Renew your mind.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will  his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:1-3).

It begins with a great “therefore.” Seeing all that God did on our behalf, therefore live like this. As believers, we are no longer conformed to this world because we no longer belong to the spirit of this age. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s Beloved Son (Colossians 1:13).

Therefore, rather than continuing to conform to this world, we are to be transformed by having our minds renewed. 

Marriage. Divorce. Abortion.

Marriage involves a man and a woman. The Hebrew word for “wife” is gender-specific; it cannot mean anything other than “a woman.”The Hebrew words for “man” and “wife” are singular and do not allow for multiple wives. Or husbands. Marriage is designed by God to be a honorable, holy, permanent and life long union.

Divorce is discouraged,  but is allowed only in the case of adultery.

Abortion is a Sin. Sanctity of Life:  the fetus, from the moment of conception, is a person (Psalm 139:13-18). Bible teaches that all persons are created in the image of God regardless of age, health, function and/or condition of dependency.  The evil world desires to change what God has instituted. “The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so” (Romans 8:7).

Homosexuality, Gender +, LGBTQ+ are Sins.

Should Women teach and become Pastors and Teachers in the Body of Christ?

Should Women teach and become Pastors and Teachers in the Body of Christ?

The answer is No. 
A woman is not to grab the Reigns of Ecclesiastical Authority within the Church.

Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2:11-14).

Teachers in The Body of Christ.

Edagogy is the discipline of study related to the field of education and teaching methods. The word is derived from the Greek Paidagogia. Jesus was the perfect teacher, a Master of Pedagogy.

Teaching is a serious calling that comes with great responsibility and accountability.
(James 3:1). (Titus 2:1).

Teaching is a spiritual gift.
(1 Cor 12:28).

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them. (Romans 12:4–8).

Teachers will face a stricter judgment on that day of reckoning.
(2 Timothy 4:1–4).

Some exceptional Teachers in The Body:
Dr. Andy Woods.
Dr. Chuck Missler.
Robert Breaker.

Paul Washer.
Jack Kinsella. (omegaletter).
Ken Johnson.

Charles Spurgeon.
Clarence Larkin.
Dr. John F. Walvoord.
Lewis S. Chafer.

Endtimes Prophecy Updates:
John Haller.
J.D. Farag.
J.B. Hixson.
Greg Laurie. (alittlestrength).

What about Water Baptism and Communion? Necessary for Salvation?

Water Baptism and Communion are the only two ordinances given in the life of every believer.

Baptism follows his/her conversion as a public declaration of his/her
identification with Christ. Communion in remembrance. ‘ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.” (1 Cor11:26).

Each of these is to be practiced as a testimony to the world, but neither of them is to be construed as a means of, or an additional requirement for Salvation.
(Dr. Andy Woods).

Are these things necessary for Salvation?

Are these things necessary for Salvation?

Law keeping,
Obedience, 
Water Baptism,
Keeping Jewish rituals,
Abstaining from foods?
Charity,
Sinner’s prayer,
Good deeds,
Church attending,
Living Holy,
Repenting for sins,
Stop Sinning,
Communion,
Giving Tithes Offerings,

ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Romans 7:14-25;
1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Does God perform Miracles today?

 Does God perform Miracles today?

Not Recorded.

8 Billion+ people on earth, and you are the ONLY lucky one with miracles happening?

“If only God would perform a miracle, sign, or wonder, then I would believe!” This idea, though, is contradicted by Scripture.

When God performed amazing and powerful miracles for the Israelites, did that cause them to obey Him? Miracles are no longer necessary, as the message of Jesus and His apostles has already been attested to and accurately recorded in Scriptures. God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4).

In 1 Cor 13:13, Paul uses a singular verb for the compound subject 'faith, hope, and love', highlighting their enduring significance. He contrasts them with gifts like prophecies, tongues, and knowledge, which will eventually cease.  Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. (1 Cor 13:8). When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Today,
there are no Signs Wonders.
No Miracles.
No Healings.
No Dreams/Visions.
No Apostles.
No Prophets.

Beware of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
(Mat 7:15 AMP).

They seek money or Christ?
You shall know them by their fruits.

'Thief in the night' is not related to The Rapture.

