, sometimes geared to violence and/ or are demon possessed as a result...
but we are nevertheless called to love our enemies even those who would persecute, or kill us.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 23, 2017 10:47:27 GMT -5
LOL
I am sorry I shouldn't laugh,
but I couldn't get it right in 2 tries
( and many many words),
and you said exactly what I was trying to say in a sentence!!!
I am laughing at me and shaking my head, I have a way to go leaning to express myself clearly.
You said it perfectly for me:
"application would be to remind yourself that God is making you more like Christ every day even when you feel imprisoned by your sins."
But you helped sooooooooo much when you explained the difference between a real and a pretend relationship!!!
Because I was thinking, that I do fall into most if not all the evil characteristics ( in fact maybe the one or two that I did I think...
I am not tooooo bad on those,
however, I have learned that I can give myself a pass on certain things, until......the Lord points out....not so fast.
But I do not 'love' those sinful characteristics and will be truly joyful when they are forever gone!!
In fact, as I go over the fruit of the spirit several times each day, I often wonder, if God lists them sort of kind of in order of importance.......
then I get stuck on #2 of importance
( well in all truthfulness, I suppose Love is not my high point either)
but JOY really trips me up.....
Peace....so maybe I feel a wee bit more peace now than I ever have ( even when in a sense the world is probably less peaceful than in my life time)
patience ( ummmmm maybe not so much but a little more than I ever was)
kindness....yes I sometimes am kind....this is one I think Jesus has been working on me a lot
Goodness......also a work in progress
faithfulness.....very slow going
gentleness.....another one of the few I see some progress in thanks to Jesus
Self-control occasionally
but JOY.....I am not sure I have ever felt true joy....
momentary happiness....but I don't 'think' that is joy?
But I do think when ever atom of sin is gone and Jesus puts His arms around me, I will in fact, feel true joy.....
But I wonder why is joy 2nd in the list?
In some ways, to me, it is the hardest of the bunch...oh I don't mean to say the others are not impossible without Jesus.....its just that joy seems like a mystery to me so far.....
I understand, at least in theory, what goodness is.....but the only way I can think of joy would be, to be sin free....and that is not possible in this life????
1/20/17
Acts 13:13-30
In Pisidian Antioch
Paul say in the synagogue, that God said this concerning David:
v. 22"...............a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do
My application is to aim to do what God wants me to do ( I would use the word 'everything' like in this passage,
but I know that is not a goal attainable for me in this lifetime.).
1/21/17
Acts 13:31-52
a continuation of what God thru Paul said
v.38....I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin...."
But what really stood out to me was:
v. 46 "Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles."
What hit me, was that the Jews essentially did not:
consider themselves worthy of eternal life.
My application is when I find myself guilty of this attitude, to replace it with the truth that I ought not call unworthy what God has chosen to call worthy.
This is a very hard thing for me, because, I know I am NOT worthy, not even a little bit......yet, because Jesus has paid with His blood for all my unworthy sins, and has given me His righteousness, I cannot call His righteousness unworthy.
Yet, it seems there is an undercurrent which will pop up from time to time, which tries to convict me, I cannot truly be saved, because I am unworthy....but I have never really worked hard on taking those thoughts captive and replacing them with God's word.
It seems easier to work on other sins, but I guess my worthlessness was so ingrained, I never even stopped to think, it was a thought to take captive, nor what an insult it is to Jesus. 1/22/17
Acts 14: 1-7
In Iconium
As usual, the one thing I like doing, is searching on the net where these places are and images of the various cities.....I think that is a plus for the net ( Lots of negatives, but things like FH, and being able to at least get an glimpse of biblical places that I can't travel too, is a good thing, I think).
Anyway, v.2 stuck out to me because, usually ( at least I think) the Jews didn't have much interaction with Gentiles and yet for evil they managed to overcome their distaste it seems:
2 "But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers".
However, because Paul and Barnabus spook boldly for Jesus, He enabled them to perform signs and wonders:
v. 3 ".....speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders."
My application is to be careful when telling the truth about some false religion or gospel, to keep the facts about the lies and untruth about the false gospel and not to stir up hatred about the people trapped in them.
Tho, I do think that many people trapped in these false cults etc. are in fact, sometimes geared to violence and/ or are demon possessed as a result...
but we are nevertheless called to love our enemies even those who would persecute, or kill us.
