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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on Matthew 27:51-55. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 29A]
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, Almighty God (YHWH) is all powerful and will always do as he says. And there is no other you can liken him to as shown at Isaiah 40:25 – 26, [AV] “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” And that his word can not fail is testified to at Joshua 23:14, [AV] “And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.”
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[2] Discourse on Matthew 27:51-55
INTRODUCTION:
Matthew 27:51-56, "And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; 52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" 55 There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him; 56 among whom were Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zeb'edee." (RSV) has caused much speculation with respect its significance and especially with respect the so called resurrection of the deat that many speculators read into Matthew 27:52-53, "the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many." (RSV).
Many tek this to be a large scale resurrection of the dead either to life on earth and/or life in heaven, but there is little supporting evidence for either as reflected in a statement by Matthew Henry in his "Concise Commentary on The Whole Bible where he said, "The graves were opened, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. To whom they appeared, in what manner, and how they disappeared, we are not told; and we must not desire to be wise above what is written." [source - Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry, 17 century].
UNDUE SPECULATION BY THE UN-STEADFAST:
Yet many speculate on this scripture and desire to be wise above what is written in the Bible. However, a heavenly resurrection at this time would have been impossible as Jesus (Yeshua) had NOT yet assended to prepare the way as the first as shown at John 20:17, "Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (RSV), and the events recorded at Matthew 27:52-53 occurred before this time. That when Jesus (Yeshua) later went to heaven as the first one resurrected to heaven to prepare the way for others, he was given authority over all but his Father (YHWH) by his Father (YHWH) as recorded at 1 Peter 3:22, "who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him." (RSV); and at 1 Corinthians 15:27, ""For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him." (RSV); and at Ephesians 1:20-22, "which he accomplished in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come; 22 and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church," (RSV); and at Philipians 2:9, "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name," (RSV); and at John 5:22-23, "The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." (RSV).
PROBABLY NO RESURRECTION:
That this was in no way a resurrection to life is clearly indicated by the parallel accounts of Mark and Luke which did NOT even mention the dead coming out of the tombs. Surely if it had been a resurrection as many speculate this would have been a salient event much worthy of note and would have been recorded by both Mark and Luke. However, let's look at their paraller accounts which carry nothing on it. Mark 15:34-39, " And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "E'lo-i, E'lo-i, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Eli'jah." 36 And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, "Wait, let us see whether Eli'jah will come to take him down." 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (RSV); and at Luke 23:44-47, "It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun's light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, "Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (RSV). However, its complete absence clearly indicates that what occurred was not a resurrection at all.
What could it have been then? A newspaper article from Columbia, South America gives the most likely scenario as follows, Here is an article from "El Tiempo", bo Bogota, Columbia, July 31, 1962 that explains what happened at Matthew 27:52-53.
"Tombs opened at Jesus' Death"
The text at Matthew 27:52-53 concerning 'the memorial tombs [that] were opened' as the result of an earthquake occurring at the time of Jesus' death has caused considerable discussion, some holding that a resurrection occurred. However, a comparison with the text concerning the resurrection makes clear that these verses do not describe a resurrection but merely a throwing of bodies out of the tombs, similar to incidents that have taken place in more recent times, as in Ecuador in 1949 and again in Bogota, Columbia, in 1962, when 200 corpses in the cemetery were thrown out of their tombs by a violent earth tremor. [source - "El Tiempo," Bogota Columbia, July 31, 1962]
Another scenario is given by Matthew Henry as, " I. The manner how he breathed his last (v. 50); between the third and the sixth hour, that is, between nine and twelve o'clock, as we reckon, he was nailed to the cross, and soon after the ninth hour, that is, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, he died. That was the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, and the time when the paschal lamb was killed; and Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us and offered himself in the evening of the world a sacrifice to God of a sweet-smelling savour. It was at that time of the day, that the angel Gabriel delivered to Daniel that glorious prediction of the Messiah, Dan. ix. 21, 24, &c. And some think that from that very time when the angel spoke it, to this time when Christ died, was just seventy weeks, that is, four hundred and ninety years to a day, to an hour; as the departure of Israel out of Egypt was at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the self-same day, Exod. xii. 41.
Two things are here noted concerning the manner of Christ's dying.
1. That he cried with a loud voice, as before, v. 46. Now,
(1.) This was a sign, that, after all his pains and fatigues, his life was whole in him, and nature strong. The voice of dying men is one of the first things that fails; with a panting breath and a faltering tongue, a few broken words are hardly spoken, and more hardly heard. But Christ, just before he expired, spoke like a man in his full strength, to show that his life was not forced from him, but was freely delivered by him into his Father's hands, as his own act and deed. He that had strength to cry thus when he died, could have got loose from the arrest he was under, and have bid defiance to the powers of death; but to show that by the eternal Spirit he offered himself, being the Priest as well as the Sacrifice, he cried with a loud voice.
(2.) It was significant. This loud voice shows that he attacked our spiritual enemies with an undaunted courage, and such a bravery of resolution as bespeaks him hearty in the cause and daring in the encounter. He was now spoiling principalities and powers, and in this loud voice he did, as it were, shout for mastery, as one mighty to save, Isa. lxiii. 1. Compare with this, Isa. lxxii. 13, 14. He now bowed himself with all his might, as Samson did, when he said, Let me die with the Philistines, Judg. xvi. 30. Animamque in vulnere ponit--And lays down his life. His crying with a loud voice when he died, signified that his death should be published and proclaimed to all the world; all mankind being concerned in it, and obliged to take notice of it. Christ's loud cry was like a trumpet blown over the sacrifices.
2. That then he yielded up the ghost. This is the usual periphrasis of dying; to show that the Son of God upon the cross did truly and properly die by the violence of the pain he was put to. His soul was separated from his body, and so his body was left really and truly dead. It was certain that he did die, for it was requisite that he should die; thus it was written, both in the close rolls of the divine counsels, and in the letters patent of the divine predictions, and therefore thus it behoved him to suffer. Death being the penalty for the breach of the first covenant (Thou shalt surely die), the Mediator of the new covenant must make atonement by means of death, otherwise no remission, Heb. ix. 15. He had undertaken to make his soul an offering for sin; and he did it, when he yielded up the ghost, and voluntarily resigned it.
II. The miracles that attended his death. So many miracles being wrought by him in his life, we might well expect some to be wrought concerning him at his death, for his name was called Wonderful. Had he been fetched away as Elijah in a fiery chariot, that had itself been miracle enough; but, being sent for away by an ignominious cross, it was requisite that his humiliation should be attended with some signal emanations of the divine glory.
1. Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain. This relation is ushered in with Behold; "Turn aside, and see this great sight, and be astonished at it." Just as our Lord Jesus expired, at the time of the offering of the evening-sacrifice, and upon a solemn day, when the priests were officiating in the temple, and might themselves be eyewitnesses of it, the veil of the temple was rent by an invisible power; that veil which parted between the holy place and the most holy. They had condemned him for saying, I will destroy this temple, understanding it literally; now by this specimen of his power he let them know that, if he had pleased, he could have made his words good. In this, as in others of Christ's miracles, there was a mystery.
(1.) It was in correspondence with the temple of Christ's body, which was now in the dissolving. This was the true temple, in which dwelt the fulness of the Godhead; when Christ cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost, and so dissolved that temple, the literal temple did, as it were, echo to that cry, and answer the stroke, by rending its veil. Note, Death is the rending of the veil of flesh which interposes between us and the holy of holies; the death of Christ was so, the death of true Christians is so.
(2.) It signified the revealing and unfolding of the mysteries of the Old Testament. The veil of the temple was for concealment, as was that on the face of Moses, therefore it was called the veil of the covering; for it was highly penal for any person to see the furniture of the most holy place, except the High-Priest, and he but once a year, with great ceremony and through a cloud of smoke; all which signified the darkness of that dispensation; 2 Cor. iii. 13. But now, at the death of Christ, all was laid open, the mysteries were unveiled, so that now he that runs may read the meaning of them. Now we see that the mercy-seat signified Christ the great Propitiation; the pot of manna signified Christ the Bread of life. Thus we all with open face behold, as in a glass (which helps the sight, as the veil hindered it), the glory of the Lord. Our eyes see the salvation.
(3.) It signified the uniting of Jew and Gentile, by the removing of the partition wall between them, which was the ceremonial law, by which the Jews were distinguished from all other people (as a garden enclosed), were brought near to God, while others were made to keep their distance. Christ, in his death, repealed the ceremonial law, cancelled that hand-writing of ordinances, took it out of the way, nailed it to his cross, and so broke down the middle wall of partition; and by abolishing those institutions abolished the enmity, and made in himself of twain one new man (as two rooms are made one, and that large and lightsome, by taking down the partition), so making peace, Eph. ii. 14-16. Christ died, to rend all dividing veils, and to make all his one, John xvii. 21.
