OUR SOUL HAS A DESTINATION WHICH WE ALONE DETERMINE..........

Our soul is given to each of us by God at our conception, and never dies. At the end of each of our natural lives our body dies, but our soul lives on for eternity. Where our soul spends eternity depends on who owns our soul at the time of our body's death. If during our lifetime we have allowed our soul to be purchased by the blood Jesus Christ shed on the cross, our soul will then spend eternity with our Lord in Heaven. But if we have not allowed our soul to be purchased by Jesus Christ, our soul is then owned by Satan, and our soul will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is what is meant by 'our free will of choice'. The choice of where we will spend eternity is ours to make.

Romans 10:9-10 tells us what we must do if we choose to spend eternity with our Lord and Savior. The day we take our last breath will either be the best day of our life or the worst day. There is no rest or no peace in the Lake of Fire. And since we do not know the day when we will take our last breath, please give this post some serious thought before you take your last breath.

Garry

 

I made that decision at the age of 6, nearly 60 years ago! I pray your post will touch the lives of others here to lead them to the same decision.

 

Wow, what about the millions of children in the world who've never been exposed to your religion, are they doomed? For some background on your Jesus you might enjoy this book. It's an enlightening read.

 

Columbus,
I don't need to or want to read books written by Man about Jesus. I read and study my KJV Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

It's your choice on where you are going to spend eternity.

 

Who do you think wrote every book in the bible?? You didn't answer my question about children.

 

What is amazing to me is that a illiterate itinerate uneducated desert Jewish preacher could become the "Son of God" 2000 years ago. I guess the question is, how? Nothing personal, not debating, just wondering. Of course, most of the religions of the world believe in reincarnation except the Christian/Jewish religions. Where it's either Heaven or Hell? Sounds a little to structured with no room for error to me.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 tells us that God is the author of all scriptures and not Man. God selected men to record His scriptures.
Many/most of the recorders, most likely did not understand the meaning of what they were recording at the time they were recording what God wanted them to record.

As to you question about the children, we must first understanding sin is not required for being under the penalty of sin. Two passages in Psalms tell us about the true nature of children. One says, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity" (Ps. 51:5). The other reads, "The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies" (Ps. 58:3). There are no exceptions. All of us are born with a sin nature; even though we have not yet done anything wrong, our nature is sinful. Every baby needs a Savior, just as every adult does.
The Bible addresses a baby's need through the blood of Christ. Jesus' blood was provided for the salvation of mankind--men, women and children. Until we reject the promise of God's salvation, the benefit of His death is still available to us. Even though babies are not innocent, they have not rejected God's salvation. The blood of Jesus Christ is there for them.

God has given the heathen a revelation of Himself both in nature and in their own conscience. Psalm 19:1 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." Intelligent minds are not without knowledge of God's existence, even in people groups that have never heard the Gospel explained to them. Romans 1:18-21 says that God's wrath is against those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, "because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them" (v. 19). God has revealed Himself both in external creation and in man's internal conscience. But when the heathen suppress what they can know about God and choose to worship what they create with their own hands rather than their Creator, they are without excuse.

But this is not true of a child. Babies do not have minds that can comprehend nature around them or a conscience within them. We cannot treat the question, "Is my child in heaven?" the same way we treat the question, "Is the heathen non-believer, in heaven ?" Adult men and women have had the opportunity to consider and to reject the witnesses that God has given of Himself. Babies, on the other hand, are guilty of having a sin nature, but they have not weighed the evidence and rejected God. They have not been condemned by their own actions as the heathen non-believers have.

Isaiah said, "For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings" (Isa. 7:16). It's evident that little children do not have the ability to make moral decisions and to take responsibility for their sins. Still, they are sinners and need a Savior. Children come to a point where they become morally aware; that is, they understand what's right and what's wrong.