“But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.” (Acts 14:2)
The word translated "poisoned" is the word "embittered", which shows us how truly evil bitterness is for us as well as others. It's the bitterness that gears the people toward violence as you put it. And of course anything as evil as bitterness will invite demons to try and keep that bitterness working in them.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 23, 2017 14:21:52 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, that another area of growth (in me that is I think a big change) coming from the Lord....
is having more of a teachable spirit.
When I first came to FH (what 10 years ago or so (?)),
if you corrected something I said, etc.
I would immediately take offense,
and get angry
and say I was leaving!!!!!
But I think I have changed a lot, because, now ( almost always) I feel grateful for getting the correct information, rarely do I get angry ( I can't really remember the last time), nor do I threaten to leave.....
I am convinced this change is from God ( another sign of being saved?).
'Leaving' was my MO for years and years ( starting as a small child).
Yes I do feel JOY when thinking how much Jesus has done for me and how much He loves me and how great He is.....but I just thought the feeling was 'happiness'.
However you have really explained what the definition of joy is.....not about me, but about Him.
Speaking of fighting unworthiness....I know getting baptized is a good thing for all believers to do, but we ( I) have never done so.
Yesterday our 7th day Adventist landlady came over for a chat which was mostly fine,
but then,
as usual,
she wove into the conversation, some Adventists rules and/or works that unless followed will mean you are not saved etc.
Somehow she got on the subject of being baptized, and if you are not, you will go to Hell ( I am not sure they believe in hell but soul sleep or something?
She may have said, a person is not saved unless baptized, she also qualified it, by saying ,sprinkling does not count!!!
And she quoted scripture....something like: repent, be baptized to be saved?
I am not sure of the exact quote because I was already feeling, a weight of darkness, or a bit of depression, I can't say exactly what, but I felt a bit down, and wasn't paying full attention because I felt a sense of gloom and doom or something.
I know that not being baptized does NOT mean a person cannot get to Heaven.
Oh, she did say one other thing, something like or suggesting mainline Christians don't really believe in baptism.
And I wishy washily said:
Noooo a lot do, for example the Baptists are very big on baptism, hence even their name...Baptists.
And she replied: OHHHHH???? I didn't know that.....
and then went back to emphasizing the absolute need to be baptized or you won't go the Heaven.
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 23, 2017 14:38:12 GMT -5
1/23/17
Acts 14: 8-20
In Lystra and Derbe
Paul heals a man who was unable to walk from birth.
The people immediately misunderstood the miracle, in that they thought:
v.11 “.........The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker."
And it escalated and got worse because the priest of Zeus wanted to offer sacrifices to them!!
Paul sets them straight by telling them the truth:
v.15 "......We too are only human, like you.
We are bringing you good news,
telling you to turn from these worthless things
to the living God...." etc.
V.18 tho says:
"18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them."
The application for me is to be careful what I wish for,
because there have been times when I have thought how great it would be to be able to do miracles like the apostles ,and lead a lot of people to a saving knowledge in Jesus.
However, I now see that:
1) it wasn't all a bed of roses
2) people might look to the person who did the miracle rather than to Jesus
3) it would be waaay to tempting.... for me to want to soak up some of the idolization from the people
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 24, 2017 13:11:59 GMT -5
1/24/17
Acts 14: 21-28
The Return to Antioch in Syria ( were there 2 Antiochs? One in Syria, and one in what would now be Turkey?)
Anyway, they go back to the Antioch is Syria, where Paul and Barnabas say:
v.22 “...........We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God"
Which reminds me of Jesus saying we will have hardships in this world....
so my application is to remember this when I start to think my 'hardships' are something unusual, or unfair, etc.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 24, 2017 13:33:17 GMT -5
I forgot to mention, that another area of growth (in me that is I think a big change) coming from the Lord....
is having more of a teachable spirit.
When I first came to FH (what 10 years ago or so (?)),
if you corrected something I said, etc.
I would immediately take offense,
and get angry
and say I was leaving!!!!!
But I think I have changed a lot, because, now ( almost always) I feel grateful for getting the correct information, rarely do I get angry ( I can't really remember the last time), nor do I threaten to leave.....
I am convinced this change is from God ( another sign of being saved?).
'Leaving' was my MO for years and years ( starting as a small child).
Yes I do feel JOY when thinking how much Jesus has done for me and how much He loves me and how great He is.....but I just thought the feeling was 'happiness'.
However you have really explained what the definition of joy is.....not about me, but about Him.
Speaking of fighting unworthiness....I know getting baptized is a good thing for all believers to do, but we ( I) have never done so.
