“Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Because you have not heard My words....
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah25:8,11; 29:10-12
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans—in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:1-2
Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision....
and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.
“Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy, And to anoint the Most Holy.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS MUCH MORE THAN MOUTHING THE RIGHT FORMULA OF WORDS. And it’s much more than a feel-good frame of mind. It’s also much more than an entrance requirement to a club-like social group.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Some may insist that the Apostle Paul was a revolutionary with radical ideas spreading a religion with strict Pauline puritanical morals. The letter to Rome Church is generally accepted as most expressive of the Christian Belief. Here is a continuation of the above quote:
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Roman Letter 12:1-3.
Another letter, among the first letters that Paul wrote to Gentile believers, follows the same spirit of self-humility and peaceful community:
“Concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
At the time of Paul’s letter, the Christians at Thessalonica were suffering a terrible persecution for their belief.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Some may insist that the Apostle Paul was a revolutionary with radical ideas spreading a religion with strict Pauline puritanical morals. The letter to Rome Church is generally accepted as most expressive of the Christian Belief. Here is a continuation of the above quote:
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Roman Letter 12:1-3.
Another letter, among the first letters that Paul wrote to Gentile believers, follows the same spirit of self-humility and peaceful community:
“Concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
At the time of Paul’s letter, the Christians at Thessalonica were suffering a terrible persecution for their belief.
MUCH MORE
BECOMING A CHRISTIAN IS MUCH MORE THAN MOUTHING THE RIGHT FORMULA OF WORDS. When we first hear the Gospel from someone, we usually are asked to repeat some word phrases, and that is all there is to it. Jesus talked about hearing the word, and responding to it.
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” MATTHEW 13:19-23
This is called the “Parable of the Sower,” but a more apt name might be “Parable of the Ground.” For seed to work, the ground has to have some kind of tending especially if the ground has been hardened or full of rocks, or full of thorns and weeds.
In brief, this is really a two way process. Obviously, the hearer must hear and understand the words the speaker is saying, and the speaker must say the words the hearer can understand.. This is actually something called communication–that word comes from a root word:”commune.” On the other hand, a person is going to have to start moving the rocks out and digging the brush up for any seed to sprout and grow. If the seed just lays on hardpan soil it won’t even have any life.
“When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” MATTHEW 13:19-23
This is called the “Parable of the Sower,” but a more apt name might be “Parable of the Ground.” For seed to work, the ground has to have some kind of tending especially if the ground has been hardened or full of rocks, or full of thorns and weeds.
In brief, this is really a two way process. Obviously, the hearer must hear and understand the words the speaker is saying, and the speaker must say the words the hearer can understand.. This is actually something called communication–that word comes from a root word:”commune.” On the other hand, a person is going to have to start moving the rocks out and digging the brush up for any seed to sprout and grow. If the seed just lays on hardpan soil it won’t even have any life.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
WANT SOME KIND OF ASSURANCE?
“ Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”’
How could anyone feel any more assured of his salvation than this man? The man was going to be with Jesus in Paradice. That man has to be the most blessed of men in history. How could anyone have more assurance? The Bible tells us Jesus Christ is God.
What can anyone do to win that kind of promise from God?
The irony of this was that this man had absolutely no opportunity to do anything. He was pinned to a cross several feet off the ground. There was no way he could come down and be baptized or join a church. He wasn’t able to obey any commandment, and he wasn’t able to discuss the theology or think about it. He had to be in terrible pain, and he would be dead in a few hours..
Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy. No, he said himself, he was on the cross because he deserved the cross. So this was a criminal worthy of dying on a cross. He was at the absolute bottom of the barrel of unworthiness. He had to have spent much of his life doing the wrong things–the most unlikely candidate for Paradise or of Heaven..
The only path for him was to look across to Jesus and ask Him: “Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” When he looked into face of Jesus Christ, he looked at the only person capable of saving him. The only person that can promise us Paradise or heaven
Jesus Christ said to him: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”’
Jesus Christ uses a word that means exactly that “assuredly the truth,’–this Greek is often transliterated “amen.”
In another place, John 3:17-18, Jesus says to anyone who listens: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Do you want assureance of eternal life?
How could anyone feel any more assured of his salvation than this man? The man was going to be with Jesus in Paradice. That man has to be the most blessed of men in history. How could anyone have more assurance? The Bible tells us Jesus Christ is God.
What can anyone do to win that kind of promise from God?