So what happens if a child dies before the child is aware of what is morally right or wrong? That child is still guilty of his sins and must pay the penalty for their sins. That's where the blood of Jesus Christ comes in. Young children have not rejected the blood of Jesus as the heathen unbelieving men and women have. The blood of Jesus Christ is there for the children, covering their sins, washing them clean, even though they have not had the ability to exercise faith in Jesus, which is required for the salvation of men and women who understand the consequences of their sin. A child's lack of understanding doesn't deter the power of Jesus' blood. Only rejecting the blood deters its power, and babies young children haven't done that.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) tells us that we are to study God's scriptures.
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

I disagree with your characterization of Jesus. Jesus was not illiterate or uneducated. Jesus is God's only begotten Son. God is the father of Jesus. Who was more literate and more educated than Jesus during his ministry on earth ? No one, Jesus was taught by God.

Scripture tells us that sin is the transgression of God's laws. Scripture tells us that the penalty for sin is death. Scripture tells us All have sinned and fallen short of the the glory of God. If Jesus had not shed his blood on the cross to atone for all sins, there would not be any hope for mankind. But because of what Jesus did on the cross, we now can have the blessed hope that we can spend eternity with Jesus, if we as individuals make the right choice.

God makes it clear that salvation is by faith and not by works, least anyone should boast. One cannot do enough good works or buy their way into heaven. Jesus is the only way!

Once a person becomes saved, that does not mean that this person will no longer sin. Every born again believer will still sin, but their sins are covered-up with the blood Jesus shed on the cross. Scripture tells us that flesh and sin cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. When God cast Satan into the Lake of Fire, then there will be no more sin.

Garry

 

Columbus,

Please ignore this sentence as it has a typo. It should have read: Scripture tells us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God which makes this sentence irrevalant to the conversation.

 

Faith = belief in something absent of proof. That's religion; to each their own. Dostoevsky said it and others as well; god is nothing more than man's fear of the pain of death. The pain of death being "not being". Your book (KJV) was a translation commissioned in 1601 with specific intent to credit and discredit certain groups. It's no different than any other so called scripture. All written by men, all written with intent. And yes, Jesus was illiterate, wrote no scripture at all during his lifetime and was without doubt a married man.

 

Columbus, here are a couple of scriptures that I think we can both agree on.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man (the non-believer) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

 

Can you explain "spiritually discerned" ? Use of the word discern doesn't make sense.

 

Discernment is one of the spiritual gifts given to born again Christians by the Holy Spirit. Born again Christians who receive this gift are able to distinguish, discern, judge or appraise a person, statement, situation, or environment. In the New Testament it describes the ability to distinguish between spirits as in 1 Corinthians 12:10, and to discern good and evil as in Hebrews 5:14.

The Holy Spirit gives the gift of discernment to enable certain Christians to clearly recognize and distinguish between the influence of God, Satan, the world, and the flesh in a given situation.

So, 1 Corinthians 2:14 is saying that the natural man is a man who has not been baptized by the Holy Spirit. This man will not receive the things of the Spirit of God. The things of the Spirit of God will seem foolish to the natural man. The things of the Spirit of God cannot be known by the natural man because these things are spiritually discerned and the natural man does not have the gift of discernment. The natural man is spiritually blind.

 

But I can discern fairy tales.

 

To argue religion is a fools errand.

 

Very true!

 

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Had a couple of young men from the LDS stop by a few days ago. Probably too young to have much wisdom but certainly full of instruction.

 

Seems kind of diabolical doesn't it? I mean, born with free will, made like us (how many Gods?) and yet if one disobeys he's is sent to Hell.

 

Bama, one doesn't go to Hell because of what that they did, but because of what did not happen in the heart. What did not happen, is that person never chose Jesus to be their Lord and Savior before the person died.

We alone determine where we spend eternity based on the choice we make when we are still alive. God made salvation a free gift to everyone. First, we need to repent, stop do the bad things we do. Scripture describes this as putting off the old man and putting on the new man - (Ephesians 4:22-24). Then, we to need to confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in our heart that God hath raised him from the dead, then we shall be saved from spending eternity in Hell/Lake of Fire.

