“What I am saying is this; run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. For the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism. And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have NO share in the Kingdom of God! But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self-control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things. Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:16-26
We continuously have the battle between good and evil; in this case, our flesh, being evil and corrupted, and the Holy Spirit within us, being pure and righteous, and pleasing unto Adonai. They stand in constant opposition of one another, warring continuously.
Please note that this book of the Bible, Galatians, was written well after the death and resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus Christ) (approximately A.D. 48); yet according to this passage here, those who do ‘these’ things will have no share in the Kingdom of God. I didn’t write it, Paul did; so any anger or arguing against me won’t help anything. The Bible clearly states, and this isn’t the only place, that people who do these things will have no part of the Kingdom of Heaven; and if we have no part of the Kingdom of Heaven, what this means to me, is we go to hell. Since this passage is talking about living “in” the Spirit, I believe this applies to living “in” sin. I don’t think Paul was implying that if we make a mistake, that’s it, we’re going to hell. Although since Jesus was able to be sin-free in the flesh, apparently it’s possible, but I don’t believe for one minute that mistakes are out of the question.
I’ve described in past articles the difference between purposeful, blatant sinning and making mistakes. For example; I know it’s a sin to commit adultery, yet I go and do it anyways. That’s purposeful. But let’s say even though it was purposeful, I succumbed to the temptation and did it. Afterward, I feel so guilty and convicted I’m on my face before the Lord in true repentance. I’m not just saying I’m sorry because I’m afraid, or it’s the right thing to do; my heart is genuinely pained over what I have done. Afterward, I do not contact the person in whom I have committed this act except to tell them that what we did is wrong, and that I apologize for engaging in this immoral activity with them. I explain to them that I have repented and that hopefully, they can come to repentance in their heart as well. I then go to my partner and confess to them what I have done, hoping for their forgiveness, but knowing that they may not be able to stay with me because I have violated our marriage bed. This is an example of making a mistake.
Now let me give you an example of purposeful, blatant, disobedience. The same act above happens, however, even though you feel bad about it, you keep doing it and keep doing it. You may’ve asked God for His help, yet you do not allow the Holy Spirit to help you, and you do not repent. (Repentance by the way means to confess (admit), apologize, and stop doing it.) During this time, you die or the Lord comes back…according to this passage here, you’re not going to heaven, and it’s not God sending you to hell, it was the demonic spirits you followed that led you there. Again, I am sure I will get some people who tell me I am wrong, or argue it…people looking for loopholes in order to keep on sinning and believe it’s all okay. But look, I can’t help what your mind is conditioned to believing; this is what the Word of God says right here.
The death of Jesus did not give us more leeway to sin; rather, His death gave us forgiveness for the sin, and the forgiveness is free, meaning, you don’t have to go burn a sacrifice or pay money, all you have to do is truly repent. And how is God supposed to forgive someone if they’re not sorry? If you’re sorry, you stop doing that thing, and you’ll be forgiven. If you walk up and kick me in the shin really hard, and you say, “I’m sorry I did this thing to you.” How am I supposed to truly forgive you if you turn right back around and keep doing it? If I were God, I would feel compassion for you because you would apparently have some sort of serious mental condition going on there <smile>, and I want to forgive you more than anything, but I am not able because every time you say your sorrow, you don’t mean it because you immediately kick me again right after you say it.
So, the gift is free (meaning we can take the gift of salvation even though we didn’t earn it or deserve it), but from that point forward, we can’t walk around and live in disobedience and purposefully sin. We must come to repentance. This is one of the reasons many of us suffer. God doesn’t want us to suffer at all; He just wants you to stop living in sin and disobedience. But the fact is you won’t, and so He’ll sit back and let your master, Satan, give you payment for working for him..and that payment is never pleasant.
You’ll get a nice hot place in hell, probably a lake view shack of all of the beautiful scenery hell has to offer, you’ll never get cold, never have to pay an electric or gas bill again—you can have all of the heat you want for free! Guaranteed a good burn everyday—sunscreen isn’t provided—and no need to worry about what to wear, everyone goes naked! Wow! What a place! Is this your dream of a luxury get-a-way? For some reason, I’ve never seen this offered on the Price Is Right..I’m sure they’ll offer it up as a prize eventually.
Search the scriptures and let go of the false teachings you may’ve learned all of your life. Once again, we won’t be perfect, won’t go to hell for not being perfect, but we won’t make it to heaven if we are living in purposeful sin without true repentance. The Bible really isn’t so complex; it’s simple. We make it complex, as I mentioned, to justify living in the flesh because we don’t want to suffer by giving the things up we like and enjoy. But let me tell you this; walking in Him, if you can really allow Jesus to lead you in the walk, is way more fulfilling and enjoyable than the suffering is bad. It’s way more enjoyable and fulfilling than anything of this world you could possibly do…and obeying our Father through the power of the Holy Spirit, and desiring to do it..not being forced, is a wonderful thing when you love the Lord.
