Oh dear. I certainly haven't been writing nearly as much as I intend to. I am working on another John section, but had to stop because I couldn't think.
On Simponi now, with a methotrexate kicker. My family say that I am more tired than I was, but perhaps less bad nausea than before. Joints have been very hot, fevers are still there nearly every day at one point or another. Feel exhausted, sometimes needing up to 3 naps a day, plus sleeping at night, and dealing with the inability to think in depth about things--like the John study and answering any questions I have as I go.
I feel stupid now, and super warm; my cheeks are bright red and burning. It is so hard to think.
Been watching a lot of TV shows. More, really, than I want to, but lets face it, thinking is easier with a tv show than a book.
I will recommend The Paradise tv show, BBC, about a department store in the late 1800s. Pretty clean show, though they do mention such things as mistresses and a gay woman enters the show once--there are no actual sex scenes, so that gives you a basis to go off of. There is a book, which I read, but I was very disappointed in it. The book was translated from the French, so I don't know if that is what messed with the tone of the book, but it seems wrong for the era. It too was written in the late 1800s, based on research of real stores at the time (Le Bon Marche), but it is the strangest 1880s book I have ever read---doesn't "sound" right at all. It could have been a wonderful book, and was interesting, but was just....dry, somehow. The life wasn't real, like so many old books will have. Anyway, one can certainly read The Ladies' Paradise by Emile Zola (1883) if they like--it was interesting, just not quite as good as it could be.
Also reading my favorite Andre Norton sci-fi books again. It is nice to escape my world into the world of others.
Working on and off with my own book, which I will not divulge the topic here---cannot give away all my secrets to my limited internet readers.
Rheumatoid Awareness
Friday, September 28, 2018
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
A Deeper Look into John 5.1-15
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. John 5 NIV
It is considered that Christ went up to Jerusalem for a Passover---based on the fact that His ministry was roughly three and a half years long. It is mentioned that He went to feasts in John 2.23; 5.1; 6.4; and the final time at the end of His ministry, John 11.55. ( BibleStudyTools ) ( Mack )( Bible.Org ). There is no mention of the talmidim (disciples), so it is possible that the men had returned to family, work, etc., or any other options.
Christ goes to the Sheep Gate. This gate, mentioned in Neh 3.1; 3.32, is the gate through which sacrificial animals were led, most often lambs, hence the name. The Sheep Gate in Aramaic is Bethseda., also "house of mercy", relating to the cures that happened there. Bethesda was the original name of the deep pool, but it can also be known as the Sheep Pool. It was originally dug in the 8th century BC, and was then called the Upper Pool. There was another pool--so this is technically a double pool, with a north and south pool, divided by a wall with the fifth colonnade. The five porches were to shelter the ill and lame who waited for their chance at healing. ( Bible.org ) ( )
Since it is listed that the water healed anyone of any disease, but only at certain times, and was never argued against by the people of the time, it is highly suggestive that this indeed could and did happen. It is unusual to hear of a water that only healed sometimes, but if it did, it healed ALL ailments, according to tradition. However, there is no record of anyone actually being healed there---so whether it worked or not, had a placebo effect, or whether the people flocked to it as they do in these days of the hope it might work, or any other remedy and cure... ( Bible.org )
Intriguing that while Christ stands before the pool, He would see two groups of "ill" people. On one side, the people crying out in misery of body and spirit, yet the other side was the Temple, filled with the priests who were so lost as to be counted ill.
Christ chose this one man, and only He would know why. The man was 38, which was above the average life expectancy of the time period--he had been an invalid for a lifetime, imagine that? Possibly he was the most pitiful case there, we simply do not know. ( BibleStudyTools )
Christ seeks him out, asks him if he wants to be healed.
Interestingly, He does not ask for faith itself.
It could be considered a strange question to ask someone who is miserable if they want to be healed. Who doesn't? I would take healing in a heartbeat were it offered to me.