Once we are baptized by the Holy Spirit, we are saved, but because mankind is born with a sin nature, a born again Christian will still sin in the flesh but our spirit is cleansed by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 4:22-24
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Bama, I hope this helps clear up some of the miss-conceptions that many people have about salvation and where they will spend eternity based on their choice.

 

Psalm 14:1
14 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works ....

Galatians 6:7-80
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

Hellfire and brimstone......making hell the church's bank.

 

This is not the place to discuss religion. Many believe in the here after and lead disgusting lives. Many do not believe and lead honorable lives. We will all know for sure some day will we not. Maybe we will get a FTF exemption, maybe not. Roger C.

 

Columbus,

We both agree that there are too many pastors who preach 'Love God and Send Me Your Money'. Please do not let these pastors influence your choice on where you will spend eternity. God will judge theses pastors who are preaching for the wrong reasons.

There are many false God's that people around the world worship. But their is only one true God. The God who created you everything in the universe including you and me. What other god(s) do you know of who claims to have created the things listed in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 ?

Exodus 20
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,

 

Roger, I am not discussing religion. Religion is the doctrine and the traditions of MAN. God does not care about the doctrine and traditions of MAN.

IMHO, there is no wrong place to have a discussion on the Doctrine of God/Jesus, especially when it comes to salvation.

 

The fulfillment of prophecy is proof that God is the one and only true God who created everything in the universe including mankind. Did you know that there are approximately 500 prophecies in the bible that have already been fulfilled by God. There are still some prophecies that will be fulfilled in the future. The last prophecy to be fulfilled was the regathering of Jews and the reestablishment of Israel as a nation. The prophet Ezekiel promised this event 2,500 years before it was fulfilled in 1948. The next prophecy to be fulfilled is the Gog-Magog war against Israel which was also a prophesied by Ezekiel. Read the scriptures below.

Ezekiel 36:22-24
22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
My Note: Verse 24 was fulfilled in 1948 when Israel became a nation again.

Ezekiel 38:8
8 After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations ....
My note: Verse 8 tells us that when God regathered and brought forth Jews from the nations where they had be scattered in 70 A.D., and then reestablished Israel as a nation again in 1948, God said this event would occur in the latter years.

Who else but God could have prophesied this event 2,500 before it was fulfilled in 1948? Answer, no one but God.

Ezekiel 38:16
16 And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.
My note: This is the next prophecy to be fulfilled. Notice the time change. When Israel was reestablished as a nation in 1948, God said this would happen in the latter years. When Gog and his confederacy of heathen (Gentile) nations attack Israel with boots on the ground inside of Israel borders, notice that God changes the time period to latter days. This is our sign from God that our redemption is soon to follow.

 

Another typo. I meant to type the word 'prophesied' instead of the word 'promised'.

 

The Lord is coming and he is PISSED---

Proverb SJB

 

Garry, If God made the total universe, Tell us where God came from. No BS just facts. Roger C.

 

That's good Preaching Gary. The ''Great Commission'' is alive and well in you. Your posts are more important then even 7 1/2s vs 8s lol.

 

Mommy, Daddy, I'm so scared; I don't want to die. They say "don't be afraid, live a good life and we all get to go to a beautiful place, be together and live forever". And that right there is the basis for all religion. (well except for the desire to control and manipulate)

 

Roger, you should no by now that I don't BS. Cod comes from the ocean. Please forgive me!

Here's an article that may or may not answer your question.

Who Made God?
By Wayne Jackson
“Where did God come from? Who made him?”

This is a frequently asked question, and it may be addressed in two basic ways.

The most direct answer is the one supplied by the Scriptures themselves. And that will settle the issue for those who have confidence in the credibility of the sacred Book.

Secondly, however, one may pursue the inquiry by means of the process of logical reasoning.

The Biblical View
The view regarding God that is set forth consistently in the Bible is this: He did not come from anywhere.

