Ephraim feedeth on, and fedeth after the east wind

Fables are like "east wind"
- hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert!

The LORD's words of rebuke to His people:

Hosea 12 KJT
1 ¶ Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

God's people feeding on wind, and following after the east wind - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind blowing from the desert!

What an indictment!

What foolishness and stupidity!

And this is what God's children are capable of.

In fact, they are bent on backsliding!
Ho 11:7 "And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him."

What about this present generation?

The LORD's words of warning to His people:
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Fables are like "east wind" - hot, dry, withering, blistering wind from the desert! And yet so many follow such fables.

When the people of the world do that, it is to be expected! But the LORD was addressing Ephraim and Judah!

The context is NOT the WORLD.... it is the evil going on within the CHURCH!!! 

A child is born into a family

Only in tragic circumstances
is a child not born into a family! 

 The new birth, by the free and sovereign and immediate act of the Spirit of God, quickens a man from his native state of spiritual deadness; he is brought into a state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ, and confessing Him as Lord and Saviour in water baptism, makes the child of God a Christian.

A child of God that is baptised is added to the membership of an NT church that he may be nourished and edified, i.e. to be taught to observe all things whatsoever Christ has commanded His Apostles.

Churchless Christian is a monstrosity foreign to and unknown in the Holy Scriptures.

The Apostolic practice set the precedent once and for all.

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." Acts 2.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the sole Head of His church, must have good reasons why He commanded those who confessed His name to be members of His church. When you have become invisible, then speak of your invisible church, 😉.

Only in tragic circumstances is a child not born into a family! 

How well do you hear/read the word of God?

Never hear the truth...
Is it because the truth is never preached?

Or is it because they have no ears to hear?

Mat 13:23 But he that received seed into the good ground

is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it;

which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth,

some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

2Timothy 3
1 ¶This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be...
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Verse 7 is one of the long list of signs of the perilous times.

It's tragic and heartbreaking to have believers in that evil condition - ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Reading their Bible for decades has not enabled them to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Imagine having children who are ever feeding but never able to grow and develop; what grief and sorrow to the parents!

Heb 5:12 KJVT
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

1 Cor 3:1 KJT
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

See the opposite scenario here:

1 The 1:8 KJT— For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

We have these commands, calling for all diligence:

2Peter 1 KJT
5 ¶And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

2Pet 3:18 KJT
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”

O gracious Lord, have mercy; wake up the slumbering people and revive us all. Amen. 

--------

Danny Lee
Those people are not truly Born Again Christians.

Sing F Lau
Danny Lee, in my understanding, a man is either born again or he is still dead in trespasses and sins. Term such as "not truly born again" suggests that there is such a thing as being born again but not truly born again, implying a terrible failure on the part of the Holy Spirit in His divine and sovereign activity in regeneration.

The Scriptures teach us that there are born-again elect who are stunted at the childhood stage and not growing.

Also, it is obvious that Apostle Paul was dealing with God's children; why would the inspired Apostle Paul find fault with those dead in trespasses and sins for their ever learning the word of God but never come to the knowledge of the truth? It is like faulting a dead child for not eating and growing.

Danny Lee
Sing, you are correct. 
This is a language thing
A person is either spiritually alive ( born again ) or spiritually dead.
I will endeavour to be more precise in the future. Thank you

Dr Khaw
Knowing everything but not doing anything is worse.

Sing F Lau
Luke 12:47 KJV — "And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."

I probably deserve many stripes even though I have been taught and know a few things, but fail in many things.

Sir, what is your view on free will?

https://www.facebook.com/sing.f.lau/posts/pfbid0qfKxRRM5bAfDz6t61gYH9qr9QxcFjEdbMUzmCb4vSjLbiM5gme85ypW2BqbnVkGRl

##freewill

Leongsy
Sir, what is your view on free will?

Sing
Take a look here:
https://things-new-and-old.blogspot.com/2019/01/luthers-confusion-on-mans-freewill.html

Leongsy
So you are saying that man has free will but it's tainted with sin. Whereas Luther said men have no free will because  we are all under God's control?

Sing
Man has free will; he sins freely, by free choice, without any coercion or any forces from without; the exercise of his free will is determined by his nature, fallen and sinful.

For example, a fish has free will, it can swim anywhere it freely chooses BUT its fishy nature will not enable it to choose to swim outside of water.

Even so, the free will of a natural man is subjected to his fallen sinful nature - in enmity against God.