Furthermore, (but this shouldn’t be your driving force, just an added extra), a place with mansions, streets of gold, and things so wonderful your mind can’t imagine sounds way better than the one way trip to hell.
Don’t be lured into getting buckled in on the jet only to look up and realize your flight attendant, whom you thought was a beautiful woman or handsome man, has fangs and red eyes with slits, cackling madly at you as you frantically try to unbuckle, but can’t. Instead, ride the friendly skies with Jesus Christ. The ride is much smoother, and the destination is a lot more alluring and lucrative. From outside, the one way trip to hell looks better; but that’s because Satan uses false advertising to get you inside, but once you’re in, it’s a different story altogether. Jesus is upfront and honest—it’s harder to get to My jet; the steps are steep, the path is bumpy, and the outside doesn’t seem as beautiful as the other one. I know you can’t see the inside of my jet until once you’re in; but trust Me, looks can be deceiving. You’ll be amazed once you enter at what you’ll find.
Categories: Christian Living, Evangelizing the Lost, Forgiveness, God's Wrath, Interesting Bible Topics, Spiritual Warfare
Finding God In A World Full of SO MANY GODS by Lyn Leahz 
Stop Being A Baby! It’s Time To Grow Up and Be Strong In the Lord! 
Lyn Leahz 
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Mark 7:18-19 reads in the NASB,
And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)
This passage is one of those that I believe the NASB has gotten completely wrong. First, notice the italicized words above—this is the NASB’s (and many other translations’) way of telling you that theses words are completely interpolated by the translators; that is, they do not appear in the original Greek. Moreover, the word “declared” does not appear in the original Greek either; rather, the literal translation is, “because it doth not enter into his heart, but into the belly, and into the drain it doth go out, purifying all the meats” (YLT).
On what basis can we say that a command of Torah has been done away with when we have to interpolate a whole clause into the sentence in order to do so? That would be like someone translating Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be that we fail to! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” No honest Biblical scholar would let such a translation stand unchallenged, let alone admit the validity of an exegesis made upon it!
Interestingly, the Complete Jewish Bible agrees with the NASB reading here, translating the end of the verse as a parenthetical, “(Thus he declared all foods ritually clean.) “ Stern is clear in his translation, however that the subject is not kosher, but rather “ritual purity as taught by the Oral Torah in relation to n’tiat-yadayim”—that is, ritual hand-washing, per vv. 2-4—“not kashrut at all!” (ibid. 95) Since the subject of whether kosher had been annulled never even comes up, we perform eisegesis (reading our own opinions back into the text) not exegesis when we use this verse as justification for rejecting kosher.
Stern summarizes Yeshua’s intent as follows:
Yeshua is continuing his discussion of spiritual prioritizing (v. 11&N). He teaches that tohar (purity) is not primarily ritual or physical, but spiritual (vv. 14-23). On this ground he does not entirely overrule the Pharisaic/rabbinic elaborations of the laws of purity, but he does demote them to subsidiary importance. . . Yeshua here is making Messianic halakha.
This interpretation follows Matthew’s rendering of the conclusion, which is to say that “to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man” (Mat. 15:20).
Some may object that I have thus far cited only one Messianic commentator. Such people would be surprised to learn that many Christian commentators have come to similar conclusions:
The word “purging,” here, means to purify, to cleanse. What is thrown out of the body is the innutritious part of the food taken into the stomach, and leaving only that which is proper for the support of life; and it cannot, therefore, defile the soul. (Barnes Notes on Mark 7:19)
and goeth into the draught; בית הכסא, “the private house”, as the Jews call it, without going into the heart at all:
purging all meats; that which it leaves behind, is pure and nourishing; and whatever is gross and impure, is carried with it into the draught, so that nothing remains in the man that is defiling. (Gill, Commentary on Mark 7:19)
Now, the meats are all purged out of your body; they don’t defile you in a spiritual sense. And of course, we’re talking about ceremonial washing. The meat that you eat doesn’t defile you. Now, it can make you sick or it can do things, but spiritually it doesn’t defile you. There’s no spiritual defilement in it, because it passes through your body. (Chuck Smith, Mark 6-7 (C2000 Series), available at http://www.blueletterbible.org)
Note that none of the above commentators remark at all on kosher, but understand that the passage is dealing with “ceremonial washing.” Indeed, some Christian commentators utterly refute the idea that this passage abrogates kosher:
Of course, Jesus did not mean at this time to abrogate the Mosaic law of legal uncleanness. These uncleannesses worked no spiritual defilement, but were merely typical of such; for the food in no way touched or affected the mind or soul, the fountains of spiritual life, but only the corporeal organs, which have no moral susceptibility. The Pharisees had erred in confusing legal and spiritual defilement, and had added error to error by multiplying the causes of defilement in their tradition. By thus showing that legal defilement was merely symbolic, Jesus classed it with all the other symbolism which was to be done away with when the gospel reality was fully ushered in (Col. 2:16-17). In saying, therefore, that Jesus made all meats clean, Mark does not mean that Jesus then and there repealed the law. (McGarvey and Pendleton, Commentaries on Mark 7)
(Obviously, I disagree with this commentator’s assessment of Col. 2:16-17, which I answer here.)