Yesterday our 7th day Adventist landlady came over for a chat which was mostly fine,
but then,
as usual,
she wove into the conversation, some Adventists rules and/or works that unless followed will mean you are not saved etc.
Somehow she got on the subject of being baptized, and if you are not, you will go to Hell ( I am not sure they believe in hell but soul sleep or something?
She may have said, a person is not saved unless baptized, she also qualified it, by saying ,sprinkling does not count!!!
And she quoted scripture....something like: repent, be baptized to be saved?
I am not sure of the exact quote because I was already feeling, a weight of darkness, or a bit of depression, I can't say exactly what, but I felt a bit down, and wasn't paying full attention because I felt a sense of gloom and doom or something.
I know that not being baptized does NOT mean a person cannot get to Heaven.
Oh, she did say one other thing, something like or suggesting mainline Christians don't really believe in baptism.
And I wishy washily said:
Noooo a lot do, for example the Baptists are very big on baptism, hence even their name...Baptists.
And she replied: OHHHHH???? I didn't know that.....
and then went back to emphasizing the absolute need to be baptized or you won't go the Heaven.
And yes, I remember well when you first came to FH. I have it as a reminder on my calendar about when we actually started counseling together, which was a number of years after you had been on FH. (It was Jan 2nd, 2012 when we started counseling) Anyway, I think you joined FH around 2005 so it's been quite awhile and you have indeed grown a great deal! It's been a joy to be allowed to see it, and it is most definitely a sign of being saved.
What you were feeling was the presence of demons. You're very sensitive to the spiritual world because you're sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Interestingly, I was just studying something that had to do with baptism today LOL. Anyway, you're right that no one has to be baptized. We are baptized only in obedience to Jesus as a sign that we are already saved, not as something to do to be saved. Therefore it would be a very good idea for you to be baptized as soon as possible because you know and have known for some time that it is to be done in obedience to Christ as a public statement of your faith. You asked me quite a while ago if any believer could baptize you and I told you that was true. I thought you got baptized back then! Therefore the Holy Spirit is most likely prodding you to obey the Lord now. I will quote the major scriptures about this and what a number of different commentaries say about it so you can know the truth for sure. Please pray and read it carefully and then obey your Lord, not to be saved, but to be obedient and please Him because you love Him.
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
The clause and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ as parenthetical. Several factors support this interpretation: (a) The verb makes a distinction between singular and plural verbs and nouns. The verb “repent” is plural and so is the pronoun “your” in the clause so that your sins may be forgiven. Therefore the verb “repent” must go with the purpose of forgiveness of sins. On the other hand the imperative “be baptized” is singular, setting it off from the rest of the sentence. (b) This concept fits with Peter’s proclamation in Acts 10:43 in which the same expression “sins may be forgiven” occurs. There it is granted on the basis of faith alone. (c) In Luke 24:47 and Acts 5:31 the same writer, Luke, indicates that repentance results in remission of sins. Acts 2:38–39 put together the human side of salvation (“repent”) and the divine side (call means “to elect”; cf. Rom. 8:28–30). The Bible Knowledge Commentary
It is unfortunate that the translation of Acts 2:38 in the KJV suggests that people must be baptized in order to be saved, because this is not what the Bible teaches. The Greek word which is translated “for” in the phrase “for the remission of sins” can mean “on account of” or “on the basis of.” In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist baptized on the basis that people had repented. Acts 2:38 should not be used to teach salvation by baptism. If baptism is essential for salvation, it seems strange that Peter said nothing about baptism in his other sermons. In fact, the people in the home of Cornelius received the Holy Spirit before they were baptized! (Acts 10:44–48) Since believers are commanded to be baptized, it is important that we have a clean conscience by obeying (1 Peter 3:21), but we must not think that baptism is a part of salvation. If so, then nobody in Hebrews 11 was saved because none of them was ever baptized. The Bible exposition commentary
As an outward expression of faith, baptism has no value without the inner expression of faith through repentance. Just as circumcision served as an external marker of inclusion in the covenant community of Israel, so baptism served in the early church, as it does now, as the public declaration of conversion to Christ. In Col 2:11–12, Paul uses both circumcision and baptism as metaphors for a believer’s spiritual transformation and identification with Christ (see note on Col 2:11, and note on Col 2:12). Faithlife Study Bible
“Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)