The question perhaps focuses the man's attention on Christ, making him feel a sudden rush of hopelessness of ever being healed (I would!), and perhaps that small flash of hope for a cure. If nothing else, perhaps this man would wait and watch for the right time and help him into the water!It is interesting that the man did not answer with a simple yes, but instead gave a sad summary of his plight and time spent waiting, ever hopeful, for his chance at a cure. ( BibleStudyTools)
The man believed that his ill health was a punishment from God. Now, this can be an incredibly long discussion. Many people turn from God over the things that happen in life, others cling all the tighter to Him. GotQuestions points out that God either allows things passively, or causes them. For example, He created the world perfectly, yet allowed Adam and Eve the free will to make a very poor choice. Many may state that that is unfair, but it is illogical in the midst of the struggle we are seeing over free right of will for nearly every action. ( GotQuestions )
“For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Rom 8.20-22 NIV ( GotQuestions ) [check out the GotQuestions article for more information]
The entire world is literally screaming over its fate, along with us. So whether an individual has sinned and caused their own illness and disease, must be a one on one discussion with God. If no sin is found, it is often the sin of the broken world we live in...regardless, God is there, and as I have learned, will lend you so very much if you merely ask it of Him.
Christ also did not show this man that He was the Messiah--He did so later in this tale. Christ heals the man instantly and completely, so that he could and did pick up his mat and walk--a sign of his full healing being that he was able to carry away his mat. ( BibleStudy Tools) ( Bible.org )
I have often wondered about this---how did the man know he was cured. After having rheumatoid arthritis, iritis and fibromyalgia...if a man said to me get up and walk, I would know before I moved whether I was healed or not. I would not need to shift one muscle. I imagine this man must have been in great pain, and that suddenly it was gone. Isn't it sad that in today's society, some groups tell any sick among them that it was because they did not have enough faith? This man was not even required to HAVE faith...it was not asked of him, since this was to the glory of God. We are pitifully erroneous to tell those who are ill that they don't have enough faith---sometimes God has plans for us we are not yet aware of, but become more clear as we walk the path of illness.
Part of the healing of this man was showing such a healing to the Sanhedrin. As we have discussed, they were to look into anything that might show the Messiah--yet they mainly ignored sign after sign. Sound familiar in today's insistence that Christ will NOT return? He has not yet, why should He? Be wary of anything that contradicts the Word--though the scoffers actually confirm the Word.
The man was healed on the Sabbath, though, which caused a huge problem in the eyes of the Pharisees and Saducees. They seemed to only see the fact that this man was breaking one of the Oral Law (not the Law given by Moses)--rather than the fact that a man they MUST have seen from his being at the pool off and on (or always?) for the last 38 years was now WALKING. ( BibleStudyTools )(Bible.org )
Christ heals on the Sabbath 5 times that we are told of (here,
Mt 12:9-14; Lk 13:10-17, 14:1-6 and John 9:1-41), obviously pointing out that the Oral Law did not matter so much as was thought---but that good should be done for the glory of God.
Remembering the Sabbath is not so much about rules; how many steps I take, whether I cook or not. It is meant to be a change in the week, a whole day to honor God, and to rest. It doesn't mean we should be so worried about every small thing that we forget about God in the midst of it. Perhaps the Mary and Martha story applies here as an example. Sometimes (most of the time) it is better to give time to God than to minute rules--so long as all is done in an attempt to honor God without thinking it is salvation winning techniques. ( Mack )( BibleStudyTools )( Bible.org)
The now poor healed man could be punished by death for carrying the mat. He could do nothing about his healing--it could not be reversed in any manner he knew. The leaders saw him and the Man who healed him as a threat, but the healed man did not know who or where Christ was. ( Mack )( BibleStudyTools )( Bible.org)
Christ used the present tense with His statement of See, you are well again, meaning that the cure was permanent. He warned the healed man that he should stop sinning, that something worse might happen. Sinful behavior does lead to much suffering, as we ourselves have experienced, or witnessed in other people. ( Mack ) ( BibleStudyTools )( Bible.org )
The now poor healed man could be punished by death for carrying the mat. He could do nothing about his healing--it could not be reversed in any manner he knew. The leaders saw him and the Man who healed him as a threat, but the healed man did not know who or where Christ was. ( Mack )( BibleStudyTools )( Bible.org)
Christ used the present tense with His statement of See, you are well again, meaning that the cure was permanent. He warned the healed man that he should stop sinning, that something worse might happen. Sinful behavior does lead to much suffering, as we ourselves have experienced, or witnessed in other people. ( Mack ) ( BibleStudyTools )( Bible.org )
Now with a name of his Healer, the man went and told the leaders who He was, getting them even more stirred up---see next post for that!
