many or few?

[Beetow]

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day's through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I Walk The Line
Johnny Cash / 1956

» That song was written as a devotional to Cash's first wife Vivian Liberto

Back in the decade of the 1970s, before the internet and the proliferation of home
computers, porn magazines were very popular; and in their begining were not kept
out of sight of minors but were prominently displayed; sometimes right in front of
counters.

One day in a 7-11 convenience store, as I counted the number and variety of the
magazines on display; I remarked to the counter person that I couldn't figure out
why men didn't just get married instead of buying those magazines. He responded:
"Some men buy them because they're married."

UPDATE: 256 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 15,903,744 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Beetow]

• Luke 17:20-21 . . And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the
kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God
cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The Greek word translated "within" is a bit ambiguous. It can also be translated
"midst" i.e. among you instead of within you.

There has always been a number of people on earth who are, and who were,
citizens of the kingdom before they passed on. For example:

• Col 1:13 . . For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us
into the kingdom of the Son he loves.

All the holy people in the Old Testament were citizens of the kingdom, and there
were quite a few in the Israel of Jesus' day who were citizens too.

However, the Pharisees were correct to expect a literal realm (Acts 1:6-7) but they
were somehow unaware that much of the realm's population is selected in this life
rather than the next. The business of selecting folk, and transferring them into the
kingdom, goes on all the time right under the world's nose; all around them.

The Pharisees were a bit of an enigma. They were better educated than most folks
in Jesus' day, but for some reason didn't really know the Bible all that well. In point
of fact; upon completing a discussion of regeneration with one of the Pharisees at
John 3:1-10, Jesus inquired: Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand
these things?

That lack of biblical proficiency is prevalent even today in Christian churches. One
Sunday morning, my class was shown a really bad Hollywood movie about the life
of Joseph. When it finally ended, I asked the teacher if he thought Joseph was born
again. The man was literally flustered, and the class went into an uproar. So I
calmly explained that Jesus said nobody can get into the kingdom sans the
regeneration he spoke of at John 3:1-10. Well; in my mind that not only includes
Joseph but everybody else in the Old Testament too.

The teacher honestly didn't know what I was talking about; and a prominent
member of the class caught up with me afterwards and attempted to show me the
error of my thinking. (That was one of my least favorite mornings in Sunday
school.)

UPDATE: 260 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,152,240 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

Everyone -- Old and New Testament is saved the same way -- by placing their faith IN the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross -- His death, burial and bodily resurrection on the 3rd day.

In the Old Testament they looked Towards what the prophets told them would be happening. They either accepted the Promised Messiah that would be coming or rejected Him.

At the time that Jesus Christ was Being crucified -- they either accepted / placed their faith in what was / had happened. Did they believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God or not. Was their faith being place in the shed blood of Christ being sufficient or not?

Same thing today -- we look Back At what happened back then. We read about it -- do we accept Jesus Christ as being the Son of God or not. Is His blood shed on the cross sufficient to take care of my sins.

Are people living a Godly life? Was Joseph born again -- a Christian ? Yes.

 

[Beetow]

FAQ: Was John the Baptist a Christian?

A: No.

FAQ: Why not? He believed in Jesus; what more could you want?

A: Jesus spoke of his church as yet future in Matt 16:18. Well; John was already
dead and gone when Jesus made that prediction.

The thing is: Christianity didn't exist prior to Jesus' resurrection-- specifically before
the day of Pentecost following his recovery.

That particular Pentecost kicked of an era characterized by the baptism of the Holy
Spirit (Acts 1:5, 1Cor 12:12-13) a procedure which John predicted in sermons
before his death. (Matt 3:11)

John was filled with the Spirit all his life, even prior to his birth (Luke 1:15). But he
wasn't baptized by the Spirit. This is a very, very important distinction because
many of the Old Testament luminaries were filled with the Spirit, and inspired by
the Spirit, but they weren't baptized by the Spirit; not even the patriarchs.
_

 

[Sue D.]

@Beetow -- Seems like that question has been asked before. It's come up somewhere.

What makes / constitutes a person being a Christian? Maybe a better question -- on what basis is a person 'saved'?