The irony of this was that this man had absolutely no opportunity to do anything. He was pinned to a cross several feet off the ground. There was no way he could come down and be baptized or join a church. He wasn’t able to obey any commandment, and he wasn’t able to discuss the theology or think about it. He had to be in terrible pain, and he would be dead in a few hours..
Maybe he wasn’t such a bad guy. No, he said himself, he was on the cross because he deserved the cross. So this was a criminal worthy of dying on a cross. He was at the absolute bottom of the barrel of unworthiness. He had to have spent much of his life doing the wrong things–the most unlikely candidate for Paradise or of Heaven..
The only path for him was to look across to Jesus and ask Him: “Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” When he looked into face of Jesus Christ, he looked at the only person capable of saving him. The only person that can promise us Paradise or heaven
Jesus Christ said to him: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”’
Jesus Christ uses a word that means exactly that “assuredly the truth,’–this Greek is often transliterated “amen.”
In another place, John 3:17-18, Jesus says to anyone who listens: “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
Do you want assureance of eternal life?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
TO CHRISTIAN LEADERS
God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of ... hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..., but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher....
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us....
You therefore...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard...among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure£ hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 2 TIMOTHY 1:6-14, 2:1-7
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of ... hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord..., but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, to which I was appointed a preacher....
For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us....
You therefore...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard...among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure£ hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops.
Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. 2 TIMOTHY 1:6-14, 2:1-7
CHRISTIANS BORN TWICE
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
One night a good religious man, by the name of Nicodemus, said to Jesus Christ: “Rabbi we know you are from God from your actions–no one can do these things unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus was a member of Israel’s highest religious court, and this should have been quite an endorsement to some rising religous figure. However Jesus cut right through the facade.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
One night a good religious man, by the name of Nicodemus, said to Jesus Christ: “Rabbi we know you are from God from your actions–no one can do these things unless God is with him.”
Nicodemus was a member of Israel’s highest religious court, and this should have been quite an endorsement to some rising religous figure. However Jesus cut right through the facade.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
PUTTING GOD ON THE MARGIN
It used to be–at least early in my lifetime, there were few that disputed the truthfulness of the Gospels or their origin. In fact "Gospel Truth" was commonly used for describing the degree of truthfulness. No more. We live in a new age.
One thing that this age could be called is an age of information. Computers and the internet have created a global access and market for information and ideas–and done it on an exponential scale.. Personally I find that exciting. All this information resource and the marketing of it has opened an access to vast new horizons. Now there’s a forum to share the good news of Christ on a world-wide scale. Also these blogs are really a God-send. They enable a writer to share the Gospel in a deliberate and logical way–and offer it in bite-size portions.
However, there is a dark side–I don’t mean porno. I believe the widening horizon and the availability of comparative religious information has shrunk some people’s faith in the truth of the Gospels. I believe this is from marginlizing God and the Christian Walk.
So no more do people use the phrase "Gospel Truth. Perhaps that is an indication of where the American culture is now a post-Christian culture or even a return to the Roman pagon religious state.
I wonder if this present age isn't kind of a transition age.
Some schools are producing a political class that could easily classify Christianity as a hate-crime
Monday, October 27, 2008
1 Corinthians 2: 4And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
The only way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the people–in the culture. It is not simply knowing the syntax or propositional truths, but it must involve the experiential from other Christians. This is done in the Church Community–the Church. "
Paul exhorts each of us as Christians to present ourselves entirely to the Lord.
Romans 12
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I know that when I pursued a career in the Forest Service 40 years ago, I was margnlizing God and slowly being forced into the mold that was not of God. Giving myself to Christ and getting into the environment of Multnomah School of the Bible and the School’s students revived me spiritually. Those experiences formed me into a definite spiritual mold that has lasted through 40 years–including 25 years of pastoring churches.
Romans 8:
28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
6However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
The only way to learn a language is to immerse yourself in the people–in the culture. It is not simply knowing the syntax or propositional truths, but it must involve the experiential from other Christians. This is done in the Church Community–the Church. "
Paul exhorts each of us as Christians to present ourselves entirely to the Lord.
Romans 12
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
I know that when I pursued a career in the Forest Service 40 years ago, I was margnlizing God and slowly being forced into the mold that was not of God. Giving myself to Christ and getting into the environment of Multnomah School of the Bible and the School’s students revived me spiritually. Those experiences formed me into a definite spiritual mold that has lasted through 40 years–including 25 years of pastoring churches.
Romans 8:
28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
THE JOHN RYLAND'S FRAGMENT SHOWS PARTS OF VERSES 31- 33, AND 37-38 OF JOHN'S GOSPEL, THE 18TH CHAPTER.