To be sure, there are also many commentaries that do see in this passage the end to the kosher laws. However, given the universal (among Christians) belief that kosher is no longer valid, it is surprising to find so many sources failing to find their justification here. Indeed, seeking to find justification for an end to kosher puts Yeshua in the role of having a double-standard, as John Fisher explains:
Many have interpreted the next section, Mark 7:17-19, to mean that Yeshua set aside the food laws. But by doing so he would have contradicted himself. His detractors had just accused him of not observing their traditions, and he had responded that they did far worse; they did not observe the commandments of the Torah (vv. 9-13). To choose this time to set aside other commandments of the Torah would have undercut his whole response. It would have left him open to the charge they made, and which he implicitly denied. It would also have shown him to be inconsistent. (“Jesus through Jewish Eyes,” quoted by Brown, Objections Vol. 4, 276)
It also would have left Him subject to a charge of being a false prophet, based on Deu. 12:32-13:5 (see here). Indeed, if He had been teaching His disciples not to keep any part of the Torah, His enemies could hardly have missed the opportunity to bring that up at His trial! It would have negated the whole need for false witnesses!
So then, we return to the following key facts about this passage:
There is little to no justification for interpolating in the words, “Thus He declared” into v. 19.
Regardless of the translation one prefers, the subject of whether non-kosher meats, like pork, were now allowed never even came up.
Even many Christian commentators admit that there is no justification for overturning kosher in this passage.
The anti-Torah interpretation makes Messiah out to be double-minded, castigating the Pharisees for annulling a direct commandment of Torah by their tradition in one breath, and annulling a direct commandment of Torah Himself in the very next!
Conclusion
The command to discern between the clean and the unclean meats is a direct commandment of Scripture (Lev. 11:47). Against this very clear commandment, Christian commentators have three passages which are propertied negate it; Romans 14, Acts 10, and Mark 7. Romans 14, we have proven elsewhere, does not refer to kosher, and neither does Mark 7. The vision of Acts 10 uses non-kosher meats as a symbol of the Gentiles, to prepare Peter to accept Cornelius and his house as full brothers in the L-rd, as Peter himself interpreted it. Where then do we find any Scripture which negates the Torah on this matter?
Nowhere. The simple fact is that while one can make a case that Gentile believers are not required to keep kosher from the Torah itself (as explained at the beginning of this article), there is nowhere in Scripture that either releases Jewish believers from the command or which discourages Gentiles from joining them in keeping it, provided they do so with the right heart.
It is not the purpose of this article to “force” my Sunday brethren to forego ham and shrimp. However, I do hope to encourage them to reconsider handing a ham sandwich to a Jewish brother or sister as a test of faith. Indeed, I would that in Christian churches across the world, the choice would be made to willingly forego serving treif at church functions, so that their Jewish brethren might associate and eat freely with them without having to violate their own consciences.
Shalom!
Mark 7:15 can only mean what the words say: whatever you ingest – wash your hands, fine, don’t wash your hands, fine wash the food, fine don’t wash the food, fine but don’t blame Christianity if you get sick – it no longer matters. What is important is what you “exgest” – wrong exegesis included.
I come back to the question I asked you before, Lynn, does “no longer under the law” mean all the ceremonial law except the laws of kashrut (eating Kosher)? We agree that the Ten Commandments are never abrogated.
About the interpolation of “he declared all foods clean,” that is what the verse means. Contrast that “addition” with Galatians 5:18
Messianic Bible: But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism
ESV But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Greek – 5:18 εἰ δὲ πνεύματι ἄγεσθε οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ (hypo -under) νόμον (nomon – law).
So for the two simple words hypo nomon (under law), the Messianic Bible interpolates the words meaning that we are still under the law (Torah) …”
Lynn, your “Sometimes, when God told us ‘not to do’ certain things, it was because He knew those things would be bad for our health and make us sick.” Where in scripture did you find the reason for “no pork” and so forth?
Bography..God bless you. But hasn’t this at this point become a moot point?
Hey, isn’t a ‘moot point’ part of a pig, somewhere near the feet I think
ROFL! moot/mo͞ot/
Adjective:
Subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty, and typically not admitting of a final decision.