So many are SO STUPID ( i.e. too lacking in common sense). They vehemently deny man's free will because they rightly believe that a natural man cannot freely choose God.

To say that a natural man DOES NOT choose God - which is a truth is NOT the same as saying that man has no free will.

To say that a natural man has free will BUT he is ALSO incapable of choosing God are not contradictory; both are scriptural.

Man freely sins, man is freely in enmity against God. It's his fallen nature; it's NOT God's control over them. If it is God's  control over them, then they have excuse indeed. But man is justly WITHOUT EXCUSE.

IF man has no free will, he CANNOT be justly charged as without excuse. Man's free will is essential to the moral government of God over His creatures.

To say that you are not able to eat stones is not the same as saying that you have no ability to eat. 😂

Time to tell people to stop regurgitating nonsense without engaging their brains!

Leongsy
How is your view of free will different from the Arminians' free will then?

Sing
Good question.
The  Arminians say natural man has freewill, THAT IS, natural man can choose God to be saved.

The Calvinists say that man has no free will, THAT IS, man is incapable of choosing God.

They are BOTH WRONG.

The Bible says man has free will, but his free will is held in bondage to his fallen, sinful nature; therefore, he is wholly incapable of choosing any spiritual good to be saved. He freely chooses to remain in sin.

Arminians' freewill affirms natural man's willingness and ability to choose to be saved.

The Bible's freewill affirms BOTH the natural man's freewill AND  his absolute inability to choose to be saved.

John 3:3 KJT — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 KJT— Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The declaration, "except a man be born again, he cannot..." is absolute, without exceptions; it declares the absolute necessity of the new birth; spiritual life through a divine act of regeneration precedes any ability for spiritual activities.

Without real free will, God's moral government over the moral creature made in His image collapses.

Without real free will, man cannot be justly declared to be without excuse; with his free will, he acts freely without external coercion; thus, he is justly without excuse. 
Comments

Tyler
Amen brother. I find it interesting that the apostle Paul directly addresses the error of thinking that man's sin is somehow needed to glorify and commend God's righteousness while in the same chapter speaking of man's total depravity. Both errors of Absolutism and Arminianism addressed in the same passage.

Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) [6] God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? [7] For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? [8] And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

How are you born? John 1:12-13

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." John 1:12-13. 

Many read these words and conclude that their believing in Christ is a condition of their being born of God. They believe the fable that those not born of God, still in their native state of sin and death, are capable of believing IN ORDER to be born of God. 

There is obviously a clear distinction between the new birth by the will of God and the blessing of given to the power to become God's children, conditioned upon believing.

The problem arises when the two are equated as one and the same thing.

The logic is so simple: those who had been born of God were enabled to believe... and in believing, they were given the right and authority to claim God as their Father!

Verse 12 describes the experiential effect of believing in Christ - given the power (right and authority) to claim themselves as children of God.

Verse 13 describes the basis and ground of that act of believing in Christ - WERE born of God.

One must be made son first by spiritual birth from above before he can ever begin to believe in Jesus Christ. In believing, he certifies and justifies himself as someone possessing eternal life... evidence of having been born by God... thus enjoying the right and authority to claim himself a child of God.

Of course, VERY MANY believe and insist that a person is born by God when he believes. This would amount to 'born of the will of flesh'!

Yes, both the gospel regeneration and decisional regeneration are by the will and the flesh of man. They are both lies.

An illustration:
Little Wong is Big Wang's son, but he would not believe that Wing, Big Wang's eldest son, is his elder brother. In such a case, how could Little Wong have the right and authority to claim himself a son of Big Wang?

A biblical distinction is the essence of sound theology

Are you justified before God
by the faith of Christ, or 
by your faith in Christ?
They are vastly different. 

They are distinct; confounding them will mess up your understanding big time! So, do yourself a favour, get them right.

Let us consider the first passage, Rom 3:28.

"Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

What is the passage saying in its context - what faith, whose faith?

Rom 3
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Let's lay down some basic and self-evident truths:

1. Sin is the transgression of the law.
- Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12.
- Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.

2. Justification is the reversal of condemnation.
- Justification in God's sight requires righteousness.
- This righteousness is either by a man's own obedience to the whole law OR by Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- No man can obtain the needed righteousness through his own obedience to the law, for "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight."