(4.) It signified the consecrating and laying open of a new and living way to God. The veil kept people off from drawing near to the most holy place, where the Shechinah was. But the rending of it signified that Christ by his death opened a way to God, [1.] For himself. This was the great day of atonement, when our Lord Jesus, as the great High-Priest, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, entered once for all into the holy place; in token of which the veil was rent, Heb. ix. 7, &c. Having offered his sacrifice in the outer court, the blood of it was now to be sprinkled upon the mercy-seat within the veil; wherefore lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; for the King of glory, the Priest of glory, shall come in. Now was he caused to draw near, and made to approach, Jer. xxx. 21. Though he did not personally ascend into the holy place not made with hands till above forty days after, yet he immediately acquired a right to enter, and had a virtual admission. [2.] For us in him: so the apostle applies it, Heb. x. 19, 20. We have boldness to enter into the holiest, by that new and living way which he has consecrated for us through the veil. He died, to bring us to God, and, in order thereunto, to rend that veil of guilt and wrath which interposed between us and him, to take away the cherubim and flaming sword, and to open the way to the tree of life. We have free access through Christ to the throne of grace, or mercy-seat, now, and to the throne of glory hereafter, Heb. iv. 16; vi. 20. The rending of the veil signified (as that ancient hymn excellently expresses it), that, when Christ had overcome the sharpness of death, he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Nothing can obstruct or discourage our access to heaven, for the veil is rent; a door is opened in heaven, Rev. iv. 1.
2. The earth did quake; not only mount Calvary, where Christ was crucified, but the whole land, and the adjacent countries. This earthquake signified two things.
(1.) The horrible wickedness of Christ's crucifiers. The earth, by trembling under such a load, bore its testimony to the innocency of him that was persecuted, and against the impiety of those that persecuted him. Never did the whole creation, before, groan under such a burthen as the Son of God crucified, and the guilty wretches that crucified him. The earth quaked, as if it feared to open its mouth to receive the blood of Christ, so much more precious than that of Abel, which it had received, and was cursed for it (Gen. iv. 11, 12); and as if it fain would open its mouth, to swallow up those rebels that put him to death, as it had swallowed up Dathan and Abiram for a much less crime. When the prophet would express God's great displeasure against the wickedness of the wicked, he asks, Shall not the land tremble for this? Amos viii. 8.
(2.) The glorious achievements of Christ's cross. This earthquake signified the mighty shock, nay, the fatal blow, now given to the devil's kingdom. So vigorous was the assault Christ now made upon the infernal powers, that (as of old, when he went out of Seir, when he marched through the field of Edom) the earth trembled, Judg. v. 4; Ps. lxviii. 7, 8. God shakes all nations, when the Desire of all nations is to come; and there is a yet once more, which perhaps refers to this shaking, Hag. ii. 6, 21.
3. The rocks rent; the hardest and firmest part of the earth was made to feel this mighty shock. Christ had said, that if the children should cease to cry Hosanna, the stones would immediately cry out; and now, in effect, they did so, proclaiming the glory of the suffering Jesus, and themselves more sensible of the wrong done him than the hard-hearted Jews were, who yet will shortly be glad to find a hole in the rocks, and a cleft in the ragged rocks, to hide them from the face of him that sitteth on the throne. See Rev. vi. 16; Isa. ii. 21. But when God's fury is poured out like fire, the rocks are thrown down by him, Nah. i. 6. Jesus Christ is the Rock; and the rending of these rocks, signified the rending of that rock, (1.) That in the clefts of it was may be hid, as Moses in the cleft of the rock at Horeb, that there we may behold the glory of the Lord, as he did, Exod. xxxiii. 22. Christ's dove is said to be hid in the clefts of the rock (Cant. ii. 14), that is, as some make the allusion, sheltered in the wounds of our Lord Jesus, the Rock rent. (2.) That from the cleft of it rivers of living water may flow, and follow us in this wilderness, as from the rock which Moses smote (Exod. xvii. 6), and which God clave (Ps. lxxviii. 15); and that rock was Christ, 1 Cor. x. 4. When we celebrate the memorial of Christ's death, our hard and rocky hearts must be rent--the heart, and not the garments. That heart is harder than a rock, that will not yield, that will not melt, where Jesus Christ is evidently set forth crucified.
4. The graves were opened. This matter is not related so fully as our curiosity would wish; for the scripture was not intended to gratify that; it should seem, that same earthquake that rent the rocks, opened the graves, and many bodies of saints which slept, arose. Death to the saints is but the sleep of the body, and the grave the bed it sleeps in; they awoke by the power of the Lord Jesus, and (v. 53) came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into Jerusalem, the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now here,
(1.) We may raise many enquiries concerning it, which we cannot resolve: as, [1.] Who these saints were, that did arise. Some think, the ancient patriarchs, that were in such care to be buried in the land of Canaan, perhaps in the believing foresight of the advantage of this early resurrection. Christ had lately proved the doctrine of the resurrection from the instance of the patriarchs (ch. xxii. 32), and here was a speedy confirmation of his argument. Others think, these that arose were modern saints, such as had been Christ in the flesh, but died before him; as his father Joseph, Zecharias, Simeon, John Baptist, and others, that had been known to the disciples, while they lived, and therefore were the fitter to be witnesses to them in an apparition after. What if we should suppose that they were the martyrs, who in the Old-Testament times had sealed the truths of God with their blood, that were thus dignified and distinguished? Christ particularly points at them as his forerunners, ch. xxiii. 35. And we find (Rev. xx. 4, 5), that those who were beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, arose before the rest of the dead. Sufferers with Christ shall first reign with him. [2.] It is uncertain whether (as some think) they arose to life, now at the death of Christ, and disposed of themselves elsewhere, but did not go into the city till after his resurrection; or whether (as others think), though their sepulchres (which the Pharisees had built and varnished, ch. xxiii. 29), and so made remarkable, were shattered now by the earthquake (so little did God regard that hypocritical respect), yet they did not revive and rise till after the resurrection; only, for brevity-sake, it is mentioned here, upon the mention of the opening of the graves, which seems more probable. [3.] Some think that they arose only to bear witness of Christ's resurrection to those to whom they appeared, and, having finished their testimony, retired to their graves again. But it is more agreeable, both to Christ's honour and theirs, to suppose, though we cannot prove, that they arose as Christ did, to die no more, and therefore ascended with him to glory. Surely on them who did partake of his first resurrection, a second death had no power. [4.] To whom they appeared (not to all the people it is certain, but to many), whether enemies or friends, in what manner they appeared, how often, what they said and did, and how they disappeared, are secret things which belong not to us; we must not covet to be wise above what is written. The relating of this matter so briefly, is a plain intimation to us, that we must not look that way for a confirmation of our faith; we have a more sure word of prophecy. See Luke xvi. 31.
(2.) Yet we may learn many good lessons from it. [1.] That even those who lived and died before the death and resurrection of Christ, had saving benefit thereby, as well as those who have lived since; for he was the same yesterday that he is to-day, and will be for ever, Heb. xiii. 8. [2.] That Jesus Christ, by dying, conquered, disarmed, and disabled, death. These saints that arose, were the present trophies of the victory of Christ's cross over the powers of death, which he thus made a show of openly. Having by death destroyed him that had the power of death, he thus led captivity captive, and gloried in these re-taken prizes, in them fulfilling that scripture, I will ransom them from the power of the grave. [3.] That, in virtue of Christ's resurrection, the bodies of all the saints shall, in the fulness of time, rise again. This was an earnest of the general resurrection at the last day, when all that are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God. And perhaps Jerusalem is therefore called here the holy city, because the saints, at the general resurrection, shall enter into the new Jerusalem; which will be indeed what the other was in name and type only, the holy city, Rev. xxi. 2. [4.] That all the saints do, by the influence of Christ's death, and in conformity to it, rise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness. They are raised up with him to a divine and spiritual life; they go into the holy city, become citizens of it, have their conversation in it, and appear to many, as persons not of this world." [source - Matthew Henry's "Commentary on the Whole Bible (1721), ]
CONCLUSION:
Obviously the time of Jesus' (Yeshua's) death was a momentous occasion that even caused the pagan Roman soldiers to say as recorede at Matthew 27:54, "54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"" (RSV); and at Mark 15:39, "And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that he thus breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" (RSV); and at Luke 23:47, " Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, and said, "Certainly this man was innocent!" (RSV). Strange that all should record the reaction of the Roman soldiers, yet only one Matthew recorded the dead as coming out of the graves which the RSV renders as bocies , and not as resurrected ones, Matthew 27:52, "52 the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised," (RSV); and the Authorized King James renders as, "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose," (Authorized King James; AV).
So as can be seen by all reasonable ones as Matthew Henry put it, "We must not desire to be wise above what is written," which means we should not indulge in or let our minds run away with useless speculation.
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on Sodomy Always Having Been Wrong. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 30A]
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Clearly this is further clarified at Isaiah 45:18 – 19, [AV] “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. 19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.” Almighty God (YHWH) intends this earth to be here forever as shown at Ecclesiastes 1:4, [AV] “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.”