No one made the Creator of the universe. He had no beginning, and will have no ending. He is the eternal, self-existing Being.

Here is what the Bible says about who made God:

God is eternal
God is everlasting in nature (Isa. 40:28), which is to say, he is eternal as to his very essence (Rom. 16:26; 1 Tim. 1:17). His existence is “from everlasting to everlasting.”

Before the material creation was spoken into existence, he always was (Psa. 90:2).

God is self-existing
The Lord revealed himself to Moses as the “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14). The “I AM” expression is related to the Hebrew name for God, Yahweh (LORD — KJV, or Jehovah. This was the most sacred name for God.

The term Yahweh occurs more than 6,800 times in the Old Testament. The word is believed to be a form of the verb hayah, which signifies “to be,” ultimately meaning “the eternal One” or “self-existing One.”

God’s existence is underived; no one made him. He simply always was. The Scriptures tells us that “God is spirit?” (Jn. 4:24) — an non-created, eternal Spirit Being.

The Logical View
The eternality of the Creator may be argued in another way as well. Consider the following logical line of argument.

The universe must have been created by something
If there ever was a time when nothing at all existed, then there would be absolutely nothing today.

It is an axiomatic truth that if nothing exists, then “nothing” will be the case — always, for nothing simply remains nothing — forever! Nothing plus nothing equals nothing.

If there is absolutely nothing but nothing, there cannot ever be something. “Nothing” and “something” — applied to the same object, at the same time — are mutually exclusive terms.

Something has always existed
Since it is the case that something does now exist, one must logically conclude that something has existed always.

Let us state the matter again: If nothing cannot produce something, and yet something exists, then it follows necessarily that something has existed always.

The question then becomes this. What is the “something” that has been in existence always?

An eternal non-material spirit being
In logic, the “law of the excluded middle” states that a thing either is, or it is not. A line either is straight, or it is not straight.

Let us apply this principle to the matter at hand.

Something has existed forever. That “something” must be either material in nature or non-material.

If it can be demonstrated that the eternal “something” is not material in nature, then it must follow that the eternal “something” is non-material in nature.

Another term for the “non-material” would be “spirit.”

The question now becomes — what does the available evidence reveal? Is it the case that “matter” has existed forever, or does the evidence argue that the eternal “something” is non-matter, i.e., spirit?

Matter is not eternal
The most reputable scientists in the world concede that matter is not eternal. In his book, Until the Sun Dies, Dr. Robert Jastrow, founder of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies and a professed agnostic, describes his perception of the initial creation of the universe.

He speaks of that moment when “the first particles of matter appear” (21, emphasis added), thus, prior to that moment, matter did not exist. Subsequently, he declares emphatically that “modern science denies an eternal existence to the Universe?” (30).

There is not a particle of evidence that the universe has existed forever. The very fact that scientists attempt to assign an “age” to the universe is revealing within itself.

A non-material, spirit must have always existed
In view of the foregoing — namely that something has always existed, and yet that “something” is not of a material nature — the student of logic is irresistibly forced to the conclusion that the “something” that is eternal is non-material.

That non-material eternal something must be spirit in its essence.

The Scriptures identify that spirit Being as God. “God is spirit?” (Jn. 4:24) — an uncreated, eternal Spirit Being.

Both Scripture and logic, then, in marvelous concert, testify to the fact that God is eternal. He had no origin. He is the everlasting I AM. No one “made” him. He simply IS.

 

The mess this world is in---I wonder if HE is happy with his creation? If it were me
I wouldn't be happy-------Wish I had a chance to create---It would be a-lot different.

Just saying-----The 10 commandments should work for all.

Happy shooting----

SJB

 

Amen, you are absolutely correct. Here are a couple of scriptures that proof it.

Isaiah 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

Luke 21:22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Luke 23:28-31
28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

 

Roger, remember that the absence of proof is not proof of absence. Faith is like the wind, you can's see it, but you can see the effects of both.