"Pilate said to Him, You are the King of the Jews?’‘ Verse 31
"Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world....You sau correctly that I am a king...I have come to bear witness of the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Verse 37
"Pilate said to Him, You are the King of the Jews?’‘ Verse 31
"Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world....You sau correctly that I am a king...I have come to bear witness of the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Verse 37
Saturday, June 21, 2008
WHAT ABOUT THE APOSTLE JOHN AND HIS WRITINGS?
WHAT ABOUT THE APOSTLE JOHN AND HIS WRITINGS?
Can you believe that John really wrote the Gospel and letters, and told the truth?
God does want the believer to believe, but He also provides anchors to hook our belief and trust onto.
A fragment of John’s Gospel, chapter 18, was found deep in Egypt, which dates back to mid 100 AD. That means that John’s writings had spread hundreds of miles in spite of persecution and opposition, in just a few decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and much less time after John’s death. It is generally recognized the John lived into his 90s.
Fragment of St John's Gospel: rectoChapter 18, verses 31...33
P. Ryl. Gk. 457. Fragment of a leaf of a papyrus codex, 8.-9 x 5.8 em.; text 6.4 x 6 em.; upper margin and part of inner margin preserved. Written in dark ink on papyrus-light in colour and of good quality. On verso a kollema or perhaps part of a strengthening strip to cover the fold of the sheet. First half of the second century.
The John. Rylands University Library, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, - M13 9PP; UK.
I Contact details I Feedback
The University of Manchester, Royal Charter Number: RC000797
St John fragment
Greek papyri in the John Rylands Library
An unpublished fragment of the fourth gospel
Fragment of St. John's gospel. Larger versions of both sides, recto and verso are available.This small fragment of St. John's Gospel, less than nine centimetres high and containing on the one side part of verses 31-33, on the other of verses 37-38 of chapter xviii is one of the collection of Greek papyri in the John Rylands Library, Manchester.
It was originally discovered in Egypt, and may come from the famous site of Oxyrhynchus (Behnesa), the ruined city in Upper Egypt where Grenfel and Hunt carried out some of the most startling and successful excavations in the history of archaeology; it may be remembered that among their finds of new fragments of Classical and Christian literature were the now familiar "Sayings of Jesus".
St John fragment
An unpublished fragment of the fourth gospel
"The importance of this fragment is quite out of proportion to its size, since it may with some confidence be dated in the first half of the second century A.D., and thus ranks as the earliest known fragment of the New Testament in any language.
It provides us with invaluable evidence of the spread of Christianity in areas distant from the land of its origin; it is particularly interesting to know that among the books read by the early Christians in Upper Egypt was St. John's Gospel, commonly regarded as one of the latest of the books of the New Testament.
Like other early Christian works which have been found in Egypt, this Gospel was written in the form of a codex, i.e. book, not of a roll, the common format for non-Christian literature of that time."
Can you believe that John really wrote the Gospel and letters, and told the truth?
God does want the believer to believe, but He also provides anchors to hook our belief and trust onto.
A fragment of John’s Gospel, chapter 18, was found deep in Egypt, which dates back to mid 100 AD. That means that John’s writings had spread hundreds of miles in spite of persecution and opposition, in just a few decades after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and much less time after John’s death. It is generally recognized the John lived into his 90s.
Fragment of St John's Gospel: rectoChapter 18, verses 31...33
P. Ryl. Gk. 457. Fragment of a leaf of a papyrus codex, 8.-9 x 5.8 em.; text 6.4 x 6 em.; upper margin and part of inner margin preserved. Written in dark ink on papyrus-light in colour and of good quality. On verso a kollema or perhaps part of a strengthening strip to cover the fold of the sheet. First half of the second century.
The John. Rylands University Library, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, - M13 9PP; UK.
I Contact details I Feedback
The University of Manchester, Royal Charter Number: RC000797
St John fragment
Greek papyri in the John Rylands Library
An unpublished fragment of the fourth gospel
Fragment of St. John's gospel. Larger versions of both sides, recto and verso are available.This small fragment of St. John's Gospel, less than nine centimetres high and containing on the one side part of verses 31-33, on the other of verses 37-38 of chapter xviii is one of the collection of Greek papyri in the John Rylands Library, Manchester.
