“No more slavery in the metaphorical sense of ancient Egypt captivity…
The serpent has enslaved all of humanity. …
Are you now year 2025 a freedman or still enslaved by the serpent”
John 8:34 (NIV)
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Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Defeating Lust by Pondering Scripture
Rick Osborne, _At Work Within: Embracing God’s Transformative Power in You_ (2019), 191pp., on 129-131
[Romans 12:2 (NIV)
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Do not conform to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is– his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Matthew 5 (NIV)
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27 “You have heard that it was said,
‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28 But I tell you that
anyone who looks at a woman lustfully
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.]
When I was newly saved and learned this scripture, I knew my thinking needed to change in this area.
So I memorized two scriptures, which to start with, I quoted many, many times a day.
They were the one above and the following:
[1 John 3:9 (CEV)
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God’s children cannot keep on being sinful.
His life-giving power lives in them
and makes them his children,
so they cannot keep on sinning.]
…
Each time a temptation would come to look at a woman and think anything below God’s standard, I would pray,
“Lord, you said that to look at a woman lustfully is sin, and I’m born of God and do not sin.”
[better, IMO: “…and I’m born of God and live a life of love.” The subconscious mind doesn’t recognize “not.”]
I simply put on the new me.
It was a struggle at first, but after a while it got easier and easier.
Soon those kinds of thoughts were no longer a problem and whenever they did present themselves, I quickly squashed them like pesky mosquitoes.
Why did it become easier?
I was cooperating with God’s process, trusting him and obediently presenting myself before him as a living sacrifice.
So the Holy Spirit and the divine power invested in God’s Word went to work and transformed me in this area by grace.
…
In the absence of the old thoughts I started thinking of every woman as a sister, of protecting them, praying for them, caring for them, and being truly interested in their wellbeing.
…
Christian men need to have their minds renewed and let Jesus transform them into His image.
=====================.
Gary Smalley, _Change Your Heart, Change Your Life: How Changing What You Believe Will Give You the Great Life You’ve Always Wanted_ (2007), on 56+
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Knowing that the Word of God is alive, powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, true, able to convict and bring transformation to my life, I turned to the Bible to find verses that addressed freedom from sexual sin.
I found what I was looking for in Galatians 5.
The entire chapter is about slavery to the pleasures of the flesh versus enjoying the freedom that comes from placing yourself under the control of God’s Spirit.
…
As long as my heart was filled with the hedonistic belief that life is mainly for experiencing pleasure, that belief drove my lustful thoughts.
But when I discovered the antidote to hedonism in Galatians 5:13, I eagerly memorized that verse and, like the psalmist, began to meditate on it day and night.
It worked!
I found that as I hid God’s Word in my heart, I sinned against him less and less.
In fact, I found that I actually cannot sin against him in certain areas when specific Bible verses reach my heart and form my new deep-seated beliefs.
God’s Word and sin are mutually exclusive.
If you hold to his Word, then sin flees.
I cannot sin against God in certain aspects of my life because my new beliefs now control my behavior.
…
[Galatians 5:13 (International Standard)
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For you, brothers, were called to freedom.
Only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity to gratify your flesh,
but through love make it your habit to serve one another.]
…what I began to do with Galatians 5:13.
Like Jeremiah, I ate it.
I chewed on that verse day and night.
…
Hannah, who loves dolls, leaned close to me and whispered, “Granddad, there are two real live Barbie dolls.”
I responded by whispering the obvious: “Yes, I see them.”
No man could miss those two girls.
The two Barbies smiled and greeted us, and then came the miracle.
The very first thought that entered my mind was, I wonder if these girls know how much God loves them?
Startled, I looked around as if to discover where that thought came from because I had never thought anything like that in my whole life.
Then came my second thought– which almost brought tears to my eyes. I wondered if their daddy loved them the way they should have been loved as little girls.
Then the third thought hit, which was to wonder if they were married and if their husbands placed on them the high value that God did and loved them as they needed to be loved.
I felt stunned.