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
RA and Iritis Post: Updates
I am still having trouble with my eyes. They get worse, I up my steroid drops. They get better, I slowly drop the number of eye drops I use. They get worse, I up my steroid drops. They get better, I lessen the number of steroid drops. It is an awful pain, and it hurts in several different ways, sometimes all at once.
There is a time when the only pain I feel is a dull ache in the iris itself. Then there are times when the whole front of my eye aches, and a few times when it aches to move my eyes. The doctor says its from the irritation/swelling, and the pull of the tendons causes that pain. The worse is when my eyes have a stabbing pain, sort of similar to biting your lip, and then having the headache---which reaches from the forehead to below my nose. That is so miserable, and nothing helps much at that point. Well, actually at that point in the past I have gone and gotten oral steroids because I am often already up to 8 drops a day.
I don't know. Somehow my specialists don't seem very concerned, while my local PCPs and eye doctor are very concerned. I know that I don't have as bad of a case as I could...but it is still incredibly painful.
The last two days I have had terrible insomnia. Tonight is worse, because I am so tired my eyes keep closing, but I only go to sleep for about ten minutes. I am suspecting it is related to pain, pain just bad enough to make me uncomfortable, without being terrible pain. The weather is turbulent tonight. It periodically rains very hard, and then is calm. Right before the rains start I definitely feel pain and I am very uncomfortable. Once the rain stops it calms down and is fine.
I see the rheumatologist I don't like next week. I have to find out if my old one has gotten my papers to go back to him. This new one thinks everything that is wrong with me is heat rash. I asked about the bumps on my arms that have spread since I got sick from just above the elbow to above the shoulder, and which get very red before my RA gets worse. He says it is heat rash, which makes no sense as I live in the coldest room of the house. Then I started getting this very itchy rash about my eye lids. I sent photos in, because it changes so fast---one day the rash is there, three days later it might have faded. He said that was heat rash too.
What??
There is a time when the only pain I feel is a dull ache in the iris itself. Then there are times when the whole front of my eye aches, and a few times when it aches to move my eyes. The doctor says its from the irritation/swelling, and the pull of the tendons causes that pain. The worse is when my eyes have a stabbing pain, sort of similar to biting your lip, and then having the headache---which reaches from the forehead to below my nose. That is so miserable, and nothing helps much at that point. Well, actually at that point in the past I have gone and gotten oral steroids because I am often already up to 8 drops a day.
I don't know. Somehow my specialists don't seem very concerned, while my local PCPs and eye doctor are very concerned. I know that I don't have as bad of a case as I could...but it is still incredibly painful.
The last two days I have had terrible insomnia. Tonight is worse, because I am so tired my eyes keep closing, but I only go to sleep for about ten minutes. I am suspecting it is related to pain, pain just bad enough to make me uncomfortable, without being terrible pain. The weather is turbulent tonight. It periodically rains very hard, and then is calm. Right before the rains start I definitely feel pain and I am very uncomfortable. Once the rain stops it calms down and is fine.
I see the rheumatologist I don't like next week. I have to find out if my old one has gotten my papers to go back to him. This new one thinks everything that is wrong with me is heat rash. I asked about the bumps on my arms that have spread since I got sick from just above the elbow to above the shoulder, and which get very red before my RA gets worse. He says it is heat rash, which makes no sense as I live in the coldest room of the house. Then I started getting this very itchy rash about my eye lids. I sent photos in, because it changes so fast---one day the rash is there, three days later it might have faded. He said that was heat rash too.
What??
Friday, May 4, 2018
The Bible is Old
One of the most disturbing things any person can tell me is that the Bible is old, and does not apply anymore. This is usually followed by the tactic of picking a choosing what to believe, or the tactic of getting "new" revelation from God.
Somehow that has never been what I have gotten out of reading and studying the Word.
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of Goda may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tm 3 ( NIV )
So many people today claim to have heard from a spirit--an angel has spoken to them. Consider the rush in books and films lately of people who have been to Heaven, or heard from God. I do not doubt that it is possible that people have been to Heaven, and that people have heard from God. The concern is if we do not deeply consider what was said, done or seen by the person (or ourselves) when these experiences happen. Does it line up with the rest of Scripture?
The Beareans have been praised for all these years for being critical thinkers. They were lining up what Paul said with the Word--being detectives if you will, lining up the alibis, the motives, what was said etc to see how it lines up with a robbery.