 

Columbus, are you a scoffer ?

2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers ....

Scoffer: Someone who jeers or mocks or treats something with contempt or calls out in contemptuous ridicule or mockery.

 

Our ability as humans to comprehend the concept of eternity is virtually non-existent. Alpha-Omega. Without beginning, without end. Eternity is forever...our limited understanding of it will not change that fact. "It is what it is."

 

Garry, Do you know who wrote the scriptures? And when? You do not BS, so answer the ? Roger C.
Your last sentence is BS. No mater how you sugar coat it you do not know where or how a God so powerful could just appear from know where and create the total universe. Roger C.

 

Garry, Are you aware that God selected (men of free) will, to write the scriptures? Does that leave some room for errors?
If it were not for religion man would have wiped man from this earth a long time ago. It does have its place in the realm of civilization. How ever it does have a great many unanswered questions.
Garry, you are not convincing in your quoting all of the things that were written by men of free will. Roger C.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

God is the author of all scripture. The Book of Genesis was recorded by Moses between 1450 and 1400 B.C. The Book of Revelation was recorded by John the Apostle between 90 and 96 A.D..

 

Unfortunate for me, most of the above is WAY above my head---I was brought up in believing
in GOD---It has worked well for all my family----Believing has given me much comfort in life.
God has left us with the best mystery of all time. Neither of any above has solved it but no hurt in trying.
Coming from the time past of 3 wars, Ill leave all something to dwell on.
It was said----It was hard to find many atheist in the foxholes----

Happy shooting----

SJB

 

-It was hard to find many atheist in the foxholes

And that right there goes back to "God is man's fear of the pain of death". We are the only species on this planet that is self aware, knowing we're going to die. If any other animal knew it, they'd have churches too.

 

Roger, I assume your are referring to: "Both Scripture and logic, then, in marvelous concert, testify to the fact that God is eternal. He had no origin. He is the everlasting I AM. No one “made” him. He simply IS. If my assumption is correct, I did not write that sentence, the author of the article (Wayne Jackson), wrote it. I have no idea who Mr. Jackson is or his background, but I agree with his understanding.

Roger, I stated that the article written by Mr. Jackson "may or may not answer your question". Evidently, it did not and I respect your choice to disagree with Mr. Jackson.

I believe God when he says " I AM THAT I AM" and "I am the Alpha and the Omega" - the beginning and the end.

Roger, there are questions that we have about God and Heaven that we will not know the answers to in our flesh bodies. But God's plan for salvation is made clear in the scriptures.

 

If were going to Err----Best to Err in the side of believing-----JMO

SJB

 

southjblue,

I appreciate your honesty. Believing in God is good, but even Satan believes in God and why not, God created Satan. Jesus is the only way to Heaven. This is plainly stated in the scriptures I posted above. Please read and then comply with Romans 10:9-10 and you will become a new member in an exclusive club and best of all, the membership is free!

May God bless you and your family forever.

 

Thank You Garry----Since we are all animals like stated above---We must agree
He selected us as special----Wont You agree? In my opinion, every animal has a
purpose----We have one also----George@SJB

 

There is an old story about a man who ordered that a tight rope be strung over the widest, most dangerous part of Niagara Falls. The man announced that he was going to push a wheel barrow on the tight rope from one side to the other.

There is a difference between belief and faith.

Belief is when I can say, "I believe the man will make it."

Faith is getting in the wheel barrow.

 

O Phantom---With respect to you and Gary----Your plight has been going on for century's--

How many tgts have U missed this wk? I missed 5 out of 75 this morning----Damn---I'll have to work on that.

SJB

 

Garry, You seem to have trouble answering my questions. Quoting scriptures is not an answer. I am not an atheist or agnostic. I do not like to be told to believe in something that as far as we know, what you and many others are professing is in the impossible column.
What is the eternal fate of humans that were born and died thousands of years prior to religion coming into the world? Do you have an answer for them? Are they all collatoral damage? There have been humanoids on this world for many 1000's of years what about them.
It seems all of the tough questions are answered, well you just have to take it on faith. Some folks are skeptics and do not think that is enough of an answer. Roger C.

