Bible Questions

Finding Your Place Within the Body of Christ

human body
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Jesus prayed:

John 17:21  that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me.

 

The importance of oneness was brought out in the book of Genesis.

Genesis 11:1 (KJV) And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

 

St. Paul likens the Christian church to a body where each part of the body has a particular function.

I Corinthians 12:14   For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot would say, “Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,” it is not therefore not part of the body. 16 If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. 21 The eye can’t tell the hand, “I have no need for you,” or again the head to the feet, “I have no need for you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor; and our unpresentable parts have more abundant propriety; 24 whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God composed the body together, giving more abundant honor to the inferior part, 25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 When one member suffers, all the members suffer with it. When one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

 

In science we learn that for anything to happen within the human body, digestion, movement of muscles, growth, anything, a number of factors are involved.  For example, in digestion there are enzymes.  There are also co-enzymes which do not do the job of the enzymes, but are necessary for the enzymes to work.  And so it goes.  Multiple comparisons could be made.

Perhaps the thinking of the world has seeped into the body of Christ.  Some people seek to have the most “likes” on Facebook.  American Idol  pushes the idea that unless you are the “one” winner, that you are the loser.

All that really is not in line with the thinking of the body of Christ.

There are those with the gift of administration.  They should be leading in whatever capacity their gifts take them.  There are those with the gift of helps.    They should be helping in whatever capacity their gifts permit them to help.

If the body of Christ is ever to be one and have the power that is promised in oneness, there has to be a unity that comes from all members finding their place in the body, not trying to take the place of another, but finding their exact place and functioning there.

In reality, in a physical body, a liver cannot do the work of the kidney.  The tongue can’t do the work of the hand.  The eye can’t do the work of the ear or foot.  It would be foolish to even try.

A liver is best being a liver.  An eye is best being an eye.  A hand is best being a hand.  An ear is best being an ear.

When each part is fitly joined together, that is the place of increase.

Ephesians 4:16   from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.


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What of the Cross?

cross

I Corinthians 1:1  Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

….

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.

18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.
I will bring the discernment of the discerning to nothing.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For seeing that in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom didn’t know God, it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs, Greeks seek after wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews, and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God; 25 because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26 For you see your calling, brothers, that not many are wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, and not many noble; 27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world that he might put to shame the things that are strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of the world, and the things that are despised, and the things that don’t exist, that he might bring to nothing the things that exist, 29 that no flesh should boast before God. 30 Because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption: 31 that, as it is written, “He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”


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Repost: ANCIENT CHINESE RECORD ON THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS!


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Repost: Pray This 4 Minute Prayer with Morris Cerullo NOW To Receive The Greatest Miracle In All The World!


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Unless you are born again verse

baptism

What does it mean to be born again?

What is born again in the Bible?

What is the born again scripture?

Nicodemus asked Jesus about being born again. The story was recorded in the book of John.

John 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”

3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”

10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? 11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

 

So how is one born again?

Matthew 3:3 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
make the way of the Lord ready!
Make his paths straight!”

4 Now John himself wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then people from Jerusalem, all of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him. 6 They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! 9 Don’t think to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.

11 “I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.”

 

What is a born again prayer?

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn’t subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes about the righteousness of the law, “The one who does them will live by them.”Leviticus 18:5 6 But the righteousness which is of faith says this, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down); 7 or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead.)” 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart;” that is, the word of faith which we preach: 9 that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart, one believes resulting in righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13 For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in him whom they have not heard? How will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Good News of peace,
who bring glad tidings of good things!”

16 But they didn’t all listen to the glad news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”  17 So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Not all churches preach “be born again”. If you are looking for a born again Christian church, and don’t know where to find one, you can start online with tbn.org They have numerous channels in numerous languages.  Or go to the page linked at the bottom of each post where other churches and Christian resources are listed.

As you pray and seek the Lord to guide you, He can lead you to to the right born again church.


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
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The Challenge of Taking Dominion

Michelangelo's "God", from "the Creation of Adam"

Link (Michelangelo)

Genesis 1:26 (ISV)  Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us. Let them be masters over the fish in the ocean, the birds that fly, the livestock, everything that crawls on the earth, and over the earth itself!”

Psalm 115:16  The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

Luke 10:19  Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

Matthew 28:18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Matthew 7:24   “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

 

God has never reneged on this.

The challenge to rise to what the Lord God wants.

The earth belongs to mankind.  God will not swoop in and do man’s job.

