How Can a Man that is a Sinner do such Miracles? John 9:16

When Jesus made clay and healed a blind man on the Sabbath day, there was division within, and opposition from, the religious leadership of his time.[i] All who opposed the works of God, did so simply because they were not of God.[ii] But some were confused and asked how a man that is a sinner could do such miracles?

That’s a good question, and it is one that Jesus addressed in Matthew chapter seven when he spoke of the false prophets who would not be granted entrance into his Kingdom.[iii] Jesus clearly told us that there would be men (and women) who were not of God doing miracles and performing great signs and wonders.

In the book of Acts, we read of a man named Simon who used sorcery to deceive the people. He claimed to be a great power of God and from the least to the greatest, because of the signs and wonders he performed, the people believed him.[iv]

The apostle Paul prophesied concerning the Man of Sin, who would use miracles, signs, and lying wonders to steal the souls of those who, because they chose to follow what they could see with their physical eyes rather than the truth of God’s Word, would follow The Son of Perdition into eternal condemnation.[v]

And finally, in THE REVELATION, the apostle John was shown that spirits of devils could deceive people through the working of miracles and that some wonders are indeed lying wonders.[vi]

How can we tell the difference? Some have been given the gift of Discerning of Spirits. Others have not. But all have been given the gift of the WRITTEN WORD OF GOD—THE BIBLE. We worship God through his risen Son based upon what has already been WRITTEN.[vii] We discern what is of God and what is not of God in the same way. But if we are hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word, if we heap teachers to ourselves simply because what they teach makes us “feel good,” then the scriptures are clear that our discernment will be seriously distorted, and we are headed for a fall.[viii]

The Bible tells us our physical bodies are beneficially or adversely affected by distorted discernment, so it is not advisable to take lightly anything that may interfere with our understanding of the expressed, will of God according to his written Word.[ix]

If someone claims to be a great power of God simply because they perform signs and wonders, examine their doctrine (and lifestyle) against the light of scripture. Does it measure up? If it does not, do not make excuses for them. Flee from them!

Run to Jesus. Run to his Word. And you will be safe.[x]

Is it well with your soul?[xi]

[i] John 9:16, All scripture references in this commentary are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures
[ii] John 8:47
[iii] Matthew 7:22-23
[iv] Acts 8:9-11
[v] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
[vi] Revelation 16:14
[vii] Isaiah 8:19-20
[viii] Matthew 7:24-27, 2 Timothy 4:3-4
[ix] Proverbs 4:20-22, Luke 11:34-36
[x] Proverbs 18:10, Proverbs 14:26,
[xi] John 3:14-21, Romans 10:9-10. 13

1 Corinthians 11:3 HEADSHIP OR LORDSHIP?

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

In Matthew 21:42, Jesus said, “Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”

Jesus is the head of the corner. That means he is the primary corner or angle. The primary angle of a structure is one that directly connects with every other angle within the structure. This is a critical concept to grasp in understanding relationship roles between males and females within the Body of Christ.

Read more HERE

1 Corinthians 11:10 Because of the Angels

1 Corinthians 11:10 says, “For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.”It is generally inferred and more than implied that because the woman was deceived and sinned first, that females are inherently more naïve, gullible, and prone to fall prey to seduction than males. And that because of this, her perpetual consequence this side of Heaven, for her personal protection and for the good of everyone else, is, from her birth to her death, to be placed under male authority. A close look at the original language the Bible was written it makes it clear that the general understanding of the first part of 1 Corinthians 11:10 needs to be challenged, but it is the last few words of the verse that seem so mysterious. In fact, most Bible scholars honestly admit to being baffled by it. That is the portion of the verse that reads, “because of the angels.”

When looking for answers, it is important to be certain that we are asking the right questions. And a good place to begin solving the mystery of 1 Corinthians 11:10, is to ask what it might be that womankind has in common with the angels. There is not much that humankind has in common with angels—either male or female, but womankind does have the distinction of having DECEPTION in common with angels. Was not the angel, Lucifer, deceived into thinking that he could be as God? The scriptures record that the highest ranking angel was deceived, sinned and subsequently caused the fall of one third of all the angels who chose to follow him into perdition. Hmmmm, sound familiar?