We need to be careful. When we read from teachers and pastors, we need to double check what they said to be certain we are not getting poisoned along with the words of the teacher. Is the teacher using Scripture in their teachings? Many do not use a single Bible verse in a whole sermon, making for a good psychologist approach to God. God is so much bigger than that. If the teacher is using the Word, does the context fit? Is it logical that that passage was used?
We cannot go by feelings, for what is the nickname of Satan? An Angel of Light. It is extremely easy to be fooled.
What about receiving new revelations? New Scripture, as it were. Why would there be new revelations? What is the last book in the Bible? Revelation. And what does this book deal with? Basically, it prophecies about the end of what we know--the righting of the wrongs of this broken world, and our settling in for eternity (also known as no time by the Greek) with God. What else would there be to talk about?
We can say with great delight that God does reveal things to us, through the Holy Spirit--when we are in studies, sermons, or whatever. The issue is, it won't be something new, it is not the "new" Bible. It is "just" a clarification of what you are reading or seeing. Everything we see and hear about God and the Bible must line up with the Scriptures. It is somewhat like writing a science paper; all the information must balance with the next or the paper is worthless. A faith cannot exist which negates itself. If we claim that the Bible is no good, out of date, then we are in grave danger, for we will not know how to live, we will make it up as we go, and have no reason to think and act the way we do. Consider the legal laws governing countries today. So many of them counteract each other, causing a great amount of turmoil.
The Israel teachers in Christ's time, much like people today, seemed to pick and choose from the Word as to what was right, what was wrong---they did what they saw as important, yet downplayed other things. On the other hand, they also added laws to the laws given the People by God. Do we not do these things by saying the Word is old fashioned? That most of it does not count? Or when we add things to it with our new revelations.
While I haven't yet studied this...it seems to me that any changes to the Word, any addition or lessening of the importance of the Word is doing the same to God, because it is He that provided us with the Scriptures. ( John 1 ) They are God-breathed, which means to change them is a great amount of arrogance and prideful behavior on our part. When we change whether a verse is acceptable now because it is a modern time, we belittle God. We make an atrocious step of changing what God said, and we dishonor Him. We turn God into the Toothfairy or Santa Clause for us to "believe" in, while ignoring the fact that this is the almighty God.
"Because God is sacred, the words He speaks are also sacred, and sinful men such as Moses must be mindful of God’s holiness. In the same way, the words God gave Moses on Mount Sinai are also sacred, just as all words God has given to mankind in the Bible are holy and sacred because He is holy and sacred. Just as God is perfect, so are His words perfect (Psalm 19:7). Just as God is righteous and pure, so is His Word righteous and pure (Psalm 19:8)..."The Greek word translated “God-breathed” is Theopneustos, from theos, meaning “God,” and pneo, meaning “to breathe or breathe upon.” ... our Holy God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, literally breathed the holy words of Scripture into the writers of each of the books through supernatural means. The divine Writer is holy; therefore, what He writes is holy...This “set apart” aspect of holiness is true of the Bible because it is a book set apart from all others. It is the only book written by God Himself, the only book that has the power to set men free (John 8:32), to change their lives and make them wise (Psalm 19:7), to sanctify them and make them holy (John 17:17). It is the only book that gives life, comfort, and hope (Psalm 119:50), and it is the only book that will endure until the end of time (Matthew 5:18).(GotQuestions)
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5 ( NIV )
Many people will say, from this passage, that we are in the all clear--we don't have to do anything. And we don't, but as you read all of the New Testament, you will find that many of the Old Testament commands come back up. There are great long lists scattered about in the NT of commands that still apply--and while they will NOT provide salvation, we are to attend to them in honor of our God. ("The greatest command—love for God—is also the greatest motive for obedience. We obey him because we love him, and we love him because he has graciously drawn us into his own household. It is God who works in us, both to will and to behave according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13"). ( GraceCommunion ))
Christ provided the first and only long lasting sacrifice by being able to complete to perfection all the laws of Moses. He then met all the prophecies of His Messiahship. The Law itself is still in action, for those who are not believers of Christ, the taint of sin is on them in full. This is why it is impossible to be saved outside of Christ. It is impossible for us as humans under the guise of sinners that we chose so long ago, and we seem to chose with each day, to meet the standards of salvation that would be required. Our faith in God frees us from the Law, but only from the perfect sacrifice of God Himself.
Somehow that has never been what I have gotten out of reading and studying the Word.