Verb:
Raise (a question or topic) for discussion; suggest (an idea or possibility).
Synonyms:
adjective. debatable – disputable – controversial – arguable
verb. discuss – debate – dispute – canvass – talk over – argue
Should I have said, “
well, I thot since piggies were part of the conversation I’d throw that in but told it is actually part of a cow, the moo point so I stand corrected LOL
W,G, You’re thinking of a cow and her moo point.
OOOOOOH, a moo point-, of course, silly me
If it is debatable whether the Bible refers to pork as bad for health, isn’t there any way to settle the debate by searching the scriptures? But I can tell you that we might have to resort to gematria to find it in scripture; for example, say we did a Bible code search and found the Hebrew equivalent of “a a be dip folk shh torr.” Unscrambled – there’s an embarrassment of unscrambles – you will most certainly find “pork is bad for health.”
A Jew, of course, doesn’t need to get that anagrammatical; he can easily find it orally – in the Talmud (the Oral Torah)
Galatians 5:18
Messianic Bible: But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism
ESV But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Greek – 5:18 εἰ δὲ πνεύματι ἄγεσθε οὐκ ἐστὲ ὑπὸ (hypo -under) νόμον (nomon – law).
So for the two simple words hypo nomon (under law), the Messianic Bible eisegetes the meaning that we are still under the law (of Torah) but we must be careful not to get to picky about it. Paul means exactly what he says: we are no longer under (the dominion of) the law (all laws of which the Torah is a major part). BUT not being under the law does not mean that we do not obey God’s New covenant laws (part of which is part of the old covenant). The issue is that if you are born again, you are under grace, not the law; you have been given a new spiritual nature, which, alas will continue to war against our human nature (the flesh).
The Messianic translation inserts “Torah.” If this translation is aimed at Jews, does it mean 1. the Pentateuch, 2. the whole Hebrew Bible, or 3. the Written AND the Oral Torah (Talmud, Mishna, Zohar, etc.). It should mean only 2.
Galatians 5:24
Messianic translation: Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires.
Stauroō
1) to stake, drive down stakes
2) to fortify with driven stakes, to palisade
3) to crucify
a) to crucify one
b) metaph. to crucify the flesh, destroy its power utterly (the nature of the figure implying that the destruction is attended with intense pain).
Yes, the first meaning is “stake.” But Paul is obviously referring to the way the term is used in Jesus’ crucifixion.
Question: Does the English Messianic Bible ever use the word “crucify?”
As you know I’m Jew ISH (a Jewish MAN) who believes in Jesus Christ, oops away with that horrible Christian Greek: I mean Yeshua the Messiah.
Yep, in my Jewish Bible it is called the stake..not STEAK…but stake as you’ve mentioned bography. I agree one hundred percent. Too many people believe that because Jesus died, they can just ignore the OT altogther and chalk it up as stories. Not true. The Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament, and the law is still to be obeyed.
I had heard and read that oftentimes in the NT when they are talking about the ‘law’ in regards to (help me out bography..can’t think of the scriptures here..too early yet!) but when they were talking about not being under the law, or negatively about the law, there were times they were referring to the man-made laws that the Jewish Heirarchy (Pharisees and Sadducees) were creating. Then of course, there were times they were talking about God’s law in the OT.
Lynn, your “The Old Testament is just as important as the New Testament, and the law is still to be obeyed.” “The Law is still obeyed.” Please explain.
Just as I said, bography..and just as you said. I’ll say again for you. Many Christians ignore the OT and believe they don’t have to obey the Ten Commandments any longer. I go further to say that God never said it was okay to eat unclean foods..Peter’s vision was explained and it had to do with the Gentiles, not food. Furthermore, Peter himself many years after that still writes that he has never eaten unclean food. The Old Testament accounts (the Torah) is just as important today as it was then. We no longer must sacrifice animals in order to receive redemption. Instead we must sacrifice our own flesh be allowing the Holy Spirit to rule in our lives instead of our own will. We are under the blood of Jesus Christ. However, Jesus said, “IF you love me, KEEP MY Commandments..and furthermore, He said, Matthew 19:17Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only one who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. And, Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. I have to head to work bography..for further information, see here
http://mychristiancoffeeshop.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/grace-gods-law/
BTW I was agreeing with your post, so there’s really nothing to debate about! 😛
Lynn, so you keep Kosher? If so, then let’s see: We’re under Kosher + the Ten Commandments? Anything else?
Bography…let’s hear your opinion on this subject since apparently I have agreed with you, but apparently you disagree with what you’ve said and what I’ve said..and no matter how I will answer you, you will always disagree..even if I say the same thing as you or reply with a simple “God bless you!” or “Amen!” ..you will still disagree and debate me. So, I will say no more on this subject. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts of the Old Testament and God’s commandments vs. the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ pertaining to sin and the redemption of sin.