be baptized. This Gr. word lit. means “be dipped or immersed” in water. Peter was obeying Christ’s command from Matthew 28:19 and urging the people who had repented and turned to the Lord Christ for salvation to identify, through the waters of baptism, with His death, burial, and resurrection (cf. 19:5; Ro 6:3, 4; 1Co 12:13; Gal 3:27; see notes on Mt 3:2). This is the first time the apostles publicly enjoined people to obey that ceremony. Prior to this, many Jews had experienced the baptism of John the Baptist, and were also familiar with the baptism of Gentile converts to Judaism (proselytes). in the name of Jesus Christ. For the new believer, it was a crucial but costly identification to accept. for the forgiveness of your sins. This might better be translated “because of the forgiveness of sins.” Baptism does not produce forgiveness and cleansing from sin. See notes on 1Pe 3:20, 21. “who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 3:20-21)
Corresponding to that … now saves you. Peter is teaching that the fact that 8 people were in an ark and went through the whole judgment, and yet were unharmed, is analogous to the Christian’s experience in salvation by being in Christ, the ark of one’s salvation. baptism … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Peter is not at all referring to water baptism here, but rather a figurative immersion into union with Christ as an ark of safety from the judgment of God. The resurrection of Christ demonstrates God’s acceptance of Christ’s substitutionary death for the sins of those who believe (Ac 2:30, 31; Rom 1:4). Judgment fell on Christ just as the judgment of the flood waters fell on the ark. The believer who is in Christ is thus in the ark of safety that will sail over the waters of judgment into eternal glory (cf. Rom 6:1–4). not the removal of dirt from the flesh. To be sure he is not misunderstood, Peter clearly says he is not speaking of water baptism. In Noah’s flood, they were kept out of the water while those who went into the water were destroyed. Being in the ark and thus saved from God’s judgment on the world prefigures being in Christ and thus saved from eternal damnation. an appeal to God for a good conscience. The word for “appeal” has the idea of a pledge, agreeing to certain conditions of a covenant (the New Covenant) with God. What saves a person plagued by sin and a guilty conscience is not some external rite, but the agreement with God to get in the ark of safety, the Lord Jesus, by faith in His death and resurrection (cf. Rom 10:9, 10; Heb 9:14; Heb 10:22).
The reality of forgiveness precedes the rite of baptism (Acts 2:41). Genuine repentance brings from God the forgiveness of sins (cf. Eph 1:7), and because of that the new believer was to be baptized. Baptism, however, was to be the ever-present act of obedience, so that it became synonymous with salvation. Thus to say one was baptized for forgiveness was the same as saying one was saved. See note on “one baptism” in Ephesians 4:5 - a believer’s public confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Spiritual baptism, by which all believers are placed into the body of Christ (1Co 12:11–13) is implied in Ephesians 4:4. Every believer enjoys the complete forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28; Luke 24:47; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13; 1 John 2:12). The MacArthur study Bible
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)
Similar to Matthew’s account of the Great Commission, with the added contrast of those who have been baptized (believers) with those who refuse to believe and are condemned. Even if v. 16 is a genuine part of Mark’s gospel, it does not teach that baptism saves, since the lost are condemned for unbelief, not for not being baptized (see note on Ac 2:38). The MacArthur study Bible
In response to the preaching of the gospel, whoever believes and is baptized, a baptized believer (lit., “the one who believed and was baptized”), will be saved (sōthēsetai; cf. comments on Mark 13:13) by God (implied) from spiritual death, the penalty of sin. A single Greek article governs both substantival participles, linking them together in describing the inward, efficacious reception of the gospel by faith (believing) and the outward, public expression of that faith in water baptism. Though the NT writers generally assume that under normal circumstances each believer will be baptized, Mark 16:16 does not mean that baptism is a necessary requirement for personal salvation. The second half of the verse indicates by contrast that one who does not believe the gospel will be condemned by God (implied) in the day of final judgment (cf. Mark 9:43–48). The basis for condemnation is unbelief, not the lack of any ritual observance. Baptism is not mentioned because unbelief precludes one’s giving a confession of faith while being baptized by water. Thus the only requirement for personally appropriating God’s salvation is faith in Him (cf. Rom. 3:21–28; Eph. 2:8–10). The Bible Knowledge Commentary
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matthew 28:19)
They were to make disciples by proclaiming the truth concerning Jesus. Their hearers were to be evangelized and enlisted as Jesus’ followers. Those who believed were to be baptized in water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Such an act would associate a believer with the person of Jesus Christ and with the Triune God. The God whom they served is one God and yet is three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Bible Knowledge Commentary
A disciple, then, is one who has believed on Jesus Christ and expressed this faith by being baptized. He remains in the fellowship of the believers that he might be taught the truths of the faith (Acts 2:41–47). He is then able to go out and win others and teach them. This was the pattern of the New Testament church (2 Tim. 2:1–2). The Bible exposition commentary
So in this last one, we know that baptism is not required to be saved because when someone becomes a disciple they already believe and are saved. Therefore the baptism was a public statement of their faith.