 

google- age of the book of Genesis . You are off by about 800 to 900 years. what else are you off with? Roger C.

 

Forget about religion. Think God,Jesus and the cross. Scriptures are the very best way to answer your questions. The scriptures are authored by God. If you don't agree with scriptures, tell God and not me. I believe God.

You can find most of the answers to your question yourself if your willing to study the scriptures. God tells us to do just that.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

As to your question about those who died before the cross:

The first resurrection of the dead is for believers only, as recorded in Rev. 20.5-6. According to verse 5, the resurrection of the Tribulation saints completes the first resurrection. The first resurrection is not a one-time resurrection, but it happens in stages in an orderly progression, according to 1 Cor. 15:20-23. The first resurrection includes the following 5 stages.

1. The resurrection of Jesus – 1 Cor. 15:23 (First fruit of the dead)

2. The resurrection of the dead in Christ – 1 Thes. 4:16

3. The resurrection of the two witnesses – Rev. 11:7-12

4. The resurrection of Old Testament Saints – Is. 26:9 & Dan. 12:2.

5. The resurrection of the Tribulation Saints – Rev. 20:4

The second resurrection is described in Rev. 20:13. The second resurrection is for all the unbelievers from the creation of man. The second resurrection is separated from the completion of the first resurrection by 1,000 years. All the unbelievers will be resurrected at the second resurrection and stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment. All will be found guilty and cast into the Lake of Fire where they will spend eternity.

Roger, I am happy to know that you are not an atheist or agnostic. Are you a born again Christian saved by the blood of Jesus ? If a skeptic were to ask you questions about salvation or eternity, what would you tell them and what would be your source document ?

I am trying my best to share the Good News of the Gospel and my source is God's Word as recorded in the scriptures. I don't pretend to have all the answers, but the more I study the scriptures, the more I learn about God and his plan for the Jews and his plan for the Gentiles.

Roger, I don't want you anyone to believe what I say in regards to the Holy Scriptures. I would like you to believe what God says in the scriptures. I would like you to become a good Berean. In the Book of Acts, the apostle Paul and Silas are sent to preach the gospel in the city of Berea. Those living in Berea listened to Paul's preaching with an open mind and then they searched the scriptures daily to verify that what Paul was preaching agreed with the scriptures.

Acts 17:10-11
10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

 

Roger, I did what you said and Googled when the Book of Genesis was written. The first hit at the top of the page said and I quote; "Most Biblical scholars believe the Book of Genesis was the first book to be written down. This would have happened around 1450 BC to 1400 BC. So perhaps about 3400 years or so ago."

These dates agree with the dates in my King James Study Bible.

 

Roger---They call it the mystery of all ages----I don't think Gary has the answer----
Do U ?

 

southjblue, when you say they, who exactly are you referring to ?

 

southjblue, Garry is taking the bible as written by men as totally absolute. It was written by men that had free will, and as we all know are prone to making mistakes. I do not profess to know where the universe cam from, as the jury is still out on that subject. Something from nothing is hard to comprehend, The world is billions of years old, but the bible states it was made in 6 days. That does not lend its self to making people that can think very comfortable. I'm going to drop this discussion with Garry as it my make to many people uncomfortable.
I'm not sure man will ever know the answer. Roger C.

 

Roger, your statement about me in not true. Most bible scholars agree that all of the existing English Bible translations contain some amount of errors due to the various cultural interpretations that resulted from the complexities associated with translating the Greek language into English and the politics that existed when these English versions were written. I agree.

Thankfully, there is a new English translation that unveils the original meaning after nearly two thousand years. This new English translation is called the The Pure Word, copyrighted in 2016 and 2017. The Pure Word is the world's first English translation taken directly from a complete and original collection of New Testament Greek manuscripts that successfully presents more of the original depth, meaning and understanding that one would receive if read from the native language during the first century.