Bography…to answer your questions on what I am saying, simply re read what you wrote. I did add that we are not to eat unclean foods; however, eating unclean foods will not send one to hell, especially out of ignorance. If I am in agreement with your comment, then why are you attempting to debate me?
Jesus tells us clearly in the New Testament that we are to obey God’s commandments. We no longer have to burn sacficies on an alter because Jesus was the sacrifice. We will still sin and make mistakes in our lives, but the key word is “repentance” and repentance doesn’t just mean an apology, it means conviction, confession, apology, and change of heart….ceasing the behavior. There is a fine line between making a mistake and purposefully living in it without repentance.
We are to view the Bible as a whole..not in fragments, taking things out of context. We are to love God. Part of loving God is being obedient, and accepting Christ Jesus as our Savior. These things go hand in hand. Disobedience to God will only earn us His wrath, as we can see clearly throughout the Bible. God chastens those whom He loves. And, people clearly overlook the part of this verse, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those of us who are IN Christ Jesus.” If we’re not IN Christ Jesus, then unfortunately, there is condemnation.
God gave us the Bible for a reason..as a guide, a comfort, a help, instructions, history, and to speak to us. He didn’t give it to us just to gloss over and say, “Oh what a nice book!” and then put it away to collect dust. He gave it to us to use.
Do you disagree with this? And, do you disagree with your own statement you initially posted?
Lynn your “did add that we are not to eat unclean foods; however, eating unclean foods will not send one to hell,”
So, when Christ broke down the barrier between Jew and Gentile, He meant that all Gentiles should keep Kosher. If, however they don’t want to, they won’t go to hell. Is that your position before I tuck into my free-range bacon sami?
Lynn I’m replying to your “Bography…let’s hear your opinion on this subject since apparently I have agreed with you, but apparently you disagree with what you’ve said and what I’ve said…”
I hate IT when a person agrees with me, and I love the person who is caught between me and IT. I shall post a few thoughts on the subject as soon as I have applied my mind , which I have not been doing so well so far – n’est-ce pas? YOU try thinking with a pork rind stuck in your back molars.
You only hate it when a person agrees with you because you like to debate! Chop chop! You can’t stand agreement… maybe you should run for a Jewish Political office..huh? You ever thought about that? HA! LOL! I’d rather have a pork fragment stuck in my molars (btw, I had those removed a long time ago!) than somewhere else! So chew on that! 😉 Love ya!
Lynn your “You can stand agreement.” Do you mean “can” or “can’t”? And hey, I love to agree when the thought is kosher.
OMGoodness! You just like to argue to argue…either that or you’re really trying to annoy the stuff out of me! U r really trying hard to get me to come to Africa and give you a spanking, aren’t you? That has to be it. Would you like to compare apples to oranges?
Galatians 2:20
I have put myself to death on the stake with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Talking about steak (from my jungle hideout), you say we agree on the “food” issue. However, with regard to your “we are not to eat unclean foods; however, eating unclean foods will not send one to hell,” we don’t agree – unless you accept Mark 7: 14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16]
17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.).”
Does your Messianic Bible omit (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.). Say it does, we don’t need it, for the rest of the passage means exactly that.
(I haven’t forgotten about the more meatier issues that I promised I would comment on).
Sometimes, when God told us ‘not to do’ certain things, it was because He knew those things would be bad for our health and make us sick. Washing hands, eating unclean foods…the Jews were hoaning in on this as that you were unclean before God..filthy and corrupt. God did not make those rules to make it hard on us; rather, He made them to protect people from illness. For example, a menstruating woman had to go outside of the camp for so many days. This wasn’t because God said, “Oh women PMS, and no one wants to be around them when they’re menstruating!” It was because diseases could be spread through blood (today, ‘blood-born pathogens, etc.) So you see, there were laws that were made for spiritual reasons, and to distinguish ‘right’ from ‘wrong’, but clearly, some of the laws had to do with hygeine in regards to keeping people from spreading illness, developing heart problems, obesity, parasites, etc. Therefore, since certain foods like pork still cause heart problems, obesity, parasites and illness, that is ‘another’ reason why God would not have said, “OOp, Jesus died; now it’s okay to eat meat and pollute your bodies with cholesterol, parasites, and filth!” IF that were the case, He would have transformed pigs into a healthier bieng so we could eat it. I’m adding this along with my previous two replies..in addition to. Anyhow, as you can see, we both have an argument about it and we’re not going to agree. So at this point, it’s a dead point. You believe it’s okay, I don’t.
Wow! I must say that one (commenter) left me speechless!! And, you know that is hard to do! LOL!