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[2] Discourse on Sodomy Always Having Been Wrong:
As another said, “Some want to live a lifestyle that is in blaten sin against God. No one can change their mind, except the Holy Spirit. Those who choose to live that lifestyle, will always refuse to hear the truth because they want to live in their sin. It has been that way ever since the fall of man in Eden.” Which is a truth now playing out in this sinful world with respect to the modern sodomites that are bluntly displaying their ungodly ways by even wanting to “marry” their same sex sodomite partners in braking the law of God (YHWH). In the Bible, God (YHWH) gave into marriage Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, as these modern day sodomites want to have it. This fact, that a valid marriage before God (YHWH) is only a marriage of a man and a wife is clearly testified to at Genesis 2:22-24, “And Jehovah God buildeth up the rib which He hath taken out of the man into a woman, and bringeth her in unto the man; 23 and the man saith, `This [is] the [proper] step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh.” (Young’s Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly this scripture shows that a valid marriage as instituted by God (YHWH) is one between a man and a women and not between a man and a man or between a women or a women or for that matter anything else. This is clearly affirmed at Genesis 1:27-28, “And God prepareth the man in His image; in the image of God He prepared him, a male and a female He prepared them. 28 And God blesseth them, and God saith to them, `Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and rule over fish of the sea, and over fowl of the heavens, and over every living thing that is creeping upon the earth.'” (YLT). Now, the Bible is clear throughout that a valid marriage before God (YHWH) is only one between a man and a women, so just what is it these sinful practicioners of Sodomy do not understand?
It should be clear that they are NOT recognizing the Bible as the only Standard given by God (YHWH) for what constitutes a valid marriage, but are resorting to the courts and legal trickery to work what is clearly obscene. As one person put it, “Truth is God's Word. If one refuses to except that, then fine. But remember this one thing. one day you will stand before YHWH at the Great White Throne Judgment. There you life will be exposed before the angels and heaven. The Word of God will be opened, and that will be your judge.” This is clearly shown in the Bible at Romans 14:12, “ so, then, each of us concerning himself shall give reckoning to God” (YLT). To practice the God (YHWH) forbidden practice of Sodomy is as Romans 3:23 states, “for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;” (American Standard Version; ASV); and 1 John 5:17, “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” (ASV); but a willful and defiant open practice of ungodly acts will NOT go unpunished.
Clearly the modern day practitioners of the sin of Sodomy who now want to defile God’s (YHWH) institution of marriage by their unconscionable act of marrying man to man and women to women that they per 1 John 5:19, are under the control of the god of this system of things, "we have known that of God we are, and the whole world in the evil doth lie; " (YTD) are under control of evil; and this is further shown at 2 Corinthians 4:4, ""in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. " (ASV). The Bible is clear on this as shown at All forms of illicit sexual relationships are clearly works of the flesh and the Apostle Paul said, at Galatians 6:18-19, "Now the work of the flesh are...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." (Authorized King James Bible; AV). God does not view these unclean "works" of the flesh with pleasure no matter who may endorse them be he/she a high governmental officials such as is the case in the City of San Francisco or the State of Massachusetts. God (YHWH) however, looks with great displeasure on those who openly and willfully violating his law and purpose by marrying men to men and women to women which is not what God (YHWH) purposed. These works remain condemned by God as shown by the Apostle Paul at I Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye...the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God...be not deceived: neither fornicators,...nor adulteress, nor effeminate,...shall inherit the Kingdom of God." (AV). In fact is plainly recorded that God will judge all fornicators at Hebrews 13:4 which reads, "...God himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of others or defile the relationship of marriage." (The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips; TNTMB).
The clear Biblical fact is God (YHWH) will punish those who practice illicit sexual relationships. This fact is made very clear by his actions in the past as shown by his destruction of the inhabitants of ancient Sodom for the practice of male with male and female with female which now is also known as Sodomy due to the well known sinful practice of sodomy among the inhabitants of ancient Sodom. Their sinful practice of sodomy was so salient that Moses wrote at Genesis 14:13 under God's inspiration, "...the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord." (New American Bible, , St. Joseph Edition (Catholic Book Publishing Company); NAB). Their evil practice of Sodomy was so flagrant they even tried to have Sodomy relationships with materialized angles of God as recorded at Genesis 19:1-7, "The two Angles reached Sodom in the evening...Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom,...closed in on the house. They called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.'" (NAB). Because of their wicked action God destroyed the Sodomites as recorded at Genesis 19:24, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom...brimstone and fire...out of heaven;" (AV).
In fact, God so detested the practice of sodomy he not only destroyed Sodom, but caused several Bible writers to specifically warn his followers against this practice. Moses wrote under inspiration at Leviticus 18:22. "You shall not lie with a male as with a women; such A thing is an abomination." (NAB), and the Apostle Paul wrote at I Timothy 1:9-10, "...for persons lawless and unruly,...fornicators, men who lie with males...and whatever other thing is in opposition to the healthful teaching." (New World Translation; NWT). Also, Hebrews 13:4 plainly shows that all illicit sex practices are condemned by God as follows, "...but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge," (AV).
Therefore let no one deceive you--illicit sexual practices brings God's disfavor as shown by many passages in God's written work, the Holy Scriptures. This point is made clear at Romans 1:24-28, " Wherefore also God did give them up, in the desires of their hearts, to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies among themselves; 25 who did change the truth of God into a falsehood, and did honour and serve the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed to the ages. Amen. 26 Because of this did God give them up to dishonourable affections, for even their females did change the natural use into that against nature; 27 and in like manner also the males having left the natural use of the female, did burn in their longing toward one another; males with males working shame, and the recompense of their error that was fit, in themselves receiving. 28 And, according as they did not approve of having God in knowledge, God gave them up to a disapproved mind, to do the things not seemly;” (YLT). Rightly, as stated in the Bible at Ecclesiastes 7:29, "Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices." (The Revised Standard Version: RSV). These works or plans of the fallen flesh are clearly identified, and Corinthians 6:13 states, "...God will do away with them in the end--but the body is not for immorality; it is for the lord...." (NAB). In addition, I Corinthians 6:18 warns all wishing to win God's favor to, "Shun lewd conduct." (NAB), since this sin is within the body; whereas, "Every other sin a man commits is outside his body." (NAB). Also, I Corinthians 7:2 warns us to avoid illicit sexual relations in the following words, "But to avoid immorality...." (NAB). The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians warned at Colossians 3:5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence..." (AV).
Some practitioners of Sodomy try and justify their God (YHWH) defying wrong actions by saying that the Bible does not even mention homosexuality, but overlook reality. I think it's important to distinguish between "homosexuality" and same-sex ACTS. The Bible does not really address the former (which is a term invented by a 19th century German pyschologist), but it definitely deals with the latter. To use an analogy, the Bible doesn't mention "kleptomania" (a psychological condition) but it does prohibit the act of theft. Likewise it prohibits same-sex in both the new and the old testament with the first prohibition being recorded in approximately 1513 B.C.E. over 3,500 years ago, for details go to Leviticus and read the 18th. Chapter. In the new testament go to Romans the 1st, Chapter.
SEE PART 2
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Re: Scripture of the Day
PART 2
Given the above, the question of whether or not certain individuals are born with a genetic tendency to homosexuality or homosexual behavior is irrelevant from a Biblical standpoint. According to the Scriptures, all of us are born with an inclination to practice immorality of one kind or another. (cf. Gen. 6:5) This does not excuse the behavior, of course, anymore than a person giving into the temptation to rob a bank. People are responsible for their behavior.
No matter how one tries to justify or excuse ANY form of deviant sex, i.e., adultery, fornication, sodomy, bestiality, pedophilism, etc., The Bible shows it as just plain wrong. There is no excuse for any of it any more than there is for murder or genocide. Let’s look at a few scriptures on the subject:
Matthew 5:28: “but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (ASV)
1 Corinthians 10:6: “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.” (ASV)
Galatians 5:6: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (ASV)
Ephesians 2:3: “among whom also we all did walk once in the desires of our flesh, doing the wishes of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature children of wrath -- as also the others,” (YLT)
1 Timothy 4:5: “not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who know not God;” (ASV)
James 1:14: “But every one is tempted, drawn away, and enticed by his own lust;” (The Darby Translation; TDT)
James 1:15: “Then the lust, when it hath conceived, beareth sin: and the sin, when it is fullgrown, bringeth forth death.” (ASV)
1 Peter 2:11: “Beloved, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lust, which war against the soul;” (ASV)
1 Peter 1:4: “whereby he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust” (Hebrew Names Version of World English Bible)
2 Peter 2:20: “but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:” (ASV)
1 John 2:6: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (ASV)
1 John 2:17: “And the world is passing away, along with its desires. But whoever does God's will remains forever.” (The Complete Jewish Bible , Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc.)
Of course the sinful modern day practitioners of Sodomy will take issue with God’s (YHWH’s) word, but they are usurping God’s (YHWH’s) position with respect to what is right and what is wrong.
.
Now to know the truth, go to:
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TRYING TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM LEARNING THE TRUTH IS JUST PLAIN WICKED AND EVIL, may Almighty God (YHWH) punish him.
If you wish more information and/or wish to ask a question or what ever, contact me by leaving me a message on the CONTACT thread at
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth."Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today!
