Posted by: biblestudyseattle | November 5, 2013

Jude

Jude is filled with great stuff. “And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.” Jude 7

Is eternal fire like the burning bush? Are the wicked like the bush that didn’t burn up though it was consumed in fire? Or is it the like the endless fire the Jews had to burn up their trash?

“Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.” Jude 11-13

Jude is talking about evil people who commingle with believers. They are doubly dead. That is even more than mostly dead. Is Jude referring to second death? Yes. And black darkness is more than solitary confinement with no light. It is non existence. We must persevere despite their challenges:

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | November 1, 2013

Halloween

One of the interesting things about Halloween is the fixation on death, skeletons, and zombies. Particularly skeletons and zombies that are alive. Zombies are dead bodies animated by live souls. This shows how successful Satan is. It started with his lie to Eve, “You will not surely die.” Genesis 3
Thus started the lie that our souls are immortal and that only bodies die. There was quite the controversy on this in the 1500s. From biblelight.net:

“On December 19, 1513, in connection with the eighth session of the fifth Lateran Council, Pope Leo X issued a Bull (Apostolici regimis) declaring, “We do condemn and reprobate all who assert that the intelligent soul is mortal” (Damnamus et reprobamus omnes assertentes animam intellectivam mortalem esse). This was directed against the growing “heresy” of those who denied the natural immortality of the soul, and avowed the conditional immortality of man. The Bull also decreed that “all who adhere to the like erroneous assertions shall be shunned and punished as heretics.” The decrees of this Council, it should be noted, were all issued in the form of Bulls or constitutions (H. J. Schroeder, Disciplinary Decrees of the General Councils, 1937, pp. 483, 487).
In 1516 Pietro Pomponatius, of Mantua, noted Italian professor and leader among the Averrorists (who denied the immortality of the soul), issued a

[pg. 570]

book in opposition to this position called Treatise on the Immortality of the Soul. This was widely read, especially in the Italian universities. As a result, he was haled before the Inquisition, and his book publicly burned in Venice.
Then, on October 31, 1517, Luther posted his famous Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. In his 1520 published Defence of 41 of his propositions, Luther cited the pope’s immortality declaration, as among “those monstrous opinions to be found in the Roman dunghill of decretals” (proposition 27). In the twenty-seventh proposition of his Defence Luther said:

However, I permit the Pope to establish articles of faith for himself and for his own faithful—such are: That the bread and wine are transubstantiated in the sacrament; that the essence of God neither generates nor is generated; that the soul is the substantial form of the human body that he [the pope] is emperor of the world and king of heaven, and earthly god; that the soul is immortal; and all these endless monstrosities in the Roman dunghill of decretals—in order that such as his faith is, such may be his gospel, such also his faithful, and such his church, and that the lips may have suitable lettuce and the lid may be worthy of the dish.—Martin Luther, Assertio Omnium Articulorum M. Lutheri per Bullam Leonis X. Novissimam Damnatorum (Assertion of all the articles of M. Luther condemned by the latest Bull of Leo X), article 27, Weimar edition of Luther’s Works, vol. 7, pp. 131, 132 (a point-by-point exposition of his position, written Dec. 1, 1520, in response to requests for a fuller treatment than that given in his Adversus execrabilem Antichristi Bullam, and Wider die Bulle des Endchrists).

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 23, 2013

Living water

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” John 6:54-56

Are we supposed to eat Jesus? It is interesting that the Jewish sacrifices were to be eaten after they were offered.

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:10-14

Perhaps we are supposed to eat Jesus spiritual body and blood? The earthly sense of this is easier to see.

“On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter.” Zechariah 14:8

“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38

“For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Revelation 7:17

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 19, 2013

Meat is Murder

Ever see the bumper sticker ‘Meat is Murder’? You have to admit they have a point. But Christians define murder being between persons. Jesus even caught fish and cooked it for the disciples, and he was sinless. Yet why should the animals suffer to be our food?

After the Fall, God pronounced judgment on Adam, Eve, and Satan. Or did he? “So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.” Genesis 3:14

Cursed above the wild animals? They were cursed too? Was Satan already cursed before he entered the serpent? Was part of the animals punishment to become food for people?