3. God provided this righteousness that is needed for the justification of His elect people in His sight.
- This righteousness of God's own provision is by the faithfulness of Christ's obedience to the whole law.
- Righteousness is needed in the justification of a man in his native state of condemnation. Sins bring condemnation of death, Rom 5:12. Righteousness brings justification of life, Rom 5:18.
- This righteousness is provided by God ALONE through the faithfulness of Christ ALONE in keeping the whole law perfectly.
- That is the exact meaning of: "EVEN the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ." v22a.

4 The righteousness of God's provision for the justification of a condemned man is NOT NOT NOT by his faith in Jesus Christ.

Faith in Jesus Christ is NOT the righteousness that is needed for the justification of a condemned man before God. ALSO, a man in his unjustified, condemned state is incapable of faith; justification by faith is an impossibility.

It is Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the law that is needed, and this righteousness is by God's own provision, i.e. by the faith of Christ.

Therefore, 'the faith of Christ' and 'your faith in Christ' are very different. One is the good news of God providing righteousness by Christ's faithfulness in rendering perfect obedience to the whole law for your justification by His free grace; your act of believing in Christ is an effect and evidence of your justification by the free grace of God. 

Two different gospels. No mere semantics!

Man's faith is NOT in the equation of his justification in the sight of God - "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

A man's faith MANIFESTS that God has FREELY justified him - "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference."

"All have sinned... and fell under the condemnation of death. Such has no possibility of believing UNTIL justification of life by the faith of Christ has been applied, freely by God's grace.

"All them that believe" - all the believing ones DO SO because the righteousness of God's own provision, by the faith of Christ, has been freely applied to them personally.

It is that elementary... but the wise and prudent in their own eyes are blinded to it.

It is treacherous and scandalous - the mildest adjectives I can think of - to replace the "faith OF Christ" with "man's faith in Christ" as the ground of justification in that Rom 3 passage!

Apostle Paul solemnly pronounced such teachers be accursed!

Yes, let such be accursed! Amen

And remember, believing in Christ is a deed of the law, believing in Christ is obedience to the law/commandment of God; it is a work required by God.

John 6 KJT
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

"Believe on Christ Jesus whom God has sent" is a work God requires of His children. The Judaistic Jews insisted on the work of obeying Mosaic laws.

1John 3 - KJT
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is obedience to God's commandment; obedience to God's commandment is work. 

"The just shall live by faith" - a description or a prescription?

Is the statement
a description of the just, or
a prescription for justification?

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10224204264909804&set=a.10204411521703594

I posted the question on one FB page.
Not one single comment after one whole week.
Is the question obscene?
Is it theologically offensive or ecclesiastically incorrect?

I posted the same on another page, "Scripture Alone” page, but it was not approved by the Administrator. Similarly, on the "Reformed Christian..."

What could be the reasons?
======

Some comments

Ben FmBugante
For me, it is a description.

James Bonner
In my humble thinking, the statement is a description of the just.
Read Hebrews 11. 

Darrel Chambers
The just are already just (justified). This describes how they shall live ( not just exist). "Live" describes quality of life. The Thayer definition of the Greek word translated, "shall live" is:

Thayer Definition: to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
- to enjoy real life
- to have true life and worthy of the name
- active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
- to live, i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting of mortals or character
- living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul
- metaphorically to be in full vigour
- to be fresh, strong, efficient
- as adjective active, powerful, efficacious.

Steve Woods
A declaration. If you have been given faith in the new birth you will live accordingly, walk with your Friend.

Marty-Sandy Smith
The reasons for the silence may be that supporters of the more popular interpretation may find the challenge uncomfortable. After all, it does say, "The just shall live by faith" and not "The just shall obtain life by faith".

Tommy Dennis Taylor
I will take the former. Haven’t seen the post until this morning.

Ann Atwood Fraley
I don’t know enough about the other page. Maybe you have everyone thinking.

Henry Rougeou
If an individual is just, they will be walking by faith

Steve McGhee
It is a DESCRIPTION

Joe Holder
Brother Sing, I don’t spend as much time on FB as in the past. A thought to consider. In the Habakkuk verse you reference, God is speaking. The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament uses a personal pronoun, “…my faith.”

I believe the verse is indeed indicative. It also identifies the “Rule of life,” the basis for a right choice of the guideline for godly living, “The faith way.” Not the “Law way.”

Patrica Winkleman
I agree, Bro. Joe Holder.

Joe Holder
Marty, one more dominant and errant view of the verse, “The unjust shall become just by faith.”

The Septuagint translation of the Old Testament reads (And God was speaking in the verse), “The just shall live by my faith.”