The Pure Word translations began with the understanding that all scripture is inspired by God (2 Tim. 3:16) and every Word of God is pure (Psalms 12:6-7, Prob. 30:50). Since each word is pure (without mixture), it stands to reason that God is not ambiguous or indecisive regarding the meaning of His message. As a result, each word within the bible was intended to have a single specific meaning that was never meant to be open to personal interpretation. Translating the Scriptures in this manner generates a pure monadic translation that prevents an unambiguous and clear meaning of the original Greek that bypasses and personal interjection from opinion or cultural or political influence.

This translation process takes each of the 140,745 words which makeup the 7,956 New Testament Greek verses and first determines the single pure word meaning that was originally intended for each of the 5,624 root words; creating a new concordance with unprecedented accuracy. Though this raw translation has been provided with minimal finessing to provide the most direct monadic translation available. This approach produces text that does not always follow grammatically correct English rules, however, to retain the purest meaning possible, it's best to let the raw translation stand on its own; allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the reader.

The Pure Word team of translators had one goal - to produce the most accurate translation possible.

 

Was watching a movie last night and a teenage girl was asked if she believed in God - she said no, God's a fairy tale, it's like Santa Claus for adults. Pretty much sums it up for me.

 

Larry, I said I was done with this thread. BUT, think about this; religion may be the ultimate scam that was ever pulled on man kind. Every word in the new word was written by men. You and I are to totally believe their idea of what was written by men many years ago.
The religious sects were the only people that were able to read for them selves many years ago. So the religious leaders told them that they must follow what the church doctrines they are told are for their souls to be saved. Many times it involved do as I say not as I do, even today not all church leaders are men of GOD.
Try reading the history of man. More people have been slaughtered in the name of Gods than all others combined. I'm not trying to mess with your convictions, I just want you and other to think for them selves. Do not be a lemming.
Roger C.

 

Religion is nothing more than a method to overcome the fear of the unknown. And the brighter men (priests, shamans, etc) a long time ago became very powerfull in their tribes detailing how if one believed in this or that everything would be better in the afterlife. After all, in those times people seldom lived past 30 or 40. And they had nothing. Today nothing has changed. We the people are still afraid of the unknown or death. ERGO: The afterlife of heaven, reincarnation, immortality, etc. with absolutely no proof whatsoever. Nothing, Nada, Zilch......

 

For a wide variety of reasons, most humans just aren't interested in getting in the wheel barrow.

 

I agree, religion is a big scam but Christianity is not. Religion and Christianity are not the same.
If you and other choose foolishness, I will respect your choice even if I disagree. Conversely, because I choose to approach Christianity by faith, I would like you and others to respect my choice. That way we can still remain friends which is important to me.

I believe that God is the author of the bible and he chose approximately 25 to 35 men to write down His Words. Revelation 1

 

I agree, religion is a big scam but Christianity is not. There is a huge difference between Religion and Christianity but unfortunately many do not understand this difference.

Why can some understand and believe the Scriptures and others cannot ? The Apostle Paul answers this question in 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man, (the man who has not been born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit), receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Note: all bold emphasis is mine.

God is absolutely the author of the Scripture. The word write is used 89 times in the bible. Most of the 89 times, God is commanding a person to write down the things God spoke. Galatians 1: 11-12 is a perfect example.
Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

God told Paul what to write and Paul sat down and wrote it. Who therefore wrote Galatians? Paul. Whose ideas, signature and authorship Galatians bears? God's. Hence, who is the author? God is the author. What were men like Paul and the others that contributed to the Bible? They were the writers that wrote down what the author, God, told them. That's why the Bible, though it was written by many, has one and the same author: GOD. It is like the boss and the secretary. The secretary writes down what the boss tells her. Who does the writing? The secretary. Whose ideas it contains? The boss who thus is the author.