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 31A]
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:2 – 5, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, we must be patient, but Almighty God (YHWH) intends to bring a righteous rule to this earth as foretold at Daniel 2:44, “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” His kingdom will be one of mercey and will endure forever quite unlike worldly nations (kingdoms) of today as shown by Psalms 145:7 – 13, [AV] “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” For our part we should per Psalms 145:18, [AV] “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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To enjoy an online Bible study called “Follow the Christ” go to,
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES:
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Gynostemma pentaphyllum, Jiaogulan
This story from a popular Chinese newspaper reports on a study in the 1970s. The Chinese government asked scientists to research the unusually large number of centagenarians in the small mountain provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi and Shicuan . In addition to unusual longevity the researchers found low incidences of many common ailments associated with aging including, diabetes, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s and cancer. After over 10 years of study they found one common thread, a plant the locals called “xiancao” the “immortality” plant. The villagers drank it several times a day simply because it tasted good and is naturally sweet. The researchers identified the plant as Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum).
Free radicals are one of the primary causes of aging. Anti-oxidants have been found to eliminate free radicals from the body. See our anti-oxidant link regarding research on Jiaogulan and anti-oxidants. [sourc - retrieved from Guangxi Ribao (Guanxi Daily News) March 4, 1972. on 1/19/2016]
JIAOGULAN AND AGING, JIAOGULAN AND CANCER, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR HEALTH, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
HOW JIAOGULAN HELPS PREVENT AGING AND ILLNESS
Jiaogulan ( gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a very unique herb which can have many positive effects on our health and will even help us to prevent aging. Many factors play a role when it comes to aging, and scientists are just beginning to appreciate that infections caused by viruses have a huge impact on aging and our general well-being. Pharmaceutical companies around the world are spending millions of dollars researching the relationship between aging and viruses
If, we can prevent infections, and boost our immune systems, we will age at a slower pace and live healthier lives. Often in the fight against infections caused by viruses and bacteria, we employ a spectrum of antibiotics or virus suppressing drugs. HIV is a perfect example of a virus which is suppressed by drugs and we treat the most common throat infections with a plethora of antibiotics. But, shouldn’t we really be asking ourselves if we are taking the right approach, and shouldn’t we be boosting our immune systems instead. Perhaps, it is time to turn to nature to help us provide a permanent solution which would allow us to focus on prevention rather than cure.
Understanding Viral Infections
Doctors often talk about that viruses can be difficult to detect. It is true and has to do with the way they reproduce. A virus is not a cell in its own right, it is a genetic code which uses our cells to reproduce.
A virus can invade a cell and not start to reproduce straight away. HIV and herpes are perfect examples of this process. They can lay dormant in a cell for a long time, and all of a sudden as the cell starts to reproduce, they switch on and start to copy their genetic code.
The virus genetic code becomes part of the host cell, and the cell now reproduces with the new genetic information. It is called the lysogenic cycle and the cells are referred to as lysogenic cells. In other words, they are cells that contain a genetic virus code and behave differently than other cells. They are reproducing complete with their original code PLUS the viral genetic code.
But viral infections do not age us, do they?
Yes, they do and we know that viruses are probably behind many diseases such as cancer and heart disease. We already know that some cancers are caused by viruses, and scientists are trying to ascertain how many more types of cancers are experienced as a result of viruses.
Some of the most common cancers such as cervical cancer are caused by one or more of 150 virus strains belonging to the Human papilloma viruses ( HPVs). Even the common Epstein Barr virus is now being linked to some stomach cancers.
However, we are not sure what switches these viruses on and what makes them turn a cell into a cancer cell.
Viruses also cause other problems which are associated with aging such as heart disease and liver health problems. Scientists even suspect that many of the other signs of aging such as eye sight problems and wrinkles may be caused by viruses.
The problem is that there are millions of viruses, and one group of virus may be made up out of thousands of virus offsprings (strains) and mutated viruses. We need to learn a lot more about viruses and what makes them mutate to lead to disease and aging.
Free Radicals and Viruses
Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms, with one unpaired electron or more. These electrons are always looking for a friend to pair up with and they can by doing so, cause cellular damage or damage to DNA.
This may sound very complicated, but it simply means that they may have the ability to switch on a dangerous invasive virus, or cause a harmless bacteria to act differently. This is what many scientists believe cause viruses to start to behave differently and become dangerous.
The body has its own range of weapons against free radicals called antioxidants, but we can also eat foods and use herbs to increase our body’s range of weapons against free radicals.
Herbs and Antioxidants
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) is very special in terms of it’s antioxidant benefits. Usually, we consume antioxidants in foods. This is why, for example, we are told to drink orange juice when we have a cold. Oranges are rich in antioxidants. However, the reality is that up to 90% of the antioxidants are actually lost during the digestive process.
Gynostemma works differently. Gynostemma stimulates your body to increase production of an enzyme called Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is your own body’s most powerful antioxidant. Because it is internally produced, none of the benefit is lost during digestions.
This may explain why gynostemma has been used for many thousands of years in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) to combat different types of diseases. In recent studies Chinese scientists have discovered that Jiaogulan can boost a cell’s immune defense system by inhibiting a virus coping its genetic code. The rate of inhibition, rate of genetic copy, was reduced by 70% giving the body’s own system of antioxidants more of a chance to fight the virus and reduce the amount of free radicals.
How Can This Help Me to Prevent Disease?
All this talk about viruses, free radicals and antioxidants can sound like something for the ears of scientists only, but the way it works is very straight forward. If, the cells in our bodies can copy their genetic material without the interference of viruses and free radicals, they would be able to do so in a much better way.
It would result in better and healthier cells which would be less likely to carry any type of genetic material that can potentially cause disease and aging. We would have a much better chance to fight off infections and therefore live longer. The best way to explain it, would be that we would consist of better copied material which would be stronger and more disease resistant.
We should not try to suppress our immune system in all cases. Most of the time we should boost our immune system to help us fight of viruses, bacteria and free radicals. Hidden or “sneaked in” viruses cause a lot of the health problems we face today. By a herb such as Gynostemma, we can help our bodies to boost its defense system and help us to live both longer and healthier lives. Adding Gynostemma to your health routine would allow you to prevent disease rather than cure it. [sourc - retrieved from on 1/19/2016]
JIAOGULAN AND AGING, JIAOGULAN AND CANCER, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR HEALTH, JIAOGULAN AND YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
HOW JIAOGULAN HELPS PREVENT AGING AND ILLNESS
Jiaogulan ( gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a very unique herb which can have many positive effects on our health and will even help us to prevent aging. Many factors play a role when it comes to aging, and scientists are just beginning to appreciate that infections caused by viruses have a huge impact on aging and our general well-being. Pharmaceutical companies around the world are spending millions of dollars researching the relationship between aging and viruses
If, we can prevent infections, and boost our immune systems, we will age at a slower pace and live healthier lives. Often in the fight against infections caused by viruses and bacteria, we employ a spectrum of antibiotics or virus suppressing drugs. HIV is a perfect example of a virus which is suppressed by drugs and we treat the most common throat infections with a plethora of antibiotics. But, shouldn’t we really be asking ourselves if we are taking the right approach, and shouldn’t we be boosting our immune systems instead. Perhaps, it is time to turn to nature to help us provide a permanent solution which would allow us to focus on prevention rather than cure.
Understanding Viral Infections
Doctors often talk about that viruses can be difficult to detect. It is true and has to do with the way they reproduce. A virus is not a cell in its own right, it is a genetic code which uses our cells to reproduce.
A virus can invade a cell and not start to reproduce straight away. HIV and herpes are perfect examples of this process. They can lay dormant in a cell for a long time, and all of a sudden as the cell starts to reproduce, they switch on and start to copy their genetic code.
The virus genetic code becomes part of the host cell, and the cell now reproduces with the new genetic information. It is called the lysogenic cycle and the cells are referred to as lysogenic cells. In other words, they are cells that contain a genetic virus code and behave differently than other cells. They are reproducing complete with their original code PLUS the viral genetic code.
But viral infections do not age us, do they?
Yes, they do and we know that viruses are probably behind many diseases such as cancer and heart disease. We already know that some cancers are caused by viruses, and scientists are trying to ascertain how many more types of cancers are experienced as a result of viruses.
Some of the most common cancers such as cervical cancer are caused by one or more of 150 virus strains belonging to the Human papilloma viruses ( HPVs). Even the common Epstein Barr virus is now being linked to some stomach cancers.
However, we are not sure what switches these viruses on and what makes them turn a cell into a cancer cell.
Viruses also cause other problems which are associated with aging such as heart disease and liver health problems. Scientists even suspect that many of the other signs of aging such as eye sight problems and wrinkles may be caused by viruses.
The problem is that there are millions of viruses, and one group of virus may be made up out of thousands of virus offsprings (strains) and mutated viruses. We need to learn a lot more about viruses and what makes them mutate to lead to disease and aging.
Free Radicals and Viruses
Free radicals are atoms, or groups of atoms, with one unpaired electron or more. These electrons are always looking for a friend to pair up with and they can by doing so, cause cellular damage or damage to DNA.
