How do preachers or teachers explain this?

[Godsgood]

It is not "different groups within Christianity" claiming it. It is a direct quote from God's word.

Acts 16:31 contains words spoken by the apostles to somebody enquiring about how to be saved. They replied simply, not in some mysterious dark sayings. What else could "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" mean, if it doesn't meant that belief on the Lord Jesus Christ is required for salvation? That does come from God. It is the same as what Jesus preached in John 3.

This is the truth because it was spoken by the Lord Jesus: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’

For your understanding of these words comes only from yourself, or perhaps from the understanding of other people; therefore, it cannot be called the truth.

Only what comes from God is the truth.”
JOHN 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Because the Jesus you know comes only from human explanations, you still do not truly know the Jesus who came in the flesh, as stated in 1 John 4:2–3.
1 OHN 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

How can you believe in the true Jesus if you do not even know Him?

 

[Dino246]

Those of us who have come to know the one true God proclaim the truth through His words. We are very bold in testifying to Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35, because God has declared that His words are alive throughout all generations.

Therefore, the events recorded in the Old Testament, which people literally understand as stories that happened in the past and will no longer happen today, we see as continuing to happen in our present generation. This is why we believe that the Word of God is alive in our generation.

Likewise, the things written in the Holy Scriptures that people literally understand as events that will happen only in the future, we see some of them already being fulfilled today. One example is the Book of Life, which the Lord spoke about. Through God's revelation we can already see its reality today. For if the Book of Life did not yet exist in our time, then, from our perspective, the Word of God concerning the Book of Life would appear as though it were still dead because it had not yet come into existence.

So, if you believe that the Lord was referring to a future time when He spoke about the Book of Life, I will respect your belief and leave you to it. My purpose is to reach out to God’s lost sheep, not to those who already have their own established beliefs.

And the verses you mentioned, although they are the Word of God, are understood according to human interpretation. That is why they are believed to refer to things that will only happen in the future.

You have not provided anything to support your assertion; all you have done is repeated it in different words. Your reasoning is circular, and your claims are empty.

 

[Dino246]

If God says something, I believe it. You use the example of black and white. Let's look at a similar example, love and hate. One Bible verse seems to say that we are to hate our family members:

Luke 14:26 is a truth that must be fulfilled in order to become a disciple of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore, it should not be disregarded.
And it does not correspond to my example.
LUKE 14:26
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.


When I come across something in the Bible that I don't understand, I pray to God to help me.
If you truly pray to God, you will not disregard Luke 14:26, because the Lord speaks the truth.

You're being a hypocrite. You continually insist that we need to humbly seek God for the true meaning of a text before accepting it, but here you insist that the plain literal meaning (according to you) is the only true interpretation.

 

[Dino246]

Because the eyes you are using are merely human eyes, your understanding of God’s Word comes only from human understanding and not from God.
That is why you cannot see it.

But we, because we have come to know the one true God, have been given eyes by Him to see everything you mentioned.
Therefore, we see all of these things happening in our time.

You ask where they are happening? They are happening in the world today.

More worthless circular reasoning.

 

[Dino246]

I already told you this before. During His time, the Lord Jesus saw that what happened in the days of Noah was happening again, the great flood that killed people throughout the whole world.

The reason He could see this was because He knew the one true God, who had given Him the vision to see the events that happened in the past.

Jesus could see these things because He is God.

 

[Dino246]

This is the truth because it was spoken by the Lord Jesus: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’

For your understanding of these words comes only from yourself, or perhaps from the understanding of other people; therefore, it cannot be called the truth.

You don't know where anyone else's understanding of a text originated, so your conclusion is invalid.

Because the Jesus you know comes only from human explanations, you still do not truly know the Jesus who came in the flesh, as stated in 1 John 4:2–3.

More baseless conclusions.

 

[DavidLamb]

Because the eyes you are using are merely human eyes, your understanding of God’s Word comes only from human understanding and not from God.
That is why you cannot see it.

But we, because we have come to know the one true God, have been given eyes by Him to see everything you mentioned.
Therefore, we see all of these things happening in our time.

You ask where they are happening? They are happening in the world today.