“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,”. Genesis 4:2-4

The Lord was pleased Abel killed a bird for an offering? Why? Paul says, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” Hebrews 10:4. Only the blood of Christ can give us eternal life. Yet a sacrifice of a bull can keep us alive for several months (food). The key is that we need special, sinless food to keep us alive forever. The seed and genetic makeup of every person, animal, and plant has been compromised. Even Jesus, though born of perfect seed (via the Holy Spirit), was mated to an imperfect egg, and did not have perfect food. For that reason, even though he was sinless in thought and deed, he would have died for want of perfect food.

The day will come when the curse will be completely lifted, not only on people, but also on animals and plants. It is promised to us during the great Eighth Day, or the great Fifty Year Jubilee. What happens after that we do not know.

“in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:7

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 18, 2013

Proverbs 14

“The wise woman builds her house,
but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.” Proverbs 14:1

Clearly the Bride of Christ is the wise woman. Of the foolish ones, Jesus says, “So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:16

The wise ones are like Rahab, who saw the inevitable, and cast her life with The Lord despite having been a prostitute. No doubt she did not return to her former profession.

The unwise ones are like so many today who expect to control their husbands into submission despite this being the opposite of God’s design. They don’t realize their folly until they are divorced, if they ever figure it out.

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 14, 2013

The apostles creed

“I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.” The apostles creed

He descended to the dead? Is this suggesting Jesus was still alive, even though he was ‘dead’? Why the profession of belief in the Holy Spirit? Scripture only requires belief in Jesus for eternal life.

What is the communion of saints? Is this a special intercession from saints who never really died, and whose souls are flying around somewhere?

The resurrection of the body… Only? To reunite with the disembodied soul flying around lonely? This is Satan’s lie, that we will not really die. That only the body dies. That God is impotent to destroy a soul that he has created.

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28. [Hell being Gehenna or second death].

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 14, 2013

Proverbs 8

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.” Proverbs 8:22-31

Who is this referring to? Wisdom? Can a quality rejoice at creation? Or is this referring to Jesus? And if it’s Jesus, is it saying he had a beginning? On the one hand we have:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Colossians 1:15

On the other, we have:

“Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” John 8:58

We assume the present tense indicates no beginning. But what about Jesus’ death? How can an immortal God die? This is where Satan’s lie to Eve comes in. “You will not surely die [only your body dies, but your soul flies around somewhere].” Why does Jesus say,

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:13

Jesus has huge goals as God’s son. “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” 1 Corinthians 15:22-26

The mostly unbelieved fact is that Jesus was born [before the rest of creation was created by him and his Father], and Jesus died. Not just his body but his entire soul. We too are born and will die, and just like Jesus, will be raised from the dead, to the glory of God the Father.

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 8, 2013

Two reconciliations

“After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.” Job 42:7-9

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’” Luke 15:11-21

In the first example, Job’s friends have to be rebuked by God himself. In the second, the son realizes his folly and repents. Dealing with friends or family like the first example is very trying. They are like clueless Pharisees convinced they have done nothing wrong. If you say anything, they will say you are the problem! Notice how large an offering God commands Job’s ‘friends’. Seven bulls and seven rams are expensive! Yet look at the Father’s joy at the son who repents. He prepares a feast!

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | October 1, 2013

David & Goliath

“When the words which David spoke were heard, they told them to Saul, and he sent for him. David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail on account of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the Lord be with you.” Then Saul clothed David with his garments and put a bronze helmet on his head, and he clothed him with armor. David girded his sword over his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. So David said to Saul, “I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.” And David took them off. He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

Then the Philistine came on and approached David, with the shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine also said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”

Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.

Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand. Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled. The men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted and pursued the Philistines as far as the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the slain Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and Ekron. The sons of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines and plundered their camps. Then David took the Philistine’s head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his weapons in his tent.” 1 Samuel 17:31-54

It is interesting that David was anointed King by Samuel before this! It was obviously done in secret. Why? Much as Jesus’ reign starts in secret, lest the current king, Satan, become aware. Also, David kills Goliath with a stone. He was stoned to death, just as God commands Moses. Malcolm Gladwell also has some great insights into this battle. http://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladwell_the_unheard_story_of_david_and_goliath.html

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Posted by: biblestudyseattle | September 26, 2013

That mean Old Testament God

“When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city. They devoted the city to the Lord and destroyed with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.” Joshua 6:20-21

From passages like these, people get the impression that God in Old Testament times was mean and vengeful and brutal. But what if God commanded Christians to slay the Nazi SS? At least we might feel like they deserved it. Somehow we think of the people of Jericho as peaceful harmless innocents who were slaughtered at God’s command.

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