This may sound very complicated, but it simply means that they may have the ability to switch on a dangerous invasive virus, or cause a harmless bacteria to act differently. This is what many scientists believe cause viruses to start to behave differently and become dangerous.
The body has its own range of weapons against free radicals called antioxidants, but we can also eat foods and use herbs to increase our body’s range of weapons against free radicals.
Herbs and Antioxidants
Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan) is very special in terms of it’s antioxidant benefits. Usually, we consume antioxidants in foods. This is why, for example, we are told to drink orange juice when we have a cold. Oranges are rich in antioxidants. However, the reality is that up to 90% of the antioxidants are actually lost during the digestive process.
Gynostemma works differently. Gynostemma stimulates your body to increase production of an enzyme called Super Oxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is your own body’s most powerful antioxidant. Because it is internally produced, none of the benefit is lost during digestions.
This may explain why gynostemma has been used for many thousands of years in Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) to combat different types of diseases. In recent studies Chinese scientists have discovered that Jiaogulan can boost a cell’s immune defense system by inhibiting a virus coping its genetic code. The rate of inhibition, rate of genetic copy, was reduced by 70% giving the body’s own system of antioxidants more of a chance to fight the virus and reduce the amount of free radicals.
How Can This Help Me to Prevent Disease?
All this talk about viruses, free radicals and antioxidants can sound like something for the ears of scientists only, but the way it works is very straight forward. If, the cells in our bodies can copy their genetic material without the interference of viruses and free radicals, they would be able to do so in a much better way.
It would result in better and healthier cells which would be less likely to carry any type of genetic material that can potentially cause disease and aging. We would have a much better chance to fight off infections and therefore live longer. The best way to explain it, would be that we would consist of better copied material which would be stronger and more disease resistant.
We should not try to suppress our immune system in all cases. Most of the time we should boost our immune system to help us fight of viruses, bacteria and free radicals. Hidden or “sneaked in” viruses cause a lot of the health problems we face today. By a herb such as Gynostemma, we can help our bodies to boost its defense system and help us to live both longer and healthier lives. Adding Gynostemma to your health routine would allow you to prevent disease rather than cure it. [sourc - retrieved from on 1/19/2016]
What is Jiaogulan?
Jiaogulan (Latin name:Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a low-lying
vine from the Cucurbiticeae family of plants. Jiaogulan is indigenous to Southern China but is now cultivated widely throughout Asia, most notably in Thailand and Vietnam.Jiaogulan is produced primarily as an herbal tea and is also available as both whole leaf
and extracted supplement.
Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends Jiaogulan as a general health tonic and in some regions of china it is called Xian Cao (the Immortality Herb) due to its association with longevity and robust health.
The plant first came to the attention of modern researchers
in the 1970’s as a result of China’s first nationwide census. Demographers noted a statistically significant higher percentage of centenarians in two small Southern provinces. The Chinese
government dispatched a team of researchers whom ultimately conducted a ten-year study.The researchers attributed the unusual longevity in those areas to the regular traditional consumption of jiaogulan tea in those areas. Following these findings, Dr. Jialiu Liu of Guiyang Medical College conducted extensive research including human clinical studies into the plant. His research identified active ingredients in Jiaouglan that provided a broad range of health benefits, including, cardiovascular health, improved immune systems, protection from and faster recovery from oxidative stress, cancer protection and improved blood flow
resulting in better mentation and organ health. Dr. Lu authored a book with American researcher Michael Blumert extolling jiaogulan as the Herb of Immortality.
Jiaogulan was also the subject of extensive research in the 1980’s by Japanese researchers who, noting the natural sweetness of jiaogulan, hoped jiaogulan could be developed as a natural sweetener. While the project was unfruitful, Japanese researchers also compiled an impressive list of provenhealth benefits.
Today herbalists recommend jiaogulan for three main health
benefits.
1) Put your body in
the optimal state of balance –
Adaptogens are a class of herbs identified by herbalists as helping the human body maintain a state of “homeostasis”, i.e. balance. The mechanisms vary from herb to herb but primarily adaptogens work by supporting the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system is the combined systems of hormones and nervous system. Modern researchers have proclaimed jiaogulan the world’s most potent adaptogen. One theory is jiaogulan’s stimulation of Nitric
Oxide production improves the overall function of the neuroendocrine system
2) Reduce blood pressure
and improve cardiovascular health – Chinese research has proven that jiaogulan stimulates the human body to increase production of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is a natural vasodilator. Increased vascular size makes it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body and reduces blood pressure. The increased blood flow also mitigates the harm from arterial build up due to arteriosclerosis.
Jiaogulan also reduces cholesterol. Since high cholesterol is the number one cause of clogged arteries, there is a double benefit to cardiovascular health. Blood vessels are less likely to develop obstructions and, when they do occur, the impact is mitigated by increased blood vessel size.
Increased Nitric oxide production is also the reason jiaogulan is popular with endurance athletes. The increased blood vessel size increases oxygen flow which directly result sin greater endurance. This increased blood flow is also believed beneficial to sufferers of Erectile Dysfunction and to improved mentation in the elderly.
3) Fight the effects
of aging and strengthen the immune system – Most people have read about the
health benefits of antioxidants. One can hardly visit the grocery store without being bombarded by marketing messages on products touting their high antioxidant content. Marketers have gone so far as to co-op a formerly scientific measure of antioxidant called the ORAC scale. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a measure of the anti-oxidant levels in a food. Marketers engage in heated debate over whose product as the higher ORAC value.
But the reality is that most of the health benefit of antioxidants consumed in food is wasted. When we digest food only a small
percentage of the antioxidants present actually survive the digestive process and enter the blood stream where they can be distributed throughout the body and help destroy free radicals and boost the immune system.
However, there is a solution. The human body does produce
it’s own natural antioxidants, two enzymes Super-Oxide Dismutase (SOD for short) and catalase.
These internally produced antioxidants are crucial to all
animal life as they are the main mechanism of cleansing and protecting the body from free-radicals created during the metabolization of foods. Increased productions of these
internally produced antioxidants is far more effective than consumption of antioxidants because the internally produced antioxidants to not undergo digestion and are therefore 100% bioavailable.
Research proves jiaogulan increases SOD production in
humans. Researchers speculate this is the primary reason the herb is so strongly associated with longevity is Traditional Chinese Medicine. There has also been substantial research in Canada using jiaogulan to support the compromised immune systems of chemotherapy patients. This improved immunity has resulted in jiaogulan’s popularity as a immune support supplement during cold
and flu season.
Recent media attention has been focused on jiaogulan for
weight loss. Researchers in Korea have determined that jiaogulan is a potent activator of the AMPK enzyme in humans. AMPK plays a crucial role in the regulation of human metabolism. In one Korean study, obese men were given jiaogulan extract for 14 weeks. The placebo group experienced no significant change. However the jiaogulan group lost an average of 2Kg., saw reduction in their waistlines, improved body mass index and lower cholesterol levels.
Jiaogulan is a perennial and can be harvested throughout the
year. Jiaogulan Tea is produced by a three-stage process. The plant is
harvested and stems removed by hand. The plant is quickly pan dried to form the typical 5 leaf clusters of dried tea and then air dried on raised platforms with forced air. The resulting tea is simultaneously slightly bitter and slightly sweet. The tea is popular in Southern China often consumed as a substitute for tea from Camelia sinensis. Jiaogulan can also be consumed as a supplement,
in extract form, as a tincture and the raw leaves may be added directly to foods. [sourc - retrieved from on 1/19/2016]
My investigation has uncovered a source for this plant in North America – only one source, Michigan Bulb Company, POB 4180, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025-4180, FAX 513-354-1499, www.MichiganBulb.com. It is listed as SKU #81062, on page 8 of their Spring 2016 Catelogue.
In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to www.jw.org].
To view this plant, go to,
Or in Michigan Bulb Company, Spring 2016 catalogue on page 8.
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse on James 2:17 That Faith Motivates One to Action. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 32A]
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. Romans 11:18, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
The earth will clearly will remain for ever as revealed at Ecclesiastes 1:4, [AV] “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.” But Almighty God (YHWH) will turn it once more into a paradise to fulfill his original intent for it, and as Isaiah 33:24, says, [AV] “And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” However, we must live a godly life in order to be a dweller in this righteous earth per Luke 21:34 – 36, [AV] “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” And as Matthew 6:33, [AV] says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RELIGION AND THE BIBLE, GO TO,
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
[2] Discourse on James 2:17 That Faith Motivates One to Action:
INTRODUCTION:
Let's face it James 2:17, "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (Revised Standard Version; RSV) makes it quite clear that true faith will motivate one to produce works. This fact is clearly affirmed by James 2:19-26, You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead. " (RSV).
WHAT SOME SAY:
Some incorrectly claim that faith alone is all that is necessary completely overlooking the fact stated at James 2:17 that faith without works is dead; now what good is something that is dead to anyone? This is clearly testified to at Hebrews 11:1-407, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named." 19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his burial. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated-- 38 of
whom the world was not worthy--wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." (RSV).
