Interesting. So someone says, "God is lonely," but to you it does not mean, "God is lonely." Ok.Perhaps this idea would be better phrased "GOD wants us" however HE does not need us.
Lafftur, I heard what you meant.
Another web page you might like:I was saved in Oct 1972 (hence the screen name oldman). In those days breaking through to high praise was normal. I remember one service where a brother sitting right behind me prophesied "Thus saith the lord, The FATHER has heard your praise and has taken in it."
My reaction was. WOW! HE heard us! And our praise actually gave HIM pleasure. almost 50 years later those words are still very real to me.
A few weeks after that in another service we had finished singing a psalm and I raised my hands to praise. I got as far as raising my hands and spoke 'Praise you LORD....." and heard an almost audible voice "why?" Now the word was not harsh or challenging at all. It was the LORD asking what is it about me that you praise? Do you understand what you are saying? Who you are praising?. My response was uh,uh uh and I had to be quiet for a while. "The FATHER searches for those who will worship HIM in spirit and in truth." At that time I did not understand what worship in truth was. He simply wanted me to ,in my heart, to know and understand why I was giving praise.
Interesting - I need to read that several times for it to sink in. thanks
And now you know how Bible interpretation is don't around here. It's a sad state of affairs.Interesting. So someone says, "God is lonely," but to you it does not mean, "God is lonely." Ok.
It is a good thing to know everything we can about any bible verse like who God is speaking to, and the culture of the people of the times God is speaking. It helps our understanding. BUT!! We must also know that God gives us scripture (us as in every human) so we may all know Him and take advantage of His offer to save us. If you are a Jew, listen to what God tells the gentiles for it reveals God to you. If you are a gentile, the same thing applies to you.Other than the title of the book "Hebrews", isn't the very first verse clear in specifying who it is written to?
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways
Who were the forefathers of the gentiles believers?
Was Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea ever speaking to gentiles?
It is a good thing to know everything we can about any bible verse like who God is speaking to, and the culture of the people of the times God is speaking. It helps our understanding. BUT!! We must also know that God gives us scripture (us as in every human) so we may all know Him and take advantage of His offer to save us. If you are a Jew, listen to what God tells the gentiles for it reveals God to you. If you are a gentile, the same thing applies to you.
Romans 16 does not distinguish between two different Jesus's.
when you have two different Jesus's it's an indication that you have imagined or believed a fake one.
There is only one Christ, we call his name Jesus. One and only one.
Hebrews is written to the Christians, in Jerusalem. Christians. We Christians have one gospel.
Actually, I am in agreement with you on this point.Again . ALL the bible is for us , but not ALL the bible is TO us .
If you write a book to Christian Church in China, are the precepts that pertain to Christianity still relevant to a Christian in Africa? Considering that there is one Jesus and one salvation, and one faith.If I title a book call "Cantonese", do you think it is likely to be written to African Americans?
If you write a book to Christian Church in China, are the precepts that pertain to Christianity still relevant to a Christian in Africa? Considering that there is one Jesus and one salvation, and one faith.
Then later some guys were compiling a book of letters to Christians that were the precepts of the faith, and they included that letter.
If I am a gentile, I would think Romans 11:13 made it pretty clear who I should get my salvation doctrine from.
If you stop there, separating that verse from all context, sure.
If you keep reading to 1 Corinthians 3:4-9 and do what Acts 17:11 says you'll be better off.
Those books are very important to our salvation, they explain who Jesus is and what he did, and what the standards of God are. Just as Jesus quoted the OT , and Paul quoted the OT. I quote the OT all the time. Here is an example; You know the great commandments that Jesus gave, love the Lord with all your heart, mind and, spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself; there are laws that inform us of how to love our neighbors. Example Leviticus 19:9-37 if you read these laws you will know what it means to love your neighbor, even though we are not under the law.Deuteronomy and Leviticus are relevant for our learning in the Body of Christ, its in the Bible.
But do you think we should take our salvation doctrine from those books?
Those books are very important to our salvation, they explain who Jesus is and what he did, and what the standards of God are. Just as Jesus quoted the OT , and Paul quoted the OT. I quote the OT all the time. Here is an example; You know the great commandments that Jesus gave, love the Lord with all your heart, mind and, spirit, and love your neighbor as yourself; there are laws that inform us of how to love our neighbors. Example Leviticus 19:9-37 if you read these laws you will know what it means to love your neighbor, even though we are not under the law.
If you can't understand that we have no conversation to discuss.
What if I also use scripture like
Matthew 15:24
Romans 15:8
Acts 22:21.
Would it strengthen my stand? Am I now understanding Romans 11:13 in context?