Yes, you keep saying they are happening in the world today. So just take the world-wide flood of Noah's day. If that was still happening today, then we and all the animals would be drowned unless we were in an ark. Certainly there are local floods today, but where is the flood that is killing all human beings and animals today, except those in an ark? It is not just a case of seeing it. If there were a world-wide flood happening today, we would all be drowned. And the flood is just one of many things that are recorded in the Old Testament that are no longer happening today.

 

[DavidLamb]

I already told you this before. During His time, the Lord Jesus saw that what happened in the days of Noah was happening again, the great flood that killed people throughout the whole world.
MATTHEW 24:38
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Yes, certainly Jesus Christ said that just as people were carrying on as normal with their everyday lives before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, so they would do the same in the days leading up to His Second Coming. He didn't say that the Flood itself is still happening.

The reason He could see this was because He knew the one true God, who had given Him the vision to see the events that happened in the past.
JOHN 8:54-55
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.

He didn't just know God, He is God, as John says at the opening of his gospel:

NKJV Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jhn 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Jhn 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

 

[DavidLamb]

This is the truth because it was spoken by the Lord Jesus: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.’

For your understanding of these words comes only from yourself, or perhaps from the understanding of other people; therefore, it cannot be called the truth.

Only what comes from God is the truth.”
JOHN 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Because the Jesus you know comes only from human explanations, you still do not truly know the Jesus who came in the flesh, as stated in 1 John 4:2–3.
1 OHN 4:2-3
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

How can you believe in the true Jesus if you do not even know Him?

If I didn't know Him then I would not have the spiritual life that He gives, and would not understand or believe His word. But I do know Him.

 

[Godsgood]

If I didn't know Him then I would not have the spiritual life that He gives, and would not understand or believe His word. But I do know Him.

If you truly know the real Jesus whom the apostles knew, then you should also be able to see that what happened in their time is happening again in our time, including the things that are believed to happen in the future.

 

[Godsgood]

Yes, certainly Jesus Christ said that just as people were carrying on as normal with their everyday lives before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, so they would do the same in the days leading up to His Second Coming. He didn't say that the Flood itself is still happening.

He didn't just know God, He is God, as John says at the opening of his gospel:

NKJV Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jhn 1:2 He was in the beginning with God.
Jhn 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Yes, certainly Jesus Christ said that just as people were carrying on as normal with their everyday lives before the flood, eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, so they would do the same in the days leading up to His Second Coming. He didn't say that the Flood itself is still happening.

Why do you not understand what He said? He compared Himself to the great flood, where people died when it came.
He already came during the time of the New Covenant, which is why what He said happened in His own time.
For His word is alive in every age.

Therefore, if what He said is still going to happen only at the time of His Second Coming, as you say, then His word would be dead in the present age, and His word would have already passed away from our time.
According to your clear understanding, what the Lord said will only happen in the future.
This contradicts Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35.

 

[Godsgood]

Yes, you keep saying they are happening in the world today. So just take the world-wide flood of Noah's day. If that was still happening today, then we and all the animals would be drowned unless we were in an ark. Certainly there are local floods today, but where is the flood that is killing all human beings and animals today, except those in an ark? It is not just a case of seeing it. If there were a world-wide flood happening today, we would all be drowned. And the flood is just one of many things that are recorded in the Old Testament that are no longer happening today.

As I told you, you will never see it as long as you depend on your own understanding.

But those of us who have come to know the one true God can see these things happening in our time because we depend on the understanding that God Himself provides.

 

[Godsgood]

If God says something, I believe it. You use the example of black and white. Let's look at a similar example, love and hate. One Bible verse seems to say that we are to hate our family members:

NKJV Luk 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

I could read that verse, and think, "God wants me to hate my parents, my wife and my children." But when I read the way it is written in Matthew, I know that is not what Jesus meant:

NKJV Mat 10:37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

Jews sometimes use "hate" to mean "love less."

When I come across something in the Bible that I don't understand, I pray to God to help me.

If God says something, I believe it. You use the example of black and white. Let's look at a similar example, love and hate. One Bible verse seems to say that we are to hate our family members:

You did not answer the question.

Nevertheless, regarding what the Lord Jesus said in Luke 14:26, you concluded that it means Matthew 10:37.
The Lord’s command in Luke 14:26 is to hate them and not love them.
Therefore, fulfilling Luke 14:26 means rejecting all of them and not loving them.

On what God has revealed to us, the command in Luke 14:26 is different from the command in Matthew 10:37.