Read the rest of the article at:

http://womansubmit.blogspot.com/2009/06/because-of-angels.html

Link to All Hingry Hearts Revelation Studies

We have done so many Revelation studies, we set up a site dedicated specifically to that book of the Bible. There are written studies as well as audio /video studies on this site

http://the-bookofrevelation.blogspot.com/

Ephesians 4:8-10 The Lower Parts of the Earth: Did Jesus Suffer in Hell?

God promised to send a man, the seed of woman, to strip the serpent of his power over mankind and completely crush him (Genesis 3:15). The phrase, bruise thy head, in Genesis 3:15, means to strip of power or to crush (the head representing rank or authority). But until such time as the serpent would be stripped of his power, the righteous dead were held captive, for their protection, in a place called Abraham’s Bosom located somewhere in the heart of the earth.

This place was beautiful enough to be called paradise, but it was not Heaven (Luke 16:22-25, Ezekiel 31:16, Job 14:13). When Jesus ascended to Heaven after his resurrection he took these “captive” souls with him, but first he had to descend into the “lower parts of the earth” to get them (Ephesians 4:8-10). This is one of the proof scriptures that Jesus never suffered in hell. How could he have suffered in hell for 3 days when he told the thief, who was crucified with him, that they would be together in Paradise on the very day they both died?

According to the words of Christ, the price [for sin] was completely paid while he was still hanging on the cross (John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost). There was no need for him to suffer further in hell.

We see from scripture that Jesus was quite busy during the time his body lay in the tomb, and he didn’t spend any of that time burning in hell fire (Luke 23:43, 1 Peter 3:19-20).

Had Christ failed in his mission and refused to die on the cross during that long ago Passover, possession of those captive souls, in Abraham’s Bosom/Paradise, would have defaulted to Satan and been doomed—forever—along with him. Not only would they have all been without hope, but you and I would be without hope as well. But we are not left without hope. We have a living hope in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ if we will come to him. Jesus said, “He that heareth my word and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life (John 5:24).

Romans 10:8-13
8: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

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.
11: For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12: For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Predestination: Committed to Dishonor—Fitted For Destruction, Romans 9:21,23,22, Romans 8:29

What is meant in the ninth chapter of Romans where the apostle speaks of vessels made to dishonor and fitted to destruction?

If that is truly the case, If we were created for either of these things from the moment of our birth, then we are all completely predestined to honor or dishonor, eternal life or eternal destruction, so why bother preaching the gospel to anyone or attempt to live lives pleasing to God—our fate is already determined…right?

Romans 9:21 (KJV) says that God makes some vessels unto honor and other vessels are made unto dishonor. Romans 9:22 says God endures with much long suffering the vessels fitted to destruction.

The scriptures say some vessels were made unto honor or dishonor, not that they were made for these things. That is an important distinction. And the vessels in verse 22 are fitted to destruction, not fitted for destruction. That is relevant. Remember, every word of scripture is God breathed, even the little words.

The word “makes” in verse 21 comes from the Greek word poieo. Poieo is a root word with a literal translation of make or do. But, depending on the context, this word has an extremely wide variety of applications, some of which include the meanings of commit, ordain, raise up, or appoint.

It would not contradict the context of Romans chapter to nine for the wording “God commits some vessels unto honor” to be substituted for “God makes some unto honor...” But that reading does give a slightly different perspective of the passage.

God raised up and appointed Saul to be King over Israel. Saul made some personally destructive choices. Yet he was also given ample opportunity to make righteous choices. Saul was given personal freedom to do things differently.

Pharaoh could have done things differently. The apostle does not say Pharaoh was made for dishonor and destruction, he says he was made, or committed, unto these things.

When was he committed unto these things? From the moment of his conception in the mind of God? No, Romans 9:22 makes it clear that Pharaoh was not committed unto dishonor and destruction until after God had endured his sinful choices with much long suffering.