Yes. Especially with the coming of Christ right here, they will soon find out the truth. Let’s just hope the condition of their heart changes before then, or else it will be much too late. Some people you can only pray for, and love them in your heart as you do, realizing that the enemy has them in bondage.
Yes, so true!
Juliana, I hear you.
Interesting, thought-provoking, and completely unprovable. I am very happy for you that you have found a belief system which works for you. However, I do not share it.
I have to wonder where the doctrine of election fits into your dogma here. Can anyone “choose” to be a believer? From my reading of your book, I get that your god calls only certain individuals to participate in his kingdom hereafter. If you are not one of the elect, you are SOL. And the interesting thing is, no one KNOWS if they are elect or not. How about that puzzling quote from Christ where he tells some followers to get away, he never knew them?
I have seen “moral” Christian subscribers, I have seen “immoral” Christian subscribers. I have seen “moral” non-Christians, Mudlims, atheists, etc. I gave seen “immoral ones. I don’t get the part about if you’re a “true” Christian, you will not willingly sin. What is a “true Christian?” Which of the umpteen brands of dogma are the “true” ones following? Catholic? Baptist? Universalist Unitarian? Methodist? There is a flavor for everyone. Who is actually “saved?” You? A few? All who profess? How go you know that just because someone says they are “Christian” they really are?
I have a bad taste in my mouth from many of the “Christians” I encounter. Most haven’t even fully read the entire book they profess to support. Of those who have, many do not possess the intellectual capacity to understand, explain or question it. Not saying that should be a requirement, but it would also help to have intelligent marketers to spread your word, that being an act you are supposed to fulfill. And on that topic- another thing that bothers me is that your book furthers you to “spread the good news” to others, yet you are also told to close yourself off from the ideas and thoughts of non-believers. What gives? Where is the respect and reciprocity there? I am hurt every time a “Christian” approaches me to attempt conversion, yet runs as fast as he/she can when it is my turn to espouse my dogma. Seems unfair and narrow-minded. Are you guys afraid to hear other viewpoints? I welcome and respect your right to speak and share, but please- afford me the same respect when it is my turn.
At the end of the day, we all arrive at our personal dogma through the same untested means, and therefore, should afford one another equal respect. If I disrespect yours, I am in effect disrespecting my own.
My friend, I will pray for you. Realize there are many in this world who call themselves Christians, but are not; especially in this day. All I would ask from you is to please watch this entire video. It’s actually really good. That’s all I would ask. Time is short..very short. What if you are wrong? When it’s too late and you kneel before the Lord, do you know it will be too late?
I promise you now that very soon you are gonig to see one of two things, mark my words: you will either witness chaos as thousands of people all over the world turn up missing (there will be some reason explained, btw), and/or you will see a man rise up here VERY soon who will come to power politically and religiously. The Muslim people will call him Mahdi. This man will force people to take the chip,and if you take the chip..that’s it. You’re soul is done for! 3.5 years after this man signs a peace treaty with Israel, he will show his true colors and become the Antichrist. 3.5 years after that, it will all be over…for 1,000 years.
I don’t know that any witnessing is going to prove anything to you; so it is likely you will go through this time period because you do not accept Christ Jesus as your savior. You will see these things unfold and then you will remember this day what I have told you here. You will remember, and then you will know the truth. Just know that the time period you will be left to reside in is a most unfathomably horrible one..where much tribulation happens. This is why it is called the Great Tribulation. There is much suffering.
God bless you, and again, please take a few moments to watch this video.
Ki, I now for one that Lyn will go way beyound to help you see. The Bible is the law. If a Christian doesn’t follow that law, they are not Christian. Everyone falls now and then, but you can’t call yourself a Christian and live like a heathen every day. I don’t know that much about the Bible yet, but if you visit this site with an open heart you will learn the truth. This is what I have found. No one here makes “fun” or judges you because you are new the the words of the Bible. Lyn will help you at any stage of your faith. If you find that her teachings are not what you are looking for, she will pray that you will find God who is the truth.
God bless you anonymous..whoever you are. I am humbled by your words; however, yes, this is the truth. Because I am very zealous in my faith, I oftentimes come across to people who read my works that I might be a judgmental person..and I’m not. I just tell the truth. If you want truth, I’ll tell you how it is. If it offends, I’m sorry..but I would rather be guilty of offending for the truth than to deceive and lead someone astray. Because when we kneel before God someday, God will bring up all of the people I told the truth to, and He will be well pleased; and if I sugar coat it and lie, He will also bring up all of the people to whom I lied and deceived and hold me partially accountable for their soul being in hell. So, I will be honest.