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of Goda may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tm 3 ( NIV )
What we learn when we study the Word is from God Himself. Surely, the various prophets and teachers who recorded events and what God revealed to them is noticeable. Every scribe sounds different than most of the other authors. Understanding the Bible, as it is written, allows us to better obey God. It is extremely difficult to know what is right or wrong if we do not base our understanding of right or wrong on something. As an example, a criminal justifies what he does based on current status in his life--he has no money, therefore it is all right to shoplift. Or, sometimes, the criminal has some other reason for the "ok"-ness of his actions. How many other things do we constantly hear being presented as ok behavior by what the person "feels". This is an illogical thought process, because everyone has a different outlook on what is acceptable behavior--would a serial killer think that it is "ok" to murder these people, and as such, he is righteous?
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 Jn 4 ( NIV )
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. Acts 17.11 ( NIV )
So many people today claim to have heard from a spirit--an angel has spoken to them. Consider the rush in books and films lately of people who have been to Heaven, or heard from God. I do not doubt that it is possible that people have been to Heaven, and that people have heard from God. The concern is if we do not deeply consider what was said, done or seen by the person (or ourselves) when these experiences happen. Does it line up with the rest of Scripture?
The Beareans have been praised for all these years for being critical thinkers. They were lining up what Paul said with the Word--being detectives if you will, lining up the alibis, the motives, what was said etc to see how it lines up with a robbery.
We need to be careful. When we read from teachers and pastors, we need to double check what they said to be certain we are not getting poisoned along with the words of the teacher. Is the teacher using Scripture in their teachings? Many do not use a single Bible verse in a whole sermon, making for a good psychologist approach to God. God is so much bigger than that. If the teacher is using the Word, does the context fit? Is it logical that that passage was used?
We cannot go by feelings, for what is the nickname of Satan? An Angel of Light. It is extremely easy to be fooled.
What about receiving new revelations? New Scripture, as it were. Why would there be new revelations? What is the last book in the Bible? Revelation. And what does this book deal with? Basically, it prophecies about the end of what we know--the righting of the wrongs of this broken world, and our settling in for eternity (also known as no time by the Greek) with God. What else would there be to talk about?
We can say with great delight that God does reveal things to us, through the Holy Spirit--when we are in studies, sermons, or whatever. The issue is, it won't be something new, it is not the "new" Bible. It is "just" a clarification of what you are reading or seeing. Everything we see and hear about God and the Bible must line up with the Scriptures. It is somewhat like writing a science paper; all the information must balance with the next or the paper is worthless. A faith cannot exist which negates itself. If we claim that the Bible is no good, out of date, then we are in grave danger, for we will not know how to live, we will make it up as we go, and have no reason to think and act the way we do. Consider the legal laws governing countries today. So many of them counteract each other, causing a great amount of turmoil.
The Israel teachers in Christ's time, much like people today, seemed to pick and choose from the Word as to what was right, what was wrong---they did what they saw as important, yet downplayed other things. On the other hand, they also added laws to the laws given the People by God. Do we not do these things by saying the Word is old fashioned? That most of it does not count? Or when we add things to it with our new revelations.
While I haven't yet studied this...it seems to me that any changes to the Word, any addition or lessening of the importance of the Word is doing the same to God, because it is He that provided us with the Scriptures. ( John 1 ) They are God-breathed, which means to change them is a great amount of arrogance and prideful behavior on our part. When we change whether a verse is acceptable now because it is a modern time, we belittle God. We make an atrocious step of changing what God said, and we dishonor Him. We turn God into the Toothfairy or Santa Clause for us to "believe" in, while ignoring the fact that this is the almighty God.