Christianity existed in the New Testament. But people have been 'saved' by placing their Faith in anticipating what the prophets were telling them about in the Future Or was taking place in the 'present' time -- and we either accept or reject that which happened all those years ago.

Jesus Christ was Predicted to come in the book of Isaiah and it happened in the book of Matthew and Luke.

Well -- everything is dead and gone for Us. The death, burial and bodily resurrection happened Way back in history.

You're talking about the 'recovery' of Jesus after His resurrection. Since when did He need 'recovering' , unless you're referring to His being resurrected. He Did ascend back up to God the Father after those 40 days.

The initial coming of the Holy Spirit took place in Acts 2.

Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandles I am not worthy to carry, He will baptize you with the Holy and fire."

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came and went from people. But they were asking of the Lord God and following Him in and out of battle with other nations. A different time / era in Scripture.

God Did inspire people to write His Word. That's how we got His Word.

They believed His Word / they followed His directives.

And then again some of the Kings were very wicked and some were very Godly.

 

[Beetow]

FAQ: Was John the Baptist born of the Spirit per John 3:3-8?

A: I would say so: Yes.

FAQ: But he wasn't baptized with the Spirit?

A: He wasn't.

FAQ: What's the difference between born of the Spirit and baptized by the Spirit?

A: The one regenerates folk, the other initiates folk into the "my" church spoken of
by Jesus at Matt 16:18.

FAQ: So it was possible to be saved and born of the Spirit without initiation into the
"my" church?

A: That is precisely correct.

FAQ: Since when?

A: Well, at least since Abel; he's the Bible's first prophet. (Luke 11:50-51)

FAQ: So you're saying that nobody who lived and died up till the day of Pentecost
that followed Jesus' resurrection was a member of the "my" church?

A: Yes.

FAQ: Was that particular day of Pentecost the beginning of the so-called church
age?

A: It was.

FAQ: So the church age is unique?

A: It is so unique that the prophets knew almost nothing about it: even the angels
of God knew next to nothing about it (1Pet 1:10-12). The church age was a very
well-kept secret.

UPDATE: 261 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,214,364 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

There's the universal body of Christ. All those in the world - past, present and those future -- who've accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

Yes, the 'church' age Is unique.

The Old Testament prophets told of the coming Messiah.

1 Peter 1:10-12 "Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, vs 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow, vs 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into."

Your comments do not agree with what that passage is saying.

The church age was not a secret at all.

Being born of the Spirit is salvation -- the Holy Spirit coming to indwell the person immediately upon their salvation

Part of being 'born' of the Spirit Is being baptized By the Holy Spirit. Baptism means total immersion into. That is what is happening upon salvation. It's the process Of being 'born Again'.

By "my' Church -- that passage is referring to the church that Jesus Christ is the foundation of. / all those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.

And, yes, This age -- the Church age is unique -- the Holy Spirit Now indwells each believer and stays with that person. The Holy Spirit came upon people and then left them in the Old Testament.

There is no Church in the Old Testament.

There were prophets who warned and foretold. And there were many kings who both good and bad kings who led Israel and Juda. Some kings led their people in worship of God others built idols in their high places.

The priests would offer the blood of pure animals yearly to 'cover' the sins of the people.

 

[Beetow]

FAQ: What is the "my" church spoken of at Matt 16:18

A: Within the global sphere of Christianity is a non-denominational classification of
individuals joined to Christ in such a manner as to be corporately identified as his
body. (Eph 1:22-23 and Eph 5:30)

This concept isn't new. In the beginning it was declared that when a man and a
woman are joined to each other as a permanent couple, they become one flesh, i.e.
one body. (Gen 3:23-24, cf. Eph 5:31-32)

FAQ: How did these individuals bond with Christ's body?

A: Via baptism by the Spirit. (1Cor 12:13)

FAQ: Not by water baptism?

A: No; by Spirit baptism. In other words: bonding with Christ's body is by means of
a supernatural method rather than a ritual method.

UPDATE: 262 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,276,488 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

@Beetow -- the church being spoken of in Matt 16:18 is the Only True church -- Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. The foundation Of.

You're talking about the universal body of believers -- all people who have placed their faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit has come to indwell them.

Baptism by immersion is the Biblical way of baptism. It is showing that the person Being baptized has already believed in their heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross, was buried and rose again the 3rd day.