Patrica Winkleman
Description

Rommel Fesalbon Fababeir
https://primitivebaptist.net/Devotionals/morning-thoughts-by-elder-philip-conley-romans-1-17.htm

The interpretation of Scriptures.

This meme has stirred a thought on an important subject, the interpretation of Scriptures.

For example, a babe in Christ will easily see only three numbers 6, 0, and 4; others see four numbers; some perceive 5, and a few can see 6, 8, 9, 4, 2 and 1; all beautifully jived and harmoniously connected.

Let's illustrate this with John 3:16:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,"

He will at least hear the sound of the following:
- God SO LOVED...

- He gave His only begotten Son,

- believing, and

- everlasting life.

Some may be content with the sound of these things, BUT clueless how these are biblically related; in fact, they may be quite wrong with some of their understanding and are oblivious of their errors.

So many end up believing that a man without everlasting life is capable of believing to get eternal life. They see John 3:16 as a prescription on how to get everlasting life. But John 3:16 is a DESCRIPTION of "whosoever believeth" - i.e., every believing one HAS/POSSESSES everlasting life.

It's like saying, "whosoever breathes has life." But many take it as a prescription; what the dead must do to get life! 

This is so basic and elementary, but multitudes of Christ get it wrong. 

Hebrews 5 KJV —
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Those with exercised senses would see a lot more in John 3:16 and in their biblical context.

Think about the matter.

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

 By whose faith? By your faith?
Or by the faith of Christ Jesus?

How do the sola fideists cope with these declarations?

How do the sola fideists ("justification by faith, i.e. their act of believing, alone") cope with these declarations of Scripture? Are they saying one and the same justification?

1. Justification by Christ: the BASIS of Justification
- Ro 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

- Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

- Ga 2:17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Justified by Christ's blood, justified by the faith of Jesus Christ, and justified by Christ... what justification is spoken of here? Are they the same justification by your faith?
- How does Christ's blood and Christ's faith(fulness) justify you?
- How does your faith justify you? 

Justification before God requires righteousness, and this righteousness is either by your own obedience to the law (i.e., deeds or works of the law) or by Christ's obedience to the law (i.e., His faith, or faithfulness in discharging the work of redemption). There is no justification by the works/deeds of the law!

Christ alone kept the law, completely and perfectly.
His righteousness alone meets the demands of God the Judge. 

And do you know that believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK?
Here it is, listen closely. Christ Himself said it.

John 6:28 KJT
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? [i.e. the works appointed of God to be done by His children.]
29 ¶Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. [i.e. this is the work God has appointed for you to work.]

Believing in Jesus Christ is a WORK required of God's children. 
Could this truth be expressed in simpler terms?
Not a few believe God requires this work from those dead in trespasses and sins.

2. Justification by God's Grace: the MANNER of justification
- Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
- Ro 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  [Note: justified freely by his grace, AND NOT THROUGH your faith in Christ Jesus; but through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.]

Justified by God's grace... yes, FREELY by His grace; this repudiate the notion that there is such a thing as a grace that is not free but earned or merited - i.e. through your faith. IF it is through your faith, then your justification is by works! John 6:28-29. 

3. Justification by your Faith: the Evidence of Justification
And even those passages that speak of justification by faith... whose and what is that faith? Is it man's act of believing? Is "faith" and "believing" the same thing?

i. Romans 3:28 Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- ... justified by the faithfulness of Christ in His work of redemption.
- If it is by your faith, then it is by the deed of the law, your obedience to a command of God's law. 
- 1John 3:23 "And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

ii. Romans 4:2 "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness."
- Abraham's faith (his act of believing) was counted to him for righteousness. This is completely different from Christ's righteousness accounted to Abraham for his justification by God. 
- In this passage, Apostle Paul marshalled Abraham to REPUDIATE the Judaisers' error that ceremonial laws must be observed to be accepted by God. Apostle Paul demonstrates that Abraham EXPERIENCED the blessedness of his justified state by faith, and NOT by performing any ceremonial laws like circumcision.  

iii. Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

- Galatians 3:24 "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

4. And there is justification by works as well as by faith.
i. James 2:21 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"

BOTH faith (act of believing) and works of righteousness JUSTIFY EVIDENTIALLY. It is like breath and movement, both give evidence that the man is alive. 

ii. James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
Works evidence a justified state by the free grace of God. Works and works of the law are entirely different things. Works justify evidentially.

Laws condemn, and no works of the law can justify a man.

Romans 3:20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

May our Lord grant you understanding. 