These thoughts had me almost crying as the two beauties got into the Jacuzzi right next to me.
I was absolutely thrilled that these three unexpected and uncharacteristic thoughts came to my mind instantly and naturally.
I was (and still am) convinced that God’s Word had worked a miracle in my heart.
Eventually I got out, dried off, and went back to my room.
Even then I was still in a daze.
I just sat in the chair and let this miracle sink in.
_Dear God_, I prayed in love and adoration, _thank you so much that the very first thoughts that came to my mind were thoughts of love and honor for these girls.
Thank you for healing the lust that has been in my heart for sixty years_.
That was in February 2006.
From that February all the way to the writing of this book, I have not had one lustful thought toward another woman.
In fact, I have had no lustful thoughts at all.
What a miracle!
And what’s more, not one bit of interest in masturbation.
… I’m 67 now, and I’m experiencing freedoms in several areas of life that are worth shouting over…
I feel so much like the blind man who shouted,
“I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)
How can I keep that silent?
=====================.
_The Jesus Secret: Who I Am_ by Daniel Yordy (2007), 197pp., on 114
My Father has an absolute law that cannot be changed.
Every living soul must receive what he or she believes.
Some are still convinced that the “man of sin” is very much alive in them and must still be crucified.
Pay no attention.
How can evil live in the same Heart that I have made My Throne?
But I told you clearly that everything inside of you that God once hated, that needed to die, is DEAD.
And I command you to believe it is so.
As you believe that you are really and truly free from sin and really and truly alive to God– so shall you receive!
The others? They also will achieve what they believe to be true.
Believing that My Cross is finished in you is as important as believing that I live in you.
Stand in My Grace.
twsalt1949:
Jesus was a failed apocalyptic prophet. Both Jesus and Paul taught and believed that God was bringing the kingdom very soon. They were both wrong.
Steve Campbell, author of Historical Accuracy
More than a month ago, I was on this topic.
I included the New Testament John the Baptist.
I also included the Qumran Community.
I remember from one of Bart’s recorded classes, Bart spoke about the reasons for the rise of Jewish Apocalypticism.
Reality did not prove this rationale to be correct.
Judea had to ask help from Rome.
Judea had to live through the Roman Civil War with King Herod serving under Mark Antony then Octavian.
Judea had to be under prefects and procurators.
Militants attacked Rome and Rome brought the apocalypse, not Judea.
@DavidFord
Those apocalypse prophecies originally come from Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah where they (the Jews) are victorious. I understand however, Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:63-65 as being opposed to that Jewish apocalyptic victory. The Son of Man will be a Gentile. Jesus’ prophecy to the Sanhedrin was that they’re going to lose now because they’ve rejected him, the Son of God. And that all is what happens in the Jewish Roman Wars decades after. All those resurrection and return of David prophecies of Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah were not the word of God because of the actions of the Sanhedrin at that moment. Life ain’t fair and there’s no second chances at that time.
“Those apocalypse prophecies originally come from Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah where they (the Jews) are victorious”
Sounds right.
“I understand however, Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:63-65 as being opposed to that Jewish apocalyptic victory”
“Mark 14:62, Matthew 26:63-65” seem different to me than,
‘Our Jewish Messiah will come and forcibly put under our feet all of our regional enemies.’
“The Son of Man will be a Gentile”
Reference?
“Jesus’ prophecy to the Sanhedrin was that they’re going to lose now because they’ve rejected him, the Son of God.
And that all is what happens in the Jewish Roman Wars decades after”
So Jesus’ prophecy there was accurate?
That’s why I argue that the language is centered around freedom and slavery, the freedman and slave. I cannot directly comment on an equivalent English 🇺🇸 word for ο ανθροπος. Adam was the first slave of the fields. Noah: Ham was the father of the Africans. Shem was the father of the Semites. Japeth was the father of the Greeks and Romans. Israel:Jacob is called the firstborn of God. They had birthrights of the firstborn inherited to them. The Law of Moses is highly favored and biased towards Israeli citizens opposed to Gentiles in terms of the length of indentured servitude:slavery. It would be much better in a Zion Empire to be a Son of Israel than be a son of man. Jesus:Paul were fighting the good fight for all the sons of man in the world to escape from the Law of Moses and a possible Zion Empire.