CONCLUSION:
It is clear as shown in James 2:17 that true faith will move/motivate us to works. In fact, God (YHWH) sent his own beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) to provide a way for us which of course was his Son who became a live giving spirit per 1 Corinthians 15:45-50, " Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (RSV); in fact His beloved only begotten Son, Jesus (Yeshua) he appointed as the only mediator between God (YHWH), the Father, and mankind as testified to at 1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (RSV).
Therefore as recorded at Titus 3:5-8, "he [God , YHWH] saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit, 6 which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is sure. I desire you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to apply themselves to good deeds; these are excellent and profitable to men." (RSV). So be not mislead by those that say have faith who overlook the reality that true faith will move a true follower of God's (YHWH's) Son, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ to have works.
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Discourse On Some Twist The Scriptures Falsely Show Jesus in Heaven As A Human. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 33A]
Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. Luke 6:42, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Clearly showing the need for all to seek forgiveness and not feel they are much superior to their brother and this is testified to at Isaiah 65:7, [AV] “ Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.”
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Francis David said it long ago, "Neither the sword of popes...nor the image of death will halt the march of truth. "Francis David, 1579, written on the wall of his prison cell." Read the book, "What Does The Bible Really Teach" and the Bible today, and go to WWW.JW.ORG!
[2] Discourse On Some Twist The Scriptures Falsely Show Jesus in Heaven As A Human
Let's look at an actual case of scripture contortions and twisting with this aim or purpose in view so as to support wrong creedal teachings. This will be done using a series of six (6) actual twistings, and their exposure by scripture.
FIRST, Yes, I see you know how to do contorted twisting of scripture. Let's look at some of them that you have twisted and/or contorted such as what you said on Luke 24:29, you said;
LUKE 24:39 " BEHOLD MY HANDS AND FEET,THAT IT IS I MYSELF.HANDLE ME AND SEE,FOR A SPIRIT DOES NOT HAVE FLESSH AND BONE AS YOU SEE I HAVE"
However you forgot to mention the timeline here, this was BEFORE he ascended into heaven. Now let's look at the scripture in context, "As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. 37 But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Revised Standard Version; RSV). But that in no way implies he took a fleshly body to heaven, remember angels could materialize as humans as happened in the case of Lot's to visitors.
SECOND, Let's consider Acts 2:29-30, you said,
ACTS 2:29-30
"...LET ME SPEAK TO YOU OF ..DAVID..THAT HE IS BOTH DEAD AND BURIED...THEREFORE,BEING A PROPHET,AND KNOWING THAT GOD HAD SWORN AN OATH WITH HIM THAT OF THE FRUIT OF HIS BODY, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, HE WOULD RAISE UP THE CHRIST TO SIT ON THE THRONE"
Now let's look at what the Bible says,
Acts 2:28-30, "Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou wilt make me full of gladness with thy presence.' 29 "Brethren, I may say to you confidently of the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne," (RSV), doesn't even sound like your misquote, nor does it say in flesh, so get real.
THIRD, Let's consider what you said on Acts 2:31-32,
ACTS 2:31-32
"......NOR DID HIS (JESUS) FLESH SEE CORRUPTION. THIS JESUS GOD HAS RAISED UP....."
This teaches us that Jesus was ressurected befor His flesh started to de-compose.
Now let's look at the scriptures themselves, " he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses." (RSV), [b]clearly quite different, but I prefer to believe the Bible and not you.
FOURTH, Let's consider what you said on 1 Corinthians 15:42-50,
1 CORINTHIANS 15:42 50
SO ALSO IS THE RESSURECTION OF THE DEAD. THE BODY ....IS RAISED IN INCORRUPTION...IN GLORY...IN POWER...IT IS RAISED A SPIRITUAL BODY....AND AS IS THE HEAVENLY MAN(jESUS)SO ALSO ARE THOSE WHO ARE HEAVENLY....WE SHALL ALSO BEAR THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVENLY MAN(JESUS)
Now let's look at what the Bible says at 1 Corinthians 15:24-50, "Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 "For God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "All things are put in subjection under him," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one. 29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why am I in peril every hour? 31 I protest, brethren, by my pride in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." 34 Come to your right mind, and sin no more. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
35 But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" 36 You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (RSV).
[b]Interestingly the actual scripture proves just the opposite from what you stated. It says, "35 But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" 36 You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body." So the scriptures you tried to twist once more prove you in error.
FIFTH, You said,
1 TIM:2:5 " For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the MAN Christ Jesus
We know that Jesus is the only mediator, and only since His Sacrificial death, and that He is in Heaven, but He is still reffered to as The MAN.
No where in the Bible are we taught that Jesus was raised as a spirit. Jesus sais that He was not a spirit. So why do we beleive otherwise??
Surely it is because it seems illogical, but that does not mean that it is un-true.
Clearly you need to read 1 Corinthians 15:35-44, ""35 But some one will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" 36 You foolish man! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body which is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 39 For not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 40 There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.". Also, you need to read 1 Corinthians 15:45-50, "Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.[ 46 But it is not the spiritual which is first but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 I tell you this, brethren: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (RSV). That life-giving spirit was none other than Jesus (Yeshua) after his resurrection, so get real.
SIXTH, You said,
This is the hope of all beleivers, that we too, will receve a ressurection body, not our natural one, but a spiritual one.
1 JOHN 3:2
...."BUT WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE (JESUS)IS REVEALED,WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM......"
We,who are of the faith, who know that Jesus has saved them from the condemnation, do not look to an etrnity as spirits, but in ressurection bodies (like that of our saviour) that will live for all etrnity in the New Heavens and Earth that await.
Time forbids me, I could pull up sp many Scriptures that would show that Jesus lived as a man, died as a man, and was raised up as a Man, but still remains the Son of God, the Lamb, the Mediator, the Judge of all the earth, and the SAviour of all , especially those that beleive.
The scripture in context, 1 John 3:1-3 says, "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." (RSV) very different in deed, but I shall take the Bible's version over yours.
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] JESUS IS NOT HIS FATHER - THE PROOF. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 34A]
[1] John 8:42 Jesus (Yeshua) said to them, " Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (Authorized King James Bible; AV).
Jesus (Yeshua) said he comes from God. The flesh cannot be speaking for the flesh was created. So Jesus (Yeshua)'s spiritual being came from God. Jesus (Yeshua) did not send himself, he did not come on his own, but before he was on earth, God sent him. Jesus (Yeshua) was sent by God into the world, so Jesus (Yeshua) is before the world with God. He is referred to a Pr. 8:22-31, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
[2] JESUS IS NOT HIS FATHER - THE PROOF
INTRODUCTION:
Many believe in the False Dogma of the Trinity and really have only a superficial knowledge of the Theology. So before I discuss this false doctrine using only the Bible I am going into what this false theology really is from an impeccable source.
The Trinitarian dogma, The Cyclopoedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature, New York 1871, by John M'Clintock and James Strong, Vol. II, page 560-561, states, "We worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the
persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.....The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal...So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty...So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God. And yet there are not three Gods, but one God...The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding...And in this Trinity none is afore or after other; none is greater or less than another. But the whole three persons are coeternal together, and coequal. So that in all things, as is afore said, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity." [this is the Athanasian Creed quoted in the above mentioned Cyclopoedia].
IMPOSSIBLE AS HE RECEIVED ALL HE HAS FROM HIS FATHER (YHWH) SCRIPTURAL PROOF:
1 - John 5:26, "For as the Father hath life in himself, even so gave he to the Son also to have life in himself:" (American Standard Version; ASV)
John 6:57, "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me.
By the words of Jesus, Jesus was not eternal; he was given to have life in himself and lives because of the Father. A eternal being cannot be given to have life in themselves, and they do not depend on others to live.
2 - John 14:28, "Ye heard how I said to you, I go away, and I come unto you. If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I." (ASV).
3 - 1 Corinthians 11:3, "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (ASV).
4 - 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, " For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be abolished is death. 27 For, He put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he saith, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that he is excepted who did subject all things unto him. 28 And when all things have been subjected unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subjected to him that did subject all things unto him, that God may be all in all." (ASV)
5 - John 5:29, "Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father doing: for what things soever he doeth, these the Son also doeth in like manner. " (ASV).
6 - John 14:24, "He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's who sent me." (ASV)
7 - John 17:8, "for the words which thou gavest me I have given unto them; and they received [them], and knew of a truth that I came forth from thee, and they believed that thou didst send me." (ASV).
JESUS DIRECTED ALL WORSHIP TO HIS FATHER AND CLEARLY SHOWED THEY WERE NOT CO-EQUAL OR THE SAME BEING:
Jesus (Yeshua) Christ showed all worship belonged to his Father, God (YHWH), and that all he had, he had received from his Father, God (YHWH ) clearly showing they were two separate beings and that the Son, Jesus (Yeshua) was NOT co-equal with the Father (YHWH):
1 - Matthew 4:10, "Then Jesus said to him, "Begone, Satan! for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'" (Revised Standard Version; RSV)
2 - John 17:5, "and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made" (RSV).
3 - John 5:19, "Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise" (RSV).