State Imposed and Coerced Religions - Are Pathetic!

Hear ye, hear ye!

The power of God and the wisdom of God
versus
The impotence of gods, and the folly of gods.

"Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience. If the government can answer for individuals on the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free."
~~ Isaac Backus (1724-1806)

-----------

Any state coerced and imposed religion upon a man is a bondage straight from hell; it is actually an obscene mockery and insult to any religion when it has to resort to state power to coerce and compel a man to convert, to adhere or to remain in it;  it's an assault against the liberty of conscience. Only weak and pathetic religions resort to force and coercion to impose itself on others; it is a horrible disservice to any religion if it has to resort to the despicable means of compulsion and coercion through the power of the state/government.

Let a man's own mind, heart and conscience determine for himself, through the open discourse and persuasion, to be convinced and constrained by the teachings of a religion. If a religion cannot do that to gain a man's voluntary and freewill allegiance, it is impotent and powerless.

Why would a religion be happy with adherents whose association with it is not free and voluntary but coerced? Why such shamelessness?

1 Corinthians 1 KJT 
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

John 3:3 KJT — Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

What do I think of modern secular Israel?

Some Zionist Christians asked w hat do I think of modern secular?

Not much, but I told them this:

I don't know about your view on Israel. My view is that modern secular Israel is REMOTELY related to the theocratic Israel of the Bible; it's an invention of man. What had been divinely established at the foot of Mt Sinai was ALSO divinely preserved until its abolition for good in AD 70; the biblical theocratic Israel lasted for as long as only the LORD God had intended it; when the time was fulfilled, it was forever done away with.

That said, the modern secular Jewish nation has every right to exist in peace and to defend itself, as much as any other.

Let the aggressors and warmongers on the earth perish - "for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Amen.

Matthew 26:52 KJT "Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
========

Cheri
Amen. Old Testament Israel and modern secular Israel are two completely separate and different things.

Joe
Brother Sing. I agree. I kindly do not go along with the occasional idea of an end-times Jewish restoration. Jesus said everything we need to know about the question in Matthew 23:39, "...Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Jesus was/is the "he that cometh in the name of the Lord." I have not heard modern Israeli people praising or believing in Jesus. Till I see that evidence, I respectfully stand with Jesus. Amen.

Wayne
Amen to Brother Joe and Brother Sing. I consider modern Israel an ally of our country, but in my opinion there is no prophesy being fulfilled by the present nation of Israel, etc.

Wayne
Another thought: I trust we are a part of spiritual Israel, being a Spiritual Jew. That's what is important and if we are a Spiritual Jew we are so by grace alone! ""For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2: 28-29).

Sing F Lau
Wayne, BOTH the Jews and the Muslims fighting them have outward circumcision made by hands.

God does it all; yes, it's all by His grace alone!

The Triune God does it all... our eternal salvation is entirely by grace alone.

God does it all; yes, it's all by His grace alone!

- God the Father purposed eternal salvation for the elect before time...

- God the Son accomplished that eternal salvation for the same at the cross...

- God the Spirit applies that same eternal salvation, at God's appointed and approved time, to each elect in their native state of sin and death, effectually calling them out of their native state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, completely fitting them for eternal glory.

- On the resurrection day, all the redeemed who have died shall be resurrected and be glorified and those still living shall be transformed and be glorified; together they shall be brought home into eternal glory in heaven. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

God ordained the ministry of the word for the instruction and temporal salvation of those He has freely bestowed eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.

- Some of them are outwardly called by the ministry of the word; those who are called are converted to varying degrees.

- Others are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word.

God does it all. All glory and praise to Him alone.

Amen and amen.

And they shall be all taught of God

#Taught_of_God

John 6:45 "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."

Permit me to ask a few questions. Please assist me in rightly understanding the passage.

Thank you.

1. Who are "they" that shall be all taught of God?

2. How shall they be taught of God?

3. Is "they all" and "every man" co-extensive?

4. Is the hearing the direct result of having been taught of God?

5. Is the learning the direct result of having heard what is taught by God?

6. Is the coming unto Christ the direct effect of being taught of God?

7. What is the coming spoken of?

8. Is there a distinction in the expressions "taught of God" and "hath learned of the Father"?

9. Is a 3rd party needed for a man to be taught of God?

10. Is a 3rd party needed for a man to hear and learn of the Father?

Ask your question if you have any.

Thanks.
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Bill Taylor
1. If a man is taught of God, can the teaching be imperfect or misleading?