I have but one more question for all here: Would any of us die for something we knew was a lie? Would you die for something you knew was untrue, or even had any doubts about? Heavens no! However, all of the apostles and disciples willingly gave up their life for the truth. They saw Jesus! They knew Jesus was the Messiah! The saw Him again after they had witnessed Him dead! Peter was willingly crucified on a cross, and upside down at that (because he did not feel worthy enough to be crucified in the same manner as Jesus). Stephen was the first martyred saint and was stoned to death with a smile on his face. Who would die for a lie? And who would die so brutally for something they knew was a farce? Answer me this…anyone.
Lyn,
If someone who claims to be a Christian can blantanly allow sin to continue in their life they were never saved to start with. When we are saved we are made new creatures in Christ… one of the changes is our recognition that sin is hated by God and out of love for God we no longer want sin in our lives.
So I agree with you if someone has consistant unconfessed sin they are not saved. They were never made a new creature in Christ.
Rob, yes you are so right. The sad part of it all is so many Christians take verses from the Bible out of context, and use it as a loophole to justify their sin(s) and to go on living in unrepentance rather than pick up their cross and carry it. So many people this day believe they are saved, when in turn they are not. The Bible tells us clearly that all fornicators, adulterers, idolators (idolatry, btw, as you know includes all addictions), liars, etc. will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (sulfur). Sinning is different than living in it. Sinning is messing up every so often and immediately repenting; and people need to know what TRUE repentance really is. If I lie to my friend, and I say I’m sorry to the Lord but keep on doing it, I’m not repentant. If I slip up and lie and confess it to the Lord and to my friend, and stop doing it, then I am truly repentant and have only sinned, but am not living in it. It’s a sad reality, but Jesus tells us over and over that those who live in sin, disobedience, and unrepentance will not go to heaven and aren’t really saved; what’s more, just because Jesus died on the cross does not obliterate the 10 commandments; we are still to follow them as well. “If you love me, keep My Commandments”
I do believe modern Christianity draws a bit too much license to do whatever one wants because of grace. The way I’ve always seen it is that now that we are saved, we have less of a desire to offend God, not a license to offend God. Very good article, thanks Lyn!
Thank you for the support…and for the comment. I love it when people comment (just like the rest of us! It lets you know that people are reading what you’re posting. 😉 I always sit here, not having a clue what I’m going to write, and I ask the Lord what He wants to tell everybody…and sometimes I flip through my Bible if nothing in particular comes to mind…and it will jump out at me. Thanks again, Tom. God bless you.
Wonderful post, Lyn.Yes, the Lord will forgive us of our sins, when we go boldly unto the throne of grace, we confess our sins, we repent of our sins, which means to turn away from the sin, and discontinue it, our God is able and will forgive us. However, we are NOT to continue in sin. God forbids it. Not you, not your Pastor, but God forbids that we continue in sin!
In the sixth chapter of the book of Romans, the Word of the Lord says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Romans 6:1 – 6. God bless you!
Paulette
Amen and amen. Excellent reply Paulette. Thank you!
repent means to turn around once we repent and truly repent we turn around and go towards the word of God thats why it says line upon line we have to practice the word of God Paul even told the church to follow his example and he practiced the word all the time. There are two kinds of sins as the Bible puts it one thats a fleshly sin and one that leads to death or we could say leads us away from God. The fleshly sin can be dealt with the scriptures point that out thats why 1 John 1:9 is there that was written for the church not someone getting saved. And sometimes God delivers us out of our sins or character flaws instantly and sometimes he walks us out of our character flaws till perfection comes but he says I will never leave you nor forsake you its up to you how fast you get out of your sin. But the other sin is instant death not only do you die in your natural body but your spirit man won’t be around God. and thats a totally different subject.
To me a sin is a sin. You can’t spin it anyother way.
Amen. So many people these days are under the misconception that God is just all loveing and all forgiving, and He is; except they utilize this when it comes to living in sin. “Oh, He understand because He is just sooo loving and forgiving! Salvation is free, so that means I don’t have to do anything..after all, a gift is a gift.” Yes it is, but the gift of salvation means that it is given to us, and then we receive it. We did nothing to have the gift. That does not mean that living in sin is free. Living in sin has a price. Satan, on the other hand, would love to keep people in bondage to sin by causing them to believe it’s all okay and no big deal. This is what Jesus meant when He specifically said that not everyone who says “Lord Lord!” shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So, as would guess, there are a lot of people who think they’re going to heaven that aren’t. They believe, “Oh, I just won’t get as many rewards in heaven because of it.” The rewards we won’t get have to do with other mistakes we make along the way, including not witnessing to others during our stay on this earth. We won’t go to hell for not witnessing, but we won’t get rewarded. We won’t go to hell for not necessariliy doing as many kind works as we should’ve, but we won’t get rewarded. “Not by works lest any man should boast.” Works don’t get us to heaven, and they dont’ send us to hell…but they do affect our rewards. There is no reward listed that we do not get for living in disobedience except the mentioning of not getting heaven to begin with..such as the verse I quoted in the article. It is so sad all of the people who have been deceived by false doctrine. I was raised Baptist, so I too was raised under the false doctrine that once you’re saved, it doesn’t matter how you live, or what you do..you’re supposed to live right, but if you don’t, you’re still saved. After having many near death experiences, and one in particular in which I saw the spirit of death waiting for me, and doing further research, I have come to the conclusion that if we are truly saved, we will not lose our salvation because true salvation involves cutting away the sinful nature…the death of the old nature. If that old nature has not died in you…I don’t mean that the old nature can never haunt you or tempt you..but if it’s still fullly alive in you…then you might want to ask, did I really accept the gift of salvation, and all of its responsibilities that came with it, to begin with?