Dr. Andy Woods explains: “You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

The correct intepretation: Thomas Ice, the Director of the pre-trib study group says, “The “thief” idea, in relation to a coming of christ, is used seven times only in the New Testament. (Matthew 24:43; Luke 12:39; 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15). The thief in the night imagery never applies to the rapture. Such language usually is descriptive of unbelievers, and god's wrath or judgment related to the tribulation or second coming. The picture painted by a thief in the night, shows it is the unbeliever who is caught off guard, since he never really believes god is actually going to judge in history. The unbeliever thinks he has gotten away with ignoring God all his life, therefore, the lord is a non-factor, he thinks...” It should be noted that Paul clearly identifies his topic as “the day of the Lord,” which “will come just like a thief in the night” (1 Thess. 5:2b). The rapture is not spoken of as coming like a thief in the night. Verse three tells us it will be those who are saying, “‘Peace and safety!’ then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” The unbelievers, who are said to be “of the darkness,” are the ones who will be caught off-guard and unprepared by God’s wrath during the tribulation. In fact, verse nine reminds believers that “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The means of deliverance from God’s wrath will be the rapture of the church, end of Chapter. 4.  But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; (1 Thessalonians 5:4).

Judging others? Jack Nichols.

Jack Nichols shares: We are to judge only the actions of other members of the church, not the people themselves, nor are we to judge unbelievers at all.

Paul says 2 things about judging others, and in both cases, it is a "NO". We are NOT called to judge. There is only one judge and that is Christ Jesus Himself.

In (Romans 14) we hear Paul speak about the topic of NOT Judging another brother in the faith, and gives many examples throughout the chapter. It is in verse 4 that we get the succinct reason why we should not.

Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Notice what is said here:

Who are we to judge someone else's servant? The "Servant of another master" is the Christian Brother, and the "Someone Else" is Jesus Christ, the same who is our master as well.

Jesus is Master of all His servants, and He is so singularly, to each and every one of us. He is the only Judge, and we do not have license as a believer to judge for Him.

So yes... He who is without sin, cast the first stone... 😉

We have no clue about another's personal relationship with Christ, their ups and downs in their lives, their progress through sanctification. Comparing ourselves to others is "Apples vs Oranges". A Christian does not compare themselves to another Christian, they compare themselves to Christ, to see how much further they must go to be like Him. Their walk, their current standing with Christ is their business and that f Christ, just as yours or mine are of our own business and Christ. We do not answer to our fellow believers in this matter, but to Christ alone, each of us individually.

We certainly do not judge their salvation at all. And this is what Paul drives home in verse 4, that all of us stand before Christ, because He is able to make us stand before Him, by His sacrifice for our sins... All your brother's sins, all your sins, all of my sins, all who are believer's sins.

With all this said then, what is it that we are called to do?

Be disciples of Christ, and to love one another as He loved us, and to preach the Gospel while we have the season given to us to do so. 😉

The second thing Paul says about judging others, is about judging those in the world who are not saved yet. We do not judge unsaved people, since we, at one time were the very same people in our sin before Christ came into our hearts and lives. Thus, "Such were some of you..." (1 Cor 6:11)

Again, Christ Jesus is the only judge, but Paul gets to the reason why we don't judge unbelievers in (1 Cor 5:13), and it is simply this, it is none of his (Paul's) business (or ours either) to judge anyone outside the Church (verse 12), but only God's business to judge the unbeliever (verse 13).

 

The Oil is not The Holy Spirit.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (Bridesmaids).
By Jack Nichols.

https://foxman-on-the-wall.blogspot.com/2024/08/10-bridesmaids-10-virgins-and-that.html/

Rohit had asked me for some assistance on a project of his and we were talking about the problematic 10 Virgins Parable.

So, the answer will be centered around a question and argument for what exactly the Oil in this parable is.

Now before we get to that point, lets address the other issue with this parable first. Many argue and debate the timing of this parable with its intrinsic reference to the coming of the Bridegroom. Some feel it is a Rapture parable for the Church, others suggest it is addressed to those in the Tribulation period.

My opinion (such as it is) is that the context refers to the latter. Just because the Bridegroom is coming doesn't mean it is a wedding, since that is His title regardless of before or after a wedding. In other words, the title doesn't imply a timing.

Additionally, we have 10 Bridesmaids, not 10 Brides, and he isn't coming to marry the Bridesmaids.