1/23/17
Acts 14: 8-20
In Lystra and Derbe
Paul heals a man who was unable to walk from birth.
The people immediately misunderstood the miracle, in that they thought:
v.11 “.........The gods have come down to us in human form!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker."
And it escalated and got worse because the priest of Zeus wanted to offer sacrifices to them!!
Paul sets them straight by telling them the truth:
v.15 "......We too are only human, like you.
We are bringing you good news,
telling you to turn from these worthless things
to the living God...." etc.
V.18 tho says:
"18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them."
The application for me is to be careful what I wish for,
because there have been times when I have thought how great it would be to be able to do miracles like the apostles ,and lead a lot of people to a saving knowledge in Jesus.
However, I now see that:
1) it wasn't all a bed of roses
2) people might look to the person who did the miracle rather than to Jesus
3) it would be waaay to tempting.... for me to want to soak up some of the idolization from the people
I wanted to add something I read today during my studies that I thought went well with what we talked about yesterday. It's something Paul says: “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:9–10) Remember how we were talking about not putting ourselves down and how it was a slap in God's face? Here, Paul is trying to show us how to balance the truth in our minds. Paul was well aware of what he had been before meeting Jesus, that he was a murderer of God's chosen children, and even of Christ Himself in a way, since he had wanted Christ dead at the time and believed He was dead. He could have beaten himself up and become severely depressed and even suicidal over it if he had succumbed to the temptation to dwell on his past - and I'm quite sure that Satan did all he could to encourage him to do so! But Paul knew better. He knew that God was sovereign and in His sovereignty He chose to have Paul meet Jesus and hear from Him AFTER He had risen and ascended to Heaven, instead of before He was killed. In our puny minds we'd think it would be much better if Paul would have met Jesus before He was killed, when He was still teaching His disciples, so Paul could have learned the truth then - and that thought most likely passed through Paul's mind as well. But He knew the truth of God's sovereignty and therefore knew his own thoughts and ideas about what was "best" were far from as good as what God's plans were. He realized that his past was just a backdrop on which God could display His Grace toward him and all others. Paul had (obviously) been very responsive to God's grace and it showed many people that God could therefore save anyone if He could save Paul, and does so to this day. Paul wasn't bragging really about all he in fact did do (which we know both from the Bible and church history) but was again showing what God's Grace really did when God saved him. Paul realized that everything good he did, he did not through his own power, but through God's power working within him and through him. So Paul was saying in effect, "look at all I've done - yet it wasn't really me doing it, it was God doing it through me, because I was and am incapable of doing those things in my own strength; so you can now see how powerful, good, and loving God is". Paul couldn't put himself down, not even for the things he did in the past, because he knew that everything that had happened to him, and everything he ever did (both before and after meeting the Lord) were part of God's Sovereign Will.
It's very difficult for us to completely understand, and I'm not sure we'll ever totally understand it till we get to heaven. But it seems to me that the OT Saints had a much better understanding of it than we do now. What it means when you get right down to it, is that you cannot do anything outside of God's Will, and you never have. When we hear that, we immediately begin to ask "well, what about this or that", and name some horrible tragedies or trials that have happened to us. How could those be part of a loving Father's Will? Well then we have to get down to the difference between His perfect will and His permissive will toward everyone, yet at the same time we still have to realize that God has always been on His throne and absolutely nothing happens that is out of His Will and control. In order to wrap our minds around this, as it concerns bad things that have happened to us, we have to then remember what we know about our God: that He IS loving, good, righteous, perfect, just, fair, etc. and that there is never, ever anything bad or evil about Him. It's really no different than the example I frequently use of a child getting an inoculation - which they of course think is horrible and painful, but the doctor and parent know that it will protect the child and help them stay healthy. Many things have happened to us that were like that inoculation, and many more most likely will; but that doesn't change the fact that our God loves us and has told us, no - He has promised us that He will take every single thing that happens to us and use it for our ultimate good and His glory. Not only that, but He tells us that His glory will also be our glory one day! In other words He is going to share His glory with us! (John 17:22; 2 Corinthians 3:18 etc) This is cause for great joy, because we can know for sure that nothing that happens to us will ever be wasted. In time we will not only be avenged for all wrongs done to us, but we will see how those wrongs were made right and used to make us great. We may not feel great now, but we are in fact great, because the Lord God Himself lives within us and there is nothing greater than Him! We are quite literally Saints, and Children of the most High God! Nothing can happen to us that is out of His control and that will make everything, no matter how terrible and painful at the time, worthwhile.