So a person Being baptized is being placed under the water and brought back up signifying his new life in Christ. The idea is Also that church people, friends, family can 'see' what has already taken place in that person's life.

It Could be seen as a 'ritual'. But filled with meaning. Baptism does Not save a person.

Christian marriage Is meant equate to the relationship between Jesus Christ and the church. The husband is to be the head / leader spiritually of his wife and children. It is meant to be never ending. Or until the death of either of the spouces.

 

[Br. Bear]

@Beetow

Greetings

Thank you for your patient perseverance and for the sobering consideration presented in regards to those perishing


Bless you ....><>

 

[Beetow]

Thank you for your patient perseverance and for the sobering consideration presented in regards to those perishing
Bless you

I appreciate your saying so. Thank you.
_

 

[Beetow]

There is a significant difference between an atheist and an agnostic. The former
resolutely refuses to accept the existence of a supreme being, whereas the agnostic
at least agrees to the possibility of one out there.

I'm very tolerant of agnostics because those I've encountered are typically critical
thinkers, i.e. they're objective, viz: they neither deny nor affirm the existence of a
supreme being.

Their position is based upon what they consider to be a lack of sufficient empirical
evidence to prove one way or the other. In other words; they aren't unreasonable,
they're simply not convinced; and I have to respect that because the Christian faith
is not supposed to be where fools rush in; no, it's a conviction, i.e. full personal,
unreserved confidence.

UPDATE: 265 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,462,860 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

@ Beetow -- you're right with the definitions of Atheists and agnostic -- but an agnostic cannot stay on the fence of indecision for ever. There is plenty of evidence to support the existance of God. Their indecision is going to end them up in hell as surely as the athiest will end up there. When a person thinks about it -- being a athiest is admitting there is a God -- they simply choose to not believe in Him.

 

[Br. Bear]

If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,462,860 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.

too many...
far too many and yet.
God is not willing that any should perish...

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;
in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise,
and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,
the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved,
what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Peter 3:9-11

 

[Beetow]

• 1Tim 2:3-4 . . God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a
knowledge of the truth.

My writings favor the existence of a Hell; but personally I totally hate it.

I do not approve of eternal suffering and haven't a clue how God manages to justify
it. In my thinking eternal suffering is too extreme, too over the top; even for
psychopaths the likes of the Bolsheviks, Joseph Stalin, Mao Tse-tung, Pol Pot,
Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe, the CCP, and Kim Jong-Un.

A judicious amount of temporary suffering and humiliation followed by annihilation,
okay; but eternal, perpetual suffering? No.

Considering the amount of time, trouble, anguish, and patience that God devotes to
rescuing people from Hell; I've come to suspect that He dislikes it just as much
as i do; but He's stuck with Hell. The problem is: God always does the right thing, and
for reasons that I cannot even begin to imagine, Hell is the right thing to do with
the lost.

UPDATE: 267 days have elapsed since my first comment. If the figures in post No.5
are in the ball park, then something like 16,587,108 new arrivals have checked into
the fiery sector of Hades since Oct 08, 2020.
_

 

[Sue D.]

@Beetow -- we need to remember that the lake of fire and brimstone and it being eternal is Not meant for anyone Except satan, the beast and the false prophet. Everyone else Has a choice to make -- mankind Does have heaven to look forward to But Only by accepting God's way to stay Out. Because in our sinfulness -- we Can't be in heaven. That's why Jesus Christ came to this earth to die on the cross / in our place/ He was buried and then rose again the 3rd day. He's provided The way to stay Out of that 'lake' and be able To be with God -- all of our born-again loved ones / friends and everyone else who have Also accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

We make the decision for ourselves as to accepting or rejecting the plan that God has put in place. God has 'rescued' us with the cross of Calvary. The shed blood of Christ plus Nothing.

God created hell -- part of Abraham's bosom where the dead -out of Christ -- are waiting for the Final judgement day. Death, as we know it -- won't exist any more. Everyone will be existing in one place or another Forever.

The lake of fire and brimstone is an eternal as heaven will be.

God has all knowledge -- He knows who will or won't accept His salvation. But it's Our decision.

John 3:16