Also, if we attribute this parable to the Church and before the wedding, we are faced with a twofold problem.

One, is that we see a 50% loss of the so-called saved in the church and would suggest that an already saved person could lose their salvation. This is not biblical at all.

Second, in the other extreme, means also that the Rapture and Resurrection of those in Christ would be 50% of all people who have ever lived up until that point. This is denied by Christ Jesus's own words about the Wide path and many who take it to destruction, compared to the Narrow path and few who find and take it to the Father and eternity. It simply is not a description of a 50/50 ratio.

This is not about the Church, or the Bride, or the Rapture. This is about something and sometime else. So, what is that then?

There is a place in scripture that has a lot to say in a few short verses, that contains this ratio of 50/50 and is also spoken by Jesus directly. (Matthew 24:37-40), the infamous "Days of Noah" verses with the "two in the field, one is taken (in death), and the other left".

This immediately links it and the 10 Virgin parable to the time of the Tribulation.

So, who are the Bridesmaids then? These would be the possible friends of the Bridegroom for the Wedding Feast which comes after the wedding. They are possible because they are virgins and not spoiled by the world yet.

So here is where we get into the meat of the parable and its symbolism. The argument is often made that the Oil is the Holy Spirit. This doesn't work though, and the following is my reply to Rohit about it.

The problem is in the interpretation of the symbols, the Oil specifically, but also the lamps, and the vials of extra oil, and the trimming of the wicks, et all.

The “Oil” cannot be the Holy Spirit for this reason:

• The Holy Spirit is immeasurable, you either have it or you don’t. You are either full with the Spirit, or you do not (yet) have it. There is no “running out”.

This presents a problem then with the 10 Virgins, since they ALL start out with “Oil” in their lamps, and the 5 Foolish Virgins run out. Let that sink in a minute, the 5 Foolish Virgins had Oil to start with.

So… the question is what is the “Oil” then? Let us look at the symbolism of the Lamp and it’s components, and it’s operation and purpose.

Primarily, it’s purpose is to give Light to the world around it. For that light to be produced, you need a wick, you need oil, and you need a vessel to contain that oil, and you need a point of ignition, a spark or existing flame.

A lamp properly equipped will not give light without ignition. It will sit there dark and without fulfillment of purpose.

The Flame which gives light, is the Spirit. Paul reminds us not to extinguish the Spirit.

The Light is the Truth of God to a dark world.

The Wick is the mouth, the tongue, the acts of the person, the transmission of the oil from the vessel to the flame. And no wonder it must be trimmed from time to time. Trimming a lamp is to trim the wick from its crusty carbon build up and to reset its height above the oil.

The Lamp Vessel is the person, the soul which contains the Oil and the Wick.

And lastly the Oil, the fuel for the Flame (the Spirit). It is not the Wick that burns, but the Oil that burns.

We now, understanding that the “Oil”, cannot be the Holy Spirit because it is immeasurable, must look for another answer.

You know what IS measurable?

Faith.

We have many examples in the scripture. Weak faith, little faith, faith the size of a mustard seed that can move mountains, and even no faith.

Oil is Faith.

And the example of the 10 Virgins is this:

They ALL started with Faith, but only the 5 Wise Virgins had Enduring Faith (till the end when He came), because they had extra faith (Oil) stored for the long haul.

It is interesting to note here also that they ALL trimmed their Lamps (speaking to a self-correction and adjustment.

Also, the answer of the 5 Wise Virgins to the 5 Foolish Virgins about going to town (the world) to buy Oil (Faith) almost sounds a bit cynical, as you don’t buy Faith to begin with, and you certainly, don’t get Faith from the world.

It sort of addresses a thought about works justification vs justification by Faith in the only One who can justify us.

It is to say sarcastically, that if you believe justification by your works, then go out into the world and gain more faith by doing your works in the world.

We won’t be waiting for you; we will rely on our Enduring Faith in Him.

Salvation has always been about Faith and the Tribulation saint is going to face a very heavy testing of their faith, much more so than those of us in the Age of Grace.

And perhaps that is the lesson to us still under Grace, to really appreciate just how good we have it when we didn't deserve it.

Grace and Peace to all of you in Christ Jesus our Lord, God in the Flesh!

In His love!