So these two short verses give us a tremendous amount to chew on and reflect on, don't they? And these are not the only ones that say these things, but only two of many!
|
|
|
|
Post by Cindy on Jan 25, 2017 10:20:08 GMT -5
Wow, you won't believe what today's devotional was about LOL. I posted it for you as I believe it's something the Lord really wants us both to know for sure:
fresh-hope.com/thread/3188/joy
Then, when I was reading my Psalm for the day, I was reading the important notes by the verses and discovered yet more about the same thing we've been talking about, and they were all excerpts from a book I have called Trusting God. I was going to post some of my notes for you, but the more I read, I realized I'd need to post the whole book!  So I went and looked it up for you and posted about it in the favorite books thread for you.
I hope you're ok and not sick or hurt.... I'll be praying...
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 25, 2017 13:27:25 GMT -5
Thank you so much for all the info about baptism. It is weird but I seemed to be surrounded by people into false gospels ( Jehovah Witnesses the next place over, 7th day Adventist landlady and so on).
I like all the people, I mean they are not hateful, and they are all friendly, helpful, kindly etc.
Only.......I know that each and every single time I see them,they are going to weave into even a short conversation, something of their false gospel.
I actually try to avoid them as much as possible, but hubby, being a friendly caring soul, always invites them in for a chat...he does much better at ignoring their attempts to convert us or educate us to their falsehoods.
Taking just those 2....(landlady and neighbor), neither has any intention to leave their false religions,
and so I have no idea what to do when they start in.
What I mean is take the baptism issue.....
(by the way, I was soooooooo happy you gave me all those scripture, commentaries, and even your own thoughts, study and words......)
But my landlady was absolutely positively adamant when she spoke her belief on baptism being necessary for salvation).
I end up, just feel hopeless, and even if I had in my mind all that you just gave me:
A) it would take a long while to convey it to her ( longer than she would have being as she is a super active busy busy busy person)
B) she has made it clear, she will never never never leave 7th day period! ( it came up I think once when she was telling me about her husband declaration)
tho her husband will go to her Sabbath, now and then, for sake of easing the tension caused by their different beliefs
C) I do not like confrontations, and she would not take kindly to my disagreeing and at best would would be 'firm' in refuting whatever I might say.
So usually, I have now gotten to the place where I quietly endure whatever they spout, or make a very 'meek' safe rebuttal on some obscure point.
But writing this I just realized....you are not going to believe it...!!!!!
I don't believe I ever prayed about these two people in these situations!!!!
Not even that God's Holy Spirit would either give me the right words, at the right time,
and/or
would open their eyes.....maybe without me even saying anything in rebuttal.....might have an epiphany
Sometimes, ( rarely I know but still) a person can be spouting some long held belief and then hours, days or even weeks later....God will open their eyes.
Perhaps, I can, at the very least, start praying ,
the minute, I see them,
from now on......
I can at least pray, that the Lord may open their hearts and mind to Truth....
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 25, 2017 15:29:33 GMT -5
Oh I did have one question about how everything that happens is in God's will.....like Paul, I can see how his persecuting the Christians, was used for good, in that those who might say my sins are too bad for God to forgive me....
But what about sins only in our minds? How can God use a person who only 'thinks' of killing, or some sort of deviant sex, etc.?
Unless the Christian should revel it such things, and I would think most would not, if for no other reason than they don't want to glorify such sins?
|
|
fearnot
Living With Pain
Posts: 8,398
|
Post by fearnot on Jan 25, 2017 16:00:13 GMT -5
1/25/17
Acts 14: 21-28
The Return to Antioch in Syria
So they won a large number of disciples and
v.27 "...God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith..."
My application is to give God the credit and glory if and when he might work thru me and open a door of faith for others.
|
|
So I went and looked it up for you and posted about it in the favorite books thread for you.
!!