Excellent reply.
Thank you…except for all of the typos! LOL Still not totally used to a laptop keyboard where everything is flat! I’m used to having a slight slant when I type. Unfortunately, the coffee table doesn’t provide enough room for me to use the cordless keyboard I purchased…have to use that at the computer desk, which I don’t like to sit at for too long because it hurts my butt! LOL
I do not like a lap top as well. It just isn’t natural. Are you feeling better?
I’ve gotten used to it. I went in and turned off the mouse touchpad, and that’s where I rest the lower palms of my hands. It’s just that I’ll hit keys, but apparently not hard enough. I type about 80-100 wpm, so some of that could be my own fault. Well, it’s all my fault because I’m the one making the mistakes! LOL I feel okay today, praise God. Something strange…I’ve always heard praise and worship music chases away demons because they don’t like it. When I feel bad, if I listen and sing along to the praise and worship music, I feel better. Hey, if it runs of devils, I’ll blare it all day long, and sleep with it on! I may prefer Mercyme or Mike’s Chair, but their is beauty and power in the praise and worship music, which comes from the Bible..I suppose that’s why it’s most powerful.
Your reply is so true for me. A Buddist set me straight it was the church greed that made me leave. He was so right!
Okay, now I’m curious..so how did a Buddhist set you straight? Do tell.
I belonged to a huge church, what it all boiled down to is some memberswere more worried what the outside world thought about the church. The higher-ups didn’t know this or they just didn’t care. When I was moving away, one woman kept calling me so I would take my name off the roles, because it looked bad since I had missed a few Sundays while we were building and moving. I was planing to drive the extra mileage until it finally sunk into my head they didn’t care about my soul they only cared about the number. I had told a Buddist this, not all that I shared with you, but it was because of greed. And in that moment it clicked. The thing with the church happened about 15 years ago, but it never made sense until a few weeks ago. I guess I was thick headed not to see it. So now I can get back to repairing my lost soul so to speak!
I couldn’t help it! I had to ask! I have found many Christians aren’t really walking int he ways of the Lord. My mom sent me an ad for a book that is out about a new religion that claims to be Christianity..but it’s perverted. I’ll have to find it and send to you. Write me an email so I have your addy to send it..I’ll forward it. It’s not Chrislam..the one I spoke of, it’s something else among younger people.
I don’t have your email address.
Does anyone know why it is doing this on my screen? That long, stringy message look here? Scroll down..what’s up with that and what do I do?
When you are having a conversation within your stream of comments with one individual, going back and forth, this is what happens. There’s nothing wrong with your screen. The the longer the conversation, the more it gets pushed over to the right side of your comment box. I hope this helps. 🙂
Thank you so much. Yes it does!
I should’ve added, as long as you hit the reply button while you’re having this conversation, this is what happens. That’s why my comments are pushed over to the side as well.
My email address is on my avatar page..and here on the sidebar…I’m sorry..I should have just given to you it’s lyn.leahz@att.net Also, do you have any clue why the messages are looking long and skinny like that? I can’t figure it out.
I’m also certain that many will disagree with this post. They will either take some other verses from the Bible out of context, instead of looking at the Bible in whole and argue it, or they will quietly disagree and not say a word. Hopefully there will be at least a handful of people who read it and decide maybe their thinking has been conditioned to the practice of false doctrine. It is so hard when we’ve been brainwashed all of our lives by family, friends, maybe preachers we’ve followed, that it is all this one way…and most of us who believe and accept that “one way they believe” have never researched their belief in-depth. They just accept it as true because that’s what so and so, and then the other so and so said. So once they hear the truth, they are quick to reject it and they get their panties in a bunch, so to speak. Now, if the belief is unbiblical, we should reject it. But their are things we believe that are unbiblical and need further investigation.
I think, I am not a pro by any chance, it could be that when we keep replying it moves it over and it can only move so far to the right. Maybe WP has a fix. But you do have a fantastic site. Thanks
Thank you I appreciate that. I wish I knew of a fix..looks like poopy! LOL
It doesn’t change your message!