The Book of Revelations contains several commands by God to the Apostle John to write. Here are a few examples.
Revelation 1:11Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book
Revelation 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter
Revelation 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write
Revelation 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne (God) said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

 

Please ignore post number 62. I had started to write it when my wife called me to lunch. I must have hit the post reply key by accident before I had finished writing down my thoughts.

 

I want to thank everyone who has participated in this thread, but I think it's time to close it down. But before I ask the administrator to close this thread, but not delete it, I would like everyone to read my original post one more time and give it some serious thought. Someday, I would like to meet everyone of you in Heaven.

God bless,
Garry

 

To clarify why I asked the administer to close this post had nothing to do with my not wanting anymore input. My reason was to give my body a much need rest. Those who participated in this thread asked some good question and many of these questions required a lot of research to provide scriptural answers. Scriptural answers are the best answers.

I will not be replying to anymore post on this thread, but you can always send me a PM if you have more question on the Gospel and especially those on salvation.

Again, I thank every one who participated in this thread and some day I hope to meet all of you in Heaven.

God Bless,
Garry

 

God Bless you also Garry-----George@SJB

 

Garry, Nice that you are so scientifically knowledgeable about how the soul is "given" at conception. It would be nice to have a source for your knowledge. But, please be a bit more specific so I can understand. The egg and the sperm have no soul but when they make "conception" a soul is given? Ok. When is conception? As soon as the sperm attaches to the egg? When the egg first divides into two cells? I am just wondering when God finds it appropriate to "give" the soul.
Oh, and the soul is not preexisting in heaven before it is "given?" Is it created by God? And then he waits for the appropriate time to insert it?
Thanks for the education.
Jake

 

Instead of asking a bunch of inane hypothetical questions, when don't you just man up and prove him wrong? You're the one with all of the facts.

 

"man up"??? You can't even begin to prove anything about a soul, nothing? It's all a matter of faith; you know that belief in something that is absent of any proof. I don't think those questions were inane at all; if man is "given" a soul by some mystical being then when does it happen? Right there, right then, right when that zygote is two cells big? Prove it.

 

Blah.........

Blah.........

Blah!

You and Jake need to get a room.

You are the doubter, NOT Garry. Garry is a believer. Believers don't have to prove anything.

If you doubt the existence of "Big Foot" then go out there and prove it. The burden of proof rests on you.

 

You take that road because you've no choice but to say you don't have to prove anything. It's the only way you can respond. You have no proof, none. All I have to say is " show me one single bit of evidence". You can't, therefore you are not believable.

 

Please allow me to refer you to Post #16 in this very thread. I was taught to never argue with a fool.

 

That's exactly how I feel, but it is entertaining at times to try get one to justify himself.

 

Jake, When the heart makes it's first beat you have life, when it takes it's last beat you have death. Some where in between a soul is supposed to enter. I can not attest to when or if. Roger C.

 

Roger, I can attest to the if. The word soul is used 498 times in the bible. That's good enough for me.

It is not within the competence of science to decide when the human zygote/embryo is ensouled, because the existence of an immortal soul is not is not something that can be answered by science. Nor do the scriptures pinpoint the time of ensoulment. I personally believe that our soul is given to each of us by God at our conception.

According to Princeton University and other sources, Life Begins at Fertilization.
The link below provides references that illustrate the fact that a new human embryo, the starting point for a human life, comes into existence with the formation of the one-celled zygote.

https://www.princeton.edu/~prolife/articles/embryoquotes2.html

God formed man (Adam) of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. This is the first time the word soul if used in the bible.

 

Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man, (the man who has not been born again and baptized by the Holy Spirit), receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Psalm 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Galatians 6:7-8
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...

Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

One can believe these scriptures or not, the choice is yours to make. I choose to believe them.

 

I'll err on side of believing---Like Trump said---What the Hell do you have to lose---
It's the atheist in the foxhole story----U won't find many----
JMO----SJB