Jews sometimes use "hate" to mean "love less."

Hate” is the opposite of “love”; it does not mean being loveless.


When I come across something in the Bible that I don't understand, I pray to God to help me.

If what you said were true, you would not be turning the word “hate” into “loveless.”

 

[Godsgood]

If the things we read happening in the Old Testament are happening today, please explain why the whole world is not flooded, why God is not still rescuing the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt, why Daniel is not still in a lions' den, why Elijah is no longer on Mount Carmel, why Gideon's army are not still drinking water in two different ways to work out who should fight and who should go home. All those things are recorded as happening in the Old Testament. Where are they happening today?

why God is not still rescuing the Children of Israel from slavery in Egypt

You will never truly see this. We, who have come to know the one true God who bears witness to Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35, testify to people that the Lord’s rescue of the Israelites has never ceased. We see Him continuing to do this in our time.

The truth is that we, who know the one true God, are among those whom He has rescued.

 

[Godsgood]

If I didn't know Him then I would not have the spiritual life that He gives, and would not understand or believe His word. But I do know Him.

The Lord knows what is in a person’s heart.
Therefore, the Lord does not depend on what people say; rather, He looks at what is in their hearts.

This is like the Jews’ claim to belong to Him, which the Lord did not accept because the condition of their hearts was different.
JOHN 8:39 & 41
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

And a person who has spiritual life will receive spiritual sight from God to bear witness to Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35.

 

[Dino246]

If you truly know the real Jesus whom the apostles knew, then you should also be able to see that what happened in their time is happening again in our time, including the things that are believed to happen in the future.

That is not sound reasoning. It's a fallacy called a "non sequitur" which means "it does not follow".

 

[Dino246]

Why do you not understand what He said? He compared Himself to the great flood, where people died when it came.

Why do YOU not understand what He said? He did not compare Himself to the great flood at all. Rather, He stated that things that were happening just before the flood would happen just before His coming.

He already came during the time of the New Covenant, which is why what He said happened in His own time.

You have a strange view of time that corresponds neither to biblical revelation nor to present reality. Jesus did not come "during the time of the New Covenant" because the new covenant did not exist until He initiated it with His death for He said at the last supper, "This is the new covenant in My blood."

For His word is alive in every age.

Yes, but that statement doesn't mean what you think it means. What it actually means is that God can speak through any part of His word in any age; He is not limited to the contemporary application.

Therefore, if what He said is still going to happen only at the time of His Second Coming, as you say, then His word would be dead in the present age, and His word would have already passed away from our time.
According to your clear understanding, what the Lord said will only happen in the future.

Some things happen only once. Some things that happen only once have parallels that are seen in every age. Some things happen many times. Apparently this truth eludes you.

If your position were correct (it isn't!), then the forward-looking prophecies of the Messiah's coming would be both presently unfulfilled and presently being fulfilled. That's a paradox, unrealistic, and irrational.

This contradicts Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35.

No, it contradicts your misunderstanding of those verses.

 

[Dino246]

As I told you, you will never see it as long as you depend on your own understanding.

But those of us who have come to know the one true God can see these things happening in our time because we depend on the understanding that God Himself provides.

That is not evidence but rather circular reasoning.

 

[Dino246]

If God says something, I believe it. You use the example of black and white. Let's look at a similar example, love and hate. One Bible verse seems to say that we are to hate our family members:

You did not answer the question.

Nevertheless, regarding what the Lord Jesus said in Luke 14:26, you concluded that it means Matthew 10:37.
The Lord’s command in Luke 14:26 is to hate them and not love them.
Therefore, fulfilling Luke 14:26 means rejecting all of them and not loving them.

On what God has revealed to us, the command in Luke 14:26 is different from the command in Matthew 10:37.


Jews sometimes use "hate" to mean "love less."

Hate” is the opposite of “love”; it does not mean being loveless.


When I come across something in the Bible that I don't understand, I pray to God to help me.

If what you said were true, you would not be turning the word “hate” into “loveless.”

You don't read too good.

"Love less" does not mean "loveless". They are different concepts.

 

[Dino246]

And a person who has spiritual life will receive spiritual sight from God to bear witness to Ecclesiastes 1:9 and Matthew 24:35.

To the correct interpretation thereof, yes. Not to your erroneous interpretation.