4 - 1 Corinthians 8:5-6, "For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth--as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords" -- 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist" (RSV).
5 - John 20:17, "Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." (RSV).
6 - 1 Peter 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (RSV).
7 - Mark 15:34, "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, "E'lo-i, E'lo-i, la'ma sabach-tha'ni?" which means, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (RSV).
JESUS NOT CO-ETERNAL WITH HIS FATHER AS HAD BEGINNING:
1 - Revelation 3:14, ""And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation." (RSV) [ Jesus was the beginning of the creation of God (YHWH); hence he is called God's only begotten Son or first born].
2 - Colossians 1:12-15, "giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;" (RSV). [note, 15 calls him 'the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation.]
3 - John 17:1, "When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee," (RSV)
4 - 1 John 4:15, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." (RSV) [Clearly showing he is NOT CO-ETERNAL as a father MUST exist before a son exists.]
5 - Luke 1:35, "And the angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God." (RSV) [Clearly showing he is NOT CO-ETERNAL as a father MUST exist before a son exists.]
6 - John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." (RSV) [ Jesus was the beginning of the creation of God (YHWH); hence he is called God's only begotten Son or first born].
7 - 1 Timothy 2:5-6, "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time." (RSV) [As we all know one can NOT be a mediator with himself; therefore Jesus (Yeshua) is a mediator between mankind and his Father, God (YHWH)]
HOLY GHOST IS GOD'S (YHWH'S) ACTIVE FORCE:
Now let's consider just what this Spirit is. Now what is this Spirit or Holy Spirit that John the Baptist mentioned at John 1:32, ""And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost." (AV)? The Holy Spirit is only God's (YHWH's) active force and not even a spirit being or person. This is clearly shown at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit was poured out onto all there, Acts 2:1-4, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (AV). This entire scripture bespeaks of a force and not a being as you do not get filled with a being! And this fact is reaffirmed at Acts 4:31, ""And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness." (AV); And 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, "Now he which established us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (AV), surely a being would not be in our hearts as that is ludicrous, thus this scripture talks of God's (YHWH's) active force; This is clearly shown at Luke 11:13, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (AV). Once more, why? Why? Do many say they are coequal and coeternal when clearly they are not and the Holy Ghost is just God's (YHWH's) active force? Only to try to give some resemblance of reality to a myth as we shall later see. An interesting note on the Spirit is that the neuter Greek word for spirit (pneu'ma) is used, the neuter pronoun "it" is properly employed. This fact is conveniently over looked or hidden by most Trinitarian translators as admitted in the "New American Bible Catholic Bible," regarding John 14:17: "The Greek word for 'Spirit' is neuter, and while we use personal pronouns in English ('he,' 'his,' 'him'), most Greek MSS [manuscripts] employ 'it.'" So when the Bible uses masculine personal pronouns in connection with pa·ra'kle·tos at John 16:7, 8, it is conforming to rules of grammar, not expressing a doctrine. And in Ancient Hebrew the word here rendered Holy Ghost, Holy Spirit, or Spirit which is translated from 'ru'ach' meaning "breath; wind; spirit." In Latin, it is spiritus, and in Sanskrit, 'prana' which means both "breath" and "spirit." Therefore it is clear that the Holy Spirit is God's (YHWH's) active force.
CONCLUSION:
As shown above from the scriptures, Jesus (Yeshua) Christ is NOT CO-EQUAL with his Father, God (YHWH); and NOT CO-ETERNAL as he had a beginning. Whereas, his Father, God (YHWH) always existed as shown at Psalms 93:2, "thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting." (RSV); and at Jeremiah 10:10, "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation." (RSV). Clearly if Jesus (Yeshua) did not always exist as his Father, God (YHWH) , has, he can NOT be CO-ETERNAL with his Father, God (YHWH), nor can he be CO-EQUAL.
Now we all know that many individuals saw Jesus (Yeshua) Christ when he was on earth as abundantly testified to in the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; whereas, no one has ever seen or heard his invisible Father, God (YHWH), as testified to at John 5:37, "And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness to me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen;" (RSV); thereby, clearly showing Jesus (Yeshua) Christ CAN NOT BE GOD (YHWH) HIS FATHER. This is further testified to at Psalms 93:2, "thy throne is established from of old; thou art from everlasting." (RSV); and at Jeremiah 10:10, "But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation" (RSV)..
Therefore, believe what is written in the Bible, God's (YHWH's) word, and not the writings, beliefs, and fables of men which the Bible clearly shows at 2 Corinthians 4:4 are from the Devil, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God" (RSV).
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES. With the Scripture of the Day first.
SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 35A]
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. Luke 16:20 – 21, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
But a contrast is given between the beggar and the rich man and their final outcome in the resurrection spoken of at John 5:29, [authorized King James Bible; AV] “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” This contrast is given in Isaiah 16:25 – 31, [AV] “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”
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THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES:
Here is a Commentary on Bountiful Trees and Vegetables God (YHWH) has provided for mankind, specifically the Hibiscus spp., Mallow - Rose
Abundance: very rare
What: flowers, leaves, seeds, seed pods, roots
How: flowers raw, young leaves raw or cooked, seeds roasted. Tender seed pods are cooked. Roots are diced then roasted.
Where: sunny areas, often used in landscaping
When: spring, summer, fall
Nutritional Value: Flowers high in antioxidants; seeds are high in protein & starch; leaves high in minerals; roots contain starch.
Swamp Rose Mallow (Hibiscus palustris) plants grow up to five feet tall.
Rose mallows are usually found in moist, sunny areas but on occasion they can be found in shady, moist areas, too.
The seeds can be roasted then ground in a coffee grinder for use as a substitute for real coffee. It tastes pretty good, though does not have any caffeine.
Young tender leaves can be cooked like spinach but I find them a bit too rough/stiff to use raw. The flowers are good raw or added to tea. The tender, young flower buds and seed pods can be used like okra, either friend, pickled, or added to Cajun and African foods. The flowers work well in salads. [sourc - retrieved from on 1/19/2016]
In Genesis 1:11-13, "And God said, Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit-trees bearing fruit after their kind, wherein is the seed thereof, upon the earth: and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after their kind: and God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. (American Standard Version, ASV)[for more details, go to www.jw.org].
To view this plant, go to,
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1[ THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] THE BIBLE'S HISTORICITY AND CORRECTNESS TESTIFIED TO BY A "PIM" . With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 36A]
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Matthew 11:19, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Clearly we should NOT be judging others as some pre-judged Jesus (Yeshua), but we should be kind to others and be forgiving of them since we are all sinners. How often should we forgive others? This was a question put to Jesus (Yeshua) to which He gave a clear answer found at Matthew 18:21 – 22, [AV] “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
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[2] THE BIBLE'S HISTORICITY AND CORRECTNESS TESTIFIED TO BY A "PIM"
Many claim the Bible has errors, but what they claim are errors are in reality errors with respect to our understanding and NOT God's word. Here is one example of something many claimed to be an error, but later archeological findings proved it was only an error in our understanding and not the Bible.
Although the word "pim" occurs only once in the Bible. In the days of King Saul, the Israelites had to get their metal tools sharpened by Philistine smiths. "The price for sharpening proved to be a pim for the plowshares and for the mattocks and for the threetoothed instruments and for the axes and for fixing fast the oxgoad," states the Bible. -1 Samuel 13:21.
What was a pim? The .answer to that question remained a mystery until 1907 C.E. when the first pim weight stone was excavated at the ancient city of Gezer. Bible translators of earlier dates had difficulty translating the word "pim." The King James Version, for example, rendered 1 Samuel 13:21: "Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads."
. .
Scholars today know that a" pim was a weight measure averaging 7.82 grams, or approximately two thirds of a shekel, the basic Hebrew unit of weight. A pim measure of silver scrap was the price the Philistines charged the Israelites for sharpening their tools. The shekel weight system went out of use with the fall of the kingdom of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem, in 607 B.C.E. So how does the pim measure testify to the historicity of the Hebrew text?
Some scholars, Muslim and pseudo Christians infidels of the past to whom truth was of no importance, hence unbelievers, used to argue that the texts of the Hebrew Scriptures, including the book of I First Samuel, dated to the Hellenistic-Roman era, even as late as from the second to the first century B.C.E. They falsely claimed, therefore, that "they are. . . 'unhistorical,' of little or no value for reconstructing a 'biblical' or an 'ancient Israel,' both of which are simply modern Jewish and Christian literary constructs."
Referring to the pim measure mentioned at 1 Samuel 13:21, however, William G. Dever, professor of Near Eastern archaeology and anthropology, says: "[It] cannot possibly have been 'invented' by writers living in the Hellenistic-Roman period several centuries after these weights had disappeared and had been forgotten. In fact, this bit of biblical text. . . would not be understood until the early 20th century A.D., when the first actual archaeological examples turned up, reading pim in Hebrew." The professor continues: "If the biblical stories are all 'literary inventions' of the Hellenistic-Roman era, how did this particular story come to be in the Hebrew Bible? One may object, of course, that the pim incident is 'only a detail.' To be sure; but as is well known, 'history is in the details.'" .