"Because God is sacred, the words He speaks are also sacred, and sinful men such as Moses must be mindful of God’s holiness. In the same way, the words God gave Moses on Mount Sinai are also sacred, just as all words God has given to mankind in the Bible are holy and sacred because He is holy and sacred. Just as God is perfect, so are His words perfect (Psalm 19:7). Just as God is righteous and pure, so is His Word righteous and pure (Psalm 19:8)..."The Greek word translated “God-breathed” is Theopneustos, from theos, meaning “God,” and pneo, meaning “to breathe or breathe upon.” ... our Holy God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, literally breathed the holy words of Scripture into the writers of each of the books through supernatural means. The divine Writer is holy; therefore, what He writes is holy...This “set apart” aspect of holiness is true of the Bible because it is a book set apart from all others. It is the only book written by God Himself, the only book that has the power to set men free (John 8:32), to change their lives and make them wise (Psalm 19:7), to sanctify them and make them holy (John 17:17). It is the only book that gives life, comfort, and hope (Psalm 119:50), and it is the only book that will endure until the end of time (Matthew 5:18).(GotQuestions)
17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matt 5 ( NIV )
Many people will say, from this passage, that we are in the all clear--we don't have to do anything. And we don't, but as you read all of the New Testament, you will find that many of the Old Testament commands come back up. There are great long lists scattered about in the NT of commands that still apply--and while they will NOT provide salvation, we are to attend to them in honor of our God. ("The greatest command—love for God—is also the greatest motive for obedience. We obey him because we love him, and we love him because he has graciously drawn us into his own household. It is God who works in us, both to will and to behave according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:13"). ( GraceCommunion ))
Christ provided the first and only long lasting sacrifice by being able to complete to perfection all the laws of Moses. He then met all the prophecies of His Messiahship. The Law itself is still in action, for those who are not believers of Christ, the taint of sin is on them in full. This is why it is impossible to be saved outside of Christ. It is impossible for us as humans under the guise of sinners that we chose so long ago, and we seem to chose with each day, to meet the standards of salvation that would be required. Our faith in God frees us from the Law, but only from the perfect sacrifice of God Himself.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Heb 4.12 ( NIV )
If you believe in God, and in a God that is alive and well, then it is only logical that, if this Book of His has survived all these millennia--when belonging to a people-group despised by nearly every other people group--is also alive and well. The general reason for destroying the credibility of the Word is to remove the sting of conscience. Look at the words of Hebrews, after the first sentence. They are not exactly comforting words, because it is speaking about dealing with our sinful nature and sin actions.
"The Bible is the description God gave us about who He is, and His desires and plans for humanity. The most significant component of this revelation is the story of our separation from God by sin and God’s provision for restoration of fellowship through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Our need for redemption does not change. Neither does God’s desire to reconcile us to Himself." ( GotQuestions ) When we state that the Bible is "old and outdated", we are saying that we don't need to know who God is. We can know God through prayer, considering Him, speaking about Him to others, but the clearest picture we can have on this broken earth is from reading the Word. It is then that we find the verbal depths of His love, how His plans always, always come true, and work just as He promises (how many people have promised you and failed---God never will). When we change the Bible, ignoring what it teaches because of its age, or the "new" revelation we have "been given", we miss so much. We change who God is, as I have said already, making Him weak, or some sort of vending machine, rather than a powerful, wonderful God, who, like a Father, must teach us...but His teaching tools, the Word and the Spirit, work best together (at least in my life). If part of that mixture is thrown away, our connection to God will be weakened, leading to further desecration of faith.
Basically we need to understand that the cannon of Scripture was closed at about 1 AD, because, of course, Revelation is about the end of all things. Therefore, it is wrong to leave behind the Word of God for a "new" word.
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Prov 30 ( NIV )
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Gal 1 ( NIV )
If you believe in God, and in a God that is alive and well, then it is only logical that, if this Book of His has survived all these millennia--when belonging to a people-group despised by nearly every other people group--is also alive and well. The general reason for destroying the credibility of the Word is to remove the sting of conscience. Look at the words of Hebrews, after the first sentence. They are not exactly comforting words, because it is speaking about dealing with our sinful nature and sin actions.
"The Bible is the description God gave us about who He is, and His desires and plans for humanity. The most significant component of this revelation is the story of our separation from God by sin and God’s provision for restoration of fellowship through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross. Our need for redemption does not change. Neither does God’s desire to reconcile us to Himself." ( GotQuestions ) When we state that the Bible is "old and outdated", we are saying that we don't need to know who God is. We can know God through prayer, considering Him, speaking about Him to others, but the clearest picture we can have on this broken earth is from reading the Word. It is then that we find the verbal depths of His love, how His plans always, always come true, and work just as He promises (how many people have promised you and failed---God never will). When we change the Bible, ignoring what it teaches because of its age, or the "new" revelation we have "been given", we miss so much. We change who God is, as I have said already, making Him weak, or some sort of vending machine, rather than a powerful, wonderful God, who, like a Father, must teach us...but His teaching tools, the Word and the Spirit, work best together (at least in my life). If part of that mixture is thrown away, our connection to God will be weakened, leading to further desecration of faith.