Romans 9:22 speaks of vessels of wrath fitted to destruction—not for destruction. That is a critical distinction.

The Greek word translated “fitted” in the King James Bible is, “Katartizo.” Katartizo has a literal translation of “complete thoroughly,” “adjust” or “repair,” which does not seem to make sense in this application (Romans 9:22) until we understand that Katartizo is derived from yet another Greek word, “Katah.” Katah is a root word meaning “down.”

In light of the meanings of Katartizo and Katah, the clear implication of what Romans 9:17-22 [22]) is saying is that vessels adjusted down to destruction, are committed to that destruction only after God endures their sinful choices with much long suffering.

1 Timothy 2:3-5 clearly states that it is not God’s will that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. If it is not God’s will that any should perish, then He is definitely not going to violate His own will by creating any of us for the specific purpose of deliberately destroying us.

However, in his foreknowledge of all things, he knows who will or who will not choose life and godliness (Romans 8:29).

According to Romans 9:22, we are all given opportunity to choose life. Jesus died for the sins of the world--not just for the sins of the predestined. Predestination is according to foreknowledge (Romans 8:29). there is a grace period in which the door to salvation remains open (today is the accepted time...today is the day of salvation--2 Corinthians 6:2). Today, all we have to do is choose life. If we refuse to accept Christ, after the period of much long suffering is past, the opportunity is withdrawn—the door is closed. It is at that point that God’s perfect plan for our life is adjusted down, and from then on we are committed to, ordained to…destruction.

God’s power will be revealed, and his name will be declared throughout all the earth, regardless of what our individual choices are. And he can still use any of us in order to bring about his purposes (re: Pharaoh, Judas and Caiaphas).

Eternal Godhead Revealed in Genesis: Romans 1:20

What is the Godhead, and where in Genesis is the Eternal Godhead revealed?

The book of Colossians tells us the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus bodily (Colossians 2:9 kjv), and we read in Romans 1:20 that the invisible things of God are clearly seen from the creation of the world…even His eternal power and Godhead.

People may be able to argue whether or not there is such a thing as the trinity, because the word trinity does not appear in scripture, but what about the Godhead?
Since scripture assures us the Godhead is revealed in the creation, the logical question would be to ask where in the creation is it revealed? That naturally takes us to the book of Genesis. In the very first chapter of Genesis (1:26), God said let “us” make man in “our” image.

Was God communing with the angels when he said this? He could not have been as there is no indication in scripture that angels are made in the image of God. God reserved that incredible privilege for mankind alone. Was the conversation recorded in Genesis 1:26 an example of what is known as “plurality of majesty” used by royalty when referring to themselves alone as “we” and “our”? God does not imitate man. The plurality of majesty came about from royal persons imitating the way God referenced Himself in Genesis 1:26, not the other way around.

Just as the apostle assures us in Romans chapter one, Genesis 1:26 clearly reveals a conversation between the members of the Godhead. Many scriptures shed more light on this. Jesus, the Son of God (also called the “Word” in John 1:1), is a member of the Godhead. We understand that from the clear language of Colossians 2:9. The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead. In Acts chapter five, the apostles clearly stated that lying to the Holy Spirit was the same as lying to God. And nowhere in scripture is there a clearer statement concerning the Godhead than in 1 John 5:7-8, where we read that there are three in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and that these three are one.

There is no doubt 1 John 5:7-8 (also called the Johanneum or Johannine Comma) is authentic. Detractors cannot account for early references (see the book, MY BIBLE DOESN’T SAY THAT! by Jocelyn Andersen).

The eternal Godhead was revealed in the creation of man. Man is made in God’s image, and that is a triune image—a composite unity. Man is a composite unity. Man is spirit, has a soul, and lives in a body. In man, there are three, and these three are one. Man, like the God in whose image he is created, is a three in one. Even if the existence of the soul is denied and only the spirit and body acknowledged, the fact that man is a composite unity is not changed.

The revelation of the Godhead in the creation of man is but one of the ways the invisible things of God is revealed in the creation of the world.