Therefore, though many critics of all flavors have tried to discredit the Bible through items like the pim which was not really understood until archeological findings revealed the facts, the Bible, being the inspired word of God (YHWH) creator of heaven and earth is always correct even if our understanding may be incomplete and regardless of what infidel critics may say.
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Re: Scripture of the Day
COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND [2] Love Is The Way Of True Christianity. With the Scripture of the Day first.
[1] SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [VOL. 37A]
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:2 – 6, [authorized King James Bible; AV]
Yes, we should seek to live peaceably with others and NOT be overly critical of their actions since we should realize that we are not perfect either. Everyone has his own little unusual traits including us, but we should not be judging others on the basis of these. And as Matthew 6:14 – 15, shows, [AV] “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
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[2] Love Is The Way Of True Christianity:
God's (YHWH's) chief attribute is Love and when the Bible speaks of mankind being made in the likeness of man as recorded at Genesis 1:26-27, "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image and likeness to rule the fish in the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all wild animals on earth, and all reptiles that crawl upon the earth,' So God created man in his own image: in the image of God he created him; " (The New English Bible NEB). Now, God's (YHWh's) chief attribute is love as testified to at 1 John 4:8, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." (American Standard Version; ASV). Therefore to be a true Christian, a footstep follower of Christ, one must show love to others, first and foremost, since God (YHWH) is love. In fact to remain in union with God (YHWH), we must have love as revealed at 1 John 4:16-21 & 5:1-3, "And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. 17 Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love, because he first loved us. 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen. 21 And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also. 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is begotten of God: and whosoever loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 2 Hereby we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and do his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (ASV).
AN OUTSTANDING MANIFESTATION OF LOVE:
at John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life." (ASV). And his love is manifest as affirmed at 1 John 4:9-10, "Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son `to be' the propitiation for our sins." (ASV); and his great love for us was further emphasized at Romans 5:8, "But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (ASV).
TO DEMONSTRATE GENUINE LOVE, ONE MUST COME TO KNOW GOD'S (YHWH'S) AND HAVE HIS SPIRIT:
To ome to know God (YHWH) we must have his spirit and to do this we must demonstrate genuine love as clearly shown at 1 John 4:7-8, "Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God. Everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God, but the unloving know nothing of God. For God is love;" (NEB).
Now how can we demonstrate our love for God (YHWH) whom we have not seen?
We can demonstrate our love for God (YHWH) by being obedient to his commands as shown at 1 John 2:5 & 5:3, "but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that are in him." & "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (Authorized King James Bible; AV); and this is further emphasized at 2 John 6, "And this is love, that we follow his commandments; this is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you follow love." (Revised Standard Version; RSV). This is reaffirmed at John 14:15 & 20-21, "`If ye love me, my commands keep," & "in that day ye shall know that I `am' in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you; 2 he who is having my commands, and is keeping them, that one it is who is loving me, and he who is loving me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.'" (Young's Literal Translation; YLT).
TRUE CHRISTIANS MARKED BY LOVE ONE FOR ANOTHER:
Clearly since God (YHWH) is love, true Christians are distinguished by love for one another as shown by John 13:34-35, "`A new commandment I give to you, that ye love one another; according as I did love you, that ye also love one another; 35 in this shall all know that ye are my disciples, if ye may have love one to another.'" (YLT); and at John 15:12-13, "`This is my command, that ye love one another, according as I did love you; 13 greater love than this hath no one, that any one his life may lay down for his friends;" (YLT); and at 1 John 3:16, "It is by this that we know what love is: that Christ laid down his life for us. And we in our turn are bound to lay down our lives for our brothers." (NEB).
The need for true Christians to have love one for another is emphasized at 1 John 4:20-21, "If anyone says, "I love God," and yet hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the command that we get from him that whoever loves God must love his brother also." (The Short Bible by Dr. Edgar J. Goodspeed; TSB); and by 1 John 3:10, "The love consists not in our having loved God, but in his loving us and sending his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (TSB).
CHRISTIAN FAMILIES UNITED BY A STRONG BOND OF LOVE:
True Christian families should be united by a strong bond of love as shown by Epesians 5:22-25, "Wives, `be in subjection' unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the church, `being' himself the saviour of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so `let' the wives also `be' to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;" (ASV); and at Titus 2:4, "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." (New International Version; NIV).
We must, to win God's (YHWH's) favor exercise Godlike Love as revealed at Proverbs 13:24, "He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." (ASV). This principle of love is re-affirmed at Revelation 3:19, "As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (ASV); and at Hebrews 12:6, "For he disciplines everyone He loves, And chastises every son whom He heartily receives." (The New Testament by Charles B. Williams).
LOVE NOT LIMITED TO THOSE WHO LOVE US:
Many are under the misconception that love is limited only to those who love us, but Jesus (Yeshua) made clear this is not the case at Matthew 5:43-47, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy: 44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; 45 that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more `than others?' do not even the Gentiles the same?" (ASV); and Luke 6:27-33, "27 But I say unto you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, 28 bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you. 29 To him that smiteth thee on the `one' cheek offer also the other; and from him that taketh away thy cloak withhold not thy coat also. 30 Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 And if ye love them that love you, what thank have ye? for even sinners love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same." (ASV).
HOEVER TRUE CHRISTIANS NOT TO LOVE EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING:
Now this may sound like a contradiction at first that true Christians are not to love everything and everybody, but lets investigate further. Let's look at Psalms 97:10, "Those who hate evil the Eternal [God] loves, he saves his followers alive rescuing them from evil men." (A New Translation of The Bible by Dr. James Moffatt; ANT); and Amos 5:15, "Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (The New King James Bible; NJKB); and Romans 12:9, "Let love be without hypocrisy, Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good," (NJKB); and 2 Chronicles 19:2, "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the wicked, and love them that hate Jehovah? for this thing wrath is upon thee from before Jehovah." (ASV); and Psalms 119:113, "I hate men who are half and half, I love thy law;" (ANT); and 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away." (ASV); and 1 John 2:15-17, "Love not ye the world, nor the things in the world; if any one doth love the world, the love of the Father is not in him 16 because all that `is' in the world -- the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the ostentation of the life -- is not of the Father, but of the world, 17 and the world doth pass away, and the desire of it, and he who is doing the will of God, he doth remain -- to the age." (ASV).
ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD'S (YHWH'S) WORD SHOULD GUIDE LOVE:
Love should be guided by an accurate knowledge of God's (YHWH's) word as testified to at Philipians 1:9-11, "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10 so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." (ASV).
TRUE CHRISTIANS MUST EXPRESS LOVE FOR ONE'S FELLOWMAN:
The fact that true Christians must express love for one's fellowman is made clear at 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, "He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying." (ASV); and at Ephesians 4:1-2, "I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling wherewith ye were called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;" (ASV); and at Proverbs 10:12, "Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions." (ASV); and Galatians 5:13, "Now, Brethren, you were invited to Freedom; only take care lest this Freedom becomes an occasion for the flesh; but through love be your subservient to each other." (The Diaglott by Benjamin Wilson); and 1 John 3:17-18, "But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 18 `My' Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth." (ASV).
CULTIVATION OF LOVE IS NECESSARY:
Love does not just happen, but must be cultivated as shown at 2 Peter 1:5-7, "Yea, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in `your' virtue knowledge; 6 and in `your' knowledge self-control; and in `your' self-control patience; and in `your' patience godliness; 7 and in `your' godliness brotherly kindness; and in `your' brotherly kindness love." (ASV); and at 2 Timothy 2:22, "So shun youthful passions and aim at righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call upon the Lord from a pure heart." (RSV).
LOVE FULFILLS GOD'S (YHWH'S) LAW:
Love is actually the fulfillment of God's (YHWH's) law as testified to by Jesus (Yeshua) at Matthew 22:37-39, ", "He answered, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. The second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.'" (NEB). This is affirmed at Romans 13:8-10, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: love therefore is the fulfilment of the law." (ASV); and affirmed at Galatians 5:14, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (AV).
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD (YHWH) WILL RECEIVE BLESSINGS FROM HIM:
The fact that those who love God (YHWH) will receive blessings is made clear at 1 Corinthians 2:9, "but as it is written, Things which eye saw not, and ear heard not, And `which' entered not into the heart of man, Whatsoever things God prepared for them that love him." (ASV); and at James 1:12 & 2:5, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which `the Lord' promised to them that love him." & "Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world `to be' rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him?" (ASV); and at Psalms 145:20, "Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy." (ASV); and at Deuteronomy 11:13-15, "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love Jehovah your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, 14 that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy grain, and thy new wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will give grass in thy fields for thy cattle, and thou shalt eat and be full." (ASV).
CONCLUSION:
As 1 John 4:7-8 states, "Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God. Everyone who loves is a child of God and knows God, but the unloving know nothing of God. For God is love;" (NEB). In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) strongly made this point at Matthew 22:37-40, "He answered, '"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind." That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. The second is like it: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.'" (NEB). Remember, God's (YHWH's) motivates him to act on our behalf, and that his love is always present in the way he uses his other attributes.
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