2. If the teaching is not imperfect or misleading, which Jesus will a man come unto? (Which version of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus?)

God speaking and man repeating His words

Words from God's own mouth reduced to words from a preacher's mouth!

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Leon
Sir, does this text say that the Scriptures is the power of God?

Mark 12:24 "And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?"

One preacher quoted this and said the Scriptures is the Power of God...

Sing
In this verse, Jesus was censuring the Sadducees (previous paragraph from verse 18-23).

They err concerning the issue they raised to trap Jesus.

Like many Christians, they were acting as smart alecks.

They err BECAUSE of two things:

- they are ignorant of the Scriptures, AND

- they are ignorant of the power of God.

No, it does not say that the Scriptures is the power of God.

Whoever thinks so needs some lessons on proper English comprehension.

Leon
Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

He quoted this scripture in another bible study; he suggested that if a person whom he is evangelizing does not believe in the gospel, then he will receive the judgment because God's word always achieves its intended purposes. Then, if like this, those who are unbelievers would want to STOP any Christians from opening their mouths to evangelize them for fear of getting the "curse". Agree?

Sing
Read Isaiah 55:11 closely and draw out (DON'T READ INTO IT) some observations, and some truths declared. Thanks.

Don't be like those who are debilitated by soundbyitis.

Leon
The word should PROSPER in the thing whereto I sent it.

Does it also mean that the sending is to the intended person only for it to take effect?

Sing
Isa 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
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Q1. Whose word goes forth out of whose mouth?
- give examples of this.
Q2. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth"  - is this the same as the word that goes forth out of the mouth of the most Spirit-filled eloquent man?

Leon
Q1 it is God's word that goes forth from His mouth.
Q2 this is a DEFINITE NO

Sing
Q1. What is the intended purpose of God's word proclaimed by a preacher? Q2. Will it always accomplish that purpose?

Leon
A preacher preaches to believers/Elects. But some Elects could be stubborn and rebel against it, but they will bear the consequences n wl be chastened.

Sing
A prerequisite for sound theology and exegesis is paying attention to details.
Two things:
Firstly: A preacher preaches to all and any who are willing to hear in his work as an evangelist. He DOES NOT know whether his hearers are elect or non-elect; he does not know whether the hearers are already effectually called by God, or are still in their native state of deadness and condemnation. HE DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW!

BUT, he knows with absolute certainty, on biblical authority, that his ministry of the word is ONLY relevant to those God has already effectually called – i.e. freely justified by grace, regenerated, and adopted and given the Spirit of adoption to dwell in them.

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJT — For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJT — But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Secondly: An elect may not yet be conceived and/or born; if conceived and born, he is even as others who were bypassed in the election, i.e. in his native state, dead in trespasses and sins.

The preaching of the cross, the gospel of Christ, is IRRELEVANT to them. Worse than that, it is odious and foolishness to them.

An elect whom God has effectually called to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ - i.e. freely justified, regenerated, adopted, and bestowed with the Spirit of adoption to dwell in him - IS a child of God.

ONLY a child of God can be brought to faith through the preaching of the gospel. The faith worked in him by the indwelling Spirit is drawn out of him through the hearing of the word.

Romans 10:17 KJT — So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

That is INITIAL CONVERSION. The ministry of the word is for the ongoing conversion of God's children.

Some of God's children are as stubborn as mules (sorry to insult mules, but see Isa 1:3). God knows how to deal with them.

But watch out for yourself.      

I'm repeating a lot of things. It seems we are going round in circles.

When you raise a question, stick to it until you have understood the matter adequately. Asking for asking sake only gives a false idea of learning.

Leon
Is my reply to your Q1 correct? Coz u mentioned "preacher" in your reply. That's why I am not sure if I answered correctly.

Sing
Q1. Yes.
When God said, "Let there be light: and there was light."

Let a preacher repeat God's words until his face turns blue and see whether Is 55:11 will be true of him!

When Jesus cried, "Lazarus, come forth... he that was dead came forth."

Go to a cemetery and let a preacher repeat Jesus' words and see if the Is 55:11 will be true of the most eloquent and Spirit-filled preacher.

What delusion... and abuse and perversion of Scriptures when

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV — Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

What terrible SHAME for a preacher interpreting Is 55:11 like that.

1 Timothy 4:16 KJT "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

Not a few preachers, instead of saving themselves through their faithful ministry,  they destroy BOTH themselves and those that hear them. See less