It was originally discovered in Egypt, and may come from the famous site of Oxyrhynchus (Behnesa), the ruined city in Upper Egypt where Grenfel and Hunt carried out some of the most startling and successful excavations in the history of archaeology; it may be remembered that among their finds of new fragments of Classical and Christian literature were the now familiar "Sayings of Jesus".
St John fragment
An unpublished fragment of the fourth gospel
"The importance of this fragment is quite out of proportion to its size, since it may with some confidence be dated in the first half of the second century A.D., and thus ranks as the earliest known fragment of the New Testament in any language.
It provides us with invaluable evidence of the spread of Christianity in areas distant from the land of its origin; it is particularly interesting to know that among the books read by the early Christians in Upper Egypt was St. John's Gospel, commonly regarded as one of the latest of the books of the New Testament.
Like other early Christian works which have been found in Egypt, this Gospel was written in the form of a codex, i.e. book, not of a roll, the common format for non-Christian literature of that time."
Thursday, June 19, 2008
JOHN THE APOSTLE ON THE WORD.
JOHN THE APOSTLE QUOTES JESUS CHRIST AS SAYING THIS IN JOHN14:1-4:
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many £mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."
THIS PASSAGE WITH STRONG'S EXHAUSETIVE CONCORDANCE NUMBERS:
1Let not yourG5216 heartG2588 be troubledG5015: ye believeG4100 in GodG2316, believeG4100 alsoG2532 in me.
ANALYSIS OF THE GREEK WORDS:
"TROUBLED" G5015 tarassoô tar-as'-so Of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate (roil water):—trouble.
"BELIEVE" G4100 pisteuoô pist-yoo'-o From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ):—believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
The same Greek word (pisteuosj ) is used in both cases of "believe."
JOHN14:2
In my Father’sG3962 houseG3614 are manyG4183 mansionsG3438: ifG1490 it were not so, I would have toldG2036 you.
"Mansions" G3438 moneô mon-ay'
From G3306; a staying, that is, residence (the act or the place):—abode, mansion.
"...If it were not so, I would have told you."
This self-affirmation of the truth of Jesus Christ’s statement leave little room for speculation. Either Jesus is telling the truth or He’s not.
Jesus also makes an enormous assertion, to say: "...believe in God also (and) in me believe. (Word position in the Greek sentence.)--if Jesus Christ is not equal to God.
Normally, word position in a sentence is not as significant in the Greek language as in English, but the Greeks added strength to their meanings by putting the preposition in the front of the phrase.
"A mere man (if a good man)would never have connected his name with that of God's as Christ does. Moses never said, "Believe in God, believe also in me." Whitelaw in "The Gospel of John
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many £mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know."
THIS PASSAGE WITH STRONG'S EXHAUSETIVE CONCORDANCE NUMBERS:
1Let not yourG5216 heartG2588 be troubledG5015: ye believeG4100 in GodG2316, believeG4100 alsoG2532 in me.
ANALYSIS OF THE GREEK WORDS:
"TROUBLED" G5015 tarassoô tar-as'-so Of uncertain affinity; to stir or agitate (roil water):—trouble.
"BELIEVE" G4100 pisteuoô pist-yoo'-o From G4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), that is, credit; by implication to entrust (especially one’s spiritual well being to Christ):—believe (-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.
The same Greek word (pisteuosj ) is used in both cases of "believe."
JOHN14:2
In my Father’sG3962 houseG3614 are manyG4183 mansionsG3438: ifG1490 it were not so, I would have toldG2036 you.
"Mansions" G3438 moneô mon-ay'
From G3306; a staying, that is, residence (the act or the place):—abode, mansion.
"...If it were not so, I would have told you."
This self-affirmation of the truth of Jesus Christ’s statement leave little room for speculation. Either Jesus is telling the truth or He’s not.
Jesus also makes an enormous assertion, to say: "...believe in God also (and) in me believe. (Word position in the Greek sentence.)--if Jesus Christ is not equal to God.
Normally, word position in a sentence is not as significant in the Greek language as in English, but the Greeks added strength to their meanings by putting the preposition in the front of the phrase.
"A mere man (if a good man)would never have connected his name with that of God's as Christ does. Moses never said, "Believe in God, believe also in me." Whitelaw in "The Gospel of John
WORD ABOUT THE BIBLE
I believe that the Bible is to be understood and received in the plain and obvious meaning of its passages; since I cannot persuade myself that a book intended for the instruction and conversion of the whole world, should cover its true meaning is such mystery and doubt, that none but critics and philosophers can discover it.
Daniel Webster: Confession of Faith
Daniel Webster: Confession of Faith
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