Basically we need to understand that the cannon of Scripture was closed at about 1 AD, because, of course, Revelation is about the end of all things. Therefore, it is wrong to leave behind the Word of God for a "new" word.
Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar. Prov 30 ( NIV )
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse! Gal 1 ( NIV )
( For other passages on not straying from the Word see Open Bible Info )
There has always been a problem with people wanting to change what God says, and this is done in so many variations one's head can spin. Even in Deuteronomy, there are charges to the People to honor what God has said and not to change it. We just are wired in our sin nature--and especially if changing the Word serves our purposes in sinful desires.
Study the Word deeply, and only the Word. Believe it word for word. And when deciding what the Word means (besides the Holy Spirit), use context of the verses/chapters. It is helpful to understand the people who were around at the time of the writing, such as..."what are the differences in language, time, culture, geography, setting and situation? All of these must be taken into account before application can be made. Once the width of the chasm has been measured, we can then attempt to build the bridge over the chasm by finding the commonalities between the original audience and ourselves. Finally, we can then find application for ourselves in our time and situation." ( GotQuestions )
Some tools to use to test what others may tell you, either as a pastor or whomever, will also work as you study the Word and utilize the Word--
1. Context. To understand fully, start small and extend outward: verse, passage, chapter, book, author and testament/covenant.
2. Try to come to grips with how the original audience would have understood the text.
3. Consider the width of the chasm between us and the original audience.
4. It’s a safe bet that any moral command from the Old Testament that is repeated in the New Testament is an example of a "timeless truth."
5. Remember that each passage has one and only one correct interpretation, but can have many applications (some better than others).
6. Always be humble and don’t forget the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation. He has promised to lead us into all truth (John 16:13). ( GotQuestions )
2. Try to come to grips with how the original audience would have understood the text.
3. Consider the width of the chasm between us and the original audience.
4. It’s a safe bet that any moral command from the Old Testament that is repeated in the New Testament is an example of a "timeless truth."
5. Remember that each passage has one and only one correct interpretation, but can have many applications (some better than others).
6. Always be humble and don’t forget the role of the Holy Spirit in interpretation. He has promised to lead us into all truth (John 16:13). ( GotQuestions )
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
A Deeper Look at John 4. 39-42
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4 ( NIV )
While we discoursed about this in my previous post, there are a few things we can discuss.
The Samaritan people could have had a better understanding of what the Messiah would do upon His arrival. They did only believe in the first five books, the Tanach, written by Moses, but still, there are hints throughout the Word as to the Messiah. The Pharisees and Saducees expected the Messiah to come in vindication of the Jewish people. ( Mack )
This can make some sense when we look at the time. Consider the way the world was. The Roman government had learned that it was best to let the various people keep their native gods, for nothing stirs up the populous so much as insisting they worship so and so god. Therefore, at the time of 1 AD, there was a wide range of peoples, a wide range of religions, political intrigue and violence, sin and wonder filled the countryside, and the leadership of the "wrong line" through Herod, a descendent of Esau. The people all wanted a King David to show up and put Israel in the place of high power it had been when he had been king. Anything to get out from under the oppression of taxes (and dishonest tax collectors who asked for more funds than they really needed to, and kept the extra). As we have learned already, there had been 400 years of silence on the part of God prophetically, and the people were groaning again under near slavery. (Obviously God had some dealings with people, for Simeon and Anna in Matthew had been given promises, so He was not totally silent) ( MD Harris Institute )
This can make some sense when we look at the time. Consider the way the world was. The Roman government had learned that it was best to let the various people keep their native gods, for nothing stirs up the populous so much as insisting they worship so and so god. Therefore, at the time of 1 AD, there was a wide range of peoples, a wide range of religions, political intrigue and violence, sin and wonder filled the countryside, and the leadership of the "wrong line" through Herod, a descendent of Esau. The people all wanted a King David to show up and put Israel in the place of high power it had been when he had been king. Anything to get out from under the oppression of taxes (and dishonest tax collectors who asked for more funds than they really needed to, and kept the extra). As we have learned already, there had been 400 years of silence on the part of God prophetically, and the people were groaning again under near slavery. (Obviously God had some dealings with people, for Simeon and Anna in Matthew had been given promises, so He was not totally silent) ( MD Harris Institute )
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