If there is a problem in the earth, it is because man individually or collectively permits it.  It is particularly up to believers to use the authority of the name of Jesus and the Word of God.   God will work with believers in accordance with His Word.  Believers have a part to play.    Everyone is a part of God’s creation, but to be born again, to be a believer in Jesus Christ, is a personal choice.

Mark 16:20  They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

 

The Bible is full of examples where different ones or groups receive a miracle or a blessing or walk in the power of God

Does God have favorites?

No.

Acts 10:34 Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; 35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

Hebrews 11:6  Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Revelation 22:12  “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.

 

What about grace?

A distinction must be made between the initial born again experience, which is by faith, through grace, and then serving the Lord after being born again.

Ephesians 2:8  for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

 

Paul, who originally was known as Saul and who was persecuting Christians until he was converted, clearly understood that there was something beyond being born again.

Conversión de Saulo (Reni)

The Conversion of Saul

 

This same Paul, who wrote a good deal of the New Testament, wrote this.

Philippians 3:7   However, I consider those things that were gain to me as a loss for Christ. 8 Yes most certainly, and I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and count them nothing but refuse, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, 10 that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed to his death, 11 if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect; but I press on, that I may take hold of that for which also I was taken hold of by Christ Jesus.

13 Brothers, I don’t regard myself as yet having taken hold, but one thing I do: forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way. If in anything you think otherwise, God will also reveal that to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the extent that we have already attained, let’s walk by the same rule. Let’s be of the same mind.

17 Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example.

 


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

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Repost: What Is The Real Baptism Of Power?

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A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

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Bible Verse – Clothed in Dignity

woman with child

A question was asked about the verse “clothed in dignity”.  Where does that phrase come from?

It is in Proverbs 31, which talks about the virtuous woman.

Proverbs 31:25  Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.

Proverbs 31:10  Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17 She arms her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20 She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates!

 


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

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Who Was David’s Mother in the Bible?

mother with child

The Bible does not give the name of David’s mother.   David makes reference to his mother in this Psalm.

Psalm 51:1  Have mercy on me, God, according to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.
    Cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions.
    My sin is constantly before me.
Against you, and you only, I have sinned,
    and done that which is evil in your sight,
so you may be proved right when you speak,
    and justified when you judge.
Behold, I was born in iniquity.
    My mother conceived me in sin.
Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.
    You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.
    Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness,
    that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all of my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
    Renew a right spirit within me.
11 Don’t throw me from your presence,
    and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
    Uphold me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways.
    Sinners will be converted to you.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation.
    My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 Lord, open my lips.
    My mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.
    You have no pleasure in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
    O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion.
    Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,
    in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings.
Then they will offer bulls on your altar.


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Creation versus Evolution

In the beginning, creation

There has been an ongoing secular debate as to whether mankind evolved from an ape or was created by God.

There is a Christian scientific ministry that focuses on  various scientific topics with expert scientists in various fields. Recently, the topic of evolution versus creation  was covered on one of their weekly broadcasts.

Basically, it comes down to this. If there was no Adam who sinned, then there was no need for the Saviour, Jesus.

The Catholic Church understands this very well. They discuss the first Adam who fell, and the Last  Adam, who is Jesus, the Redeemer, the Saviour of the world.

Not every denomination explains this as well.  Some have not thought this through as well.  Some denominations seem to feel that evolution and creation can co-exist.  But they cannot.

Athiests have thought this through.  They recognize that if there is an evolutionary model then there is no need of a Saviour.

The bottom line is this.  You have to have a Second Adam if you have a first Adam.  If there is no first Adam, but only an ape, then you don’t need a Second Adam.

The Lord God immediately prophesied a Last Adam after the Fall.

Genesis 3:15   will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will bruise your head,
and you will bruise his heel.”

 

If you try to bring in an evolutionary model, that model has no indication of temptation of the serpent to Eve and Adam, the fall of mankind, and the necessity for Jesus to redeem mankind from the Fall.

Here is a short video on creation vs evolution.  

Here is another link.

If you are interested in learning more about science in relation to the Bible, consider watching Creation in the 21st Century on TBN every Saturday.  It is a 1/2 hour show.  You can find the current schedule by going to https://tbn.org and looking up their schedule.  It currently is on at 12:30 pm Central time.

 

Related Posts:

Creation or Evolution?


A blog post can only introduce a topic but not cover it in depth. For more study on various topics, click here for links to various Christian ministries.

Depending on the ministry, there may be online church services, YouTube videos, podcasts, radio programs, books, teaching, or more. You have to seek out what they have.
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