“Son of Man is a derogatory phrase opposite of Son of God”
Including here?:
Matthew 16:27-28 (KJV)
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels;
and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you,
There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death,
till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
“It is all Greek to me. I trust Bart on this”
When do you think King Herod died?
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For about 100 years there has been a consensus among scholars that Herod the Great reigned from 37 to 4 BCE.
…
This paper argues that Herod most likely reigned from late 39 BCE to early 1 BCE…
this… accounts for all of the datable evidence…
=================================
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@39:38 Ehrman: _“..king Herod died in the year 4 BCE”_
This is a perfect example of why I personally don’t take the word of a scholar at face value, however expert or well meaning, neither pro nor con, neither a consensus without fact checking as much as possible with a close eye on original languages and texts, or as close as possible, and an open mind.
To state the obvious: the bible nor Josephus says Herod died in 4 BCE.
This date is inferred from Josephus saying that Herod died soon after a lunar eclipse before the spring Passover like the one in 4 BCE.
What many don’t realize is that there was another eclipse in 1 BCE — a total lunar eclipse unlike the traditional partial one — and it allows enough time for all the events surrounding Herod’s funeral to fit perfectly unlike the problematic 4 BCE date.
I’ve verified this with professional astronomy software myself.
The popular view of Herod’s death in 4 BCE does not account for all the facts we have from the historical record.
However, some of the latest published scholarship shows that when other pieces of evidence typically overlooked are carefully considered it rather points to Herod having died in 1 BCE.
Steinmann, Andrew E. “When Did Herod the Great Reign?” Novum Testamentum, Volume 51, Number 1, 2009, pp. 1-29(29)
This new time frame fits the events like a glove from an historical, astronomical, and biblical point of view, unlike the traditional time frame.
It fixes problems like a good solution to a problem is supposed to.
The old time frame creates unnecessary problems critics capitalize on (a frequent ‘pattern’ I have come across for 15 years studying the scriptures).
@Robert,
Brenton translation also did not translate ως as “one like a”. I don’t think much and I don’t think the verse in the LXX was trying to make a metaphorical euphemism to disguise a supernatural being as a human. Brenton translated ως “as the”
The LXX and Masoreic are not equivalent translations. There’s nothing in the LXX that would translate to “one like a”.
Substantial, substantive clause definition 🤷♂️. It’s one big phrase of nouns in the genitive case except for ως υιος
AI definition: ( A substantive clause is a clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. It can be used as the subject, object, or appositive of a verb. )
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I have no idea really. I’ve never heard of some of these European grammar terms before. Substantial clause is a new one to me.
ὡς as CONJUNCTION:
with Substantive clauses, to express a fact, = ὅτι, that.
~~~~……………~~~~
The apocalypse ya’ll be looking for today is how Isaiah 60:16 is interpreted and acted upon in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza γαζα is an Ancient Greek and Persian word for riches, treasure. Pluto πλουτων is the pagan god of that treasure.
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Gaza is the land of treasure.
“The new Heaven… In due time, when the multitudes out of every generation which I will gather into it, are organized, and operate as one Divine Energy, its influence will reach to the ends of sin, and to the depths of Hell”
“the New Heaven founded by Christ must have been growing by millions yearly, century after century.
And its energies, abilities, and organizations for good, must be growing and perfecting as rapidly as its population is multiplying”
_Infoldings and Unfoldings of the Divine Genius in Nature and Man_ by John Pulsford (1887), 108pp., on 37-40
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IX. The new Heaven, of which I am the Foundation and the Beginning, is of necessity _central_.
It is central because it comprehends more than any former Heaven ; and will be more potent for good.
In due time, when the multitudes out of every generation which I will gather into it, are organized, and operate as one Divine Energy, its influence will reach to the ends of sin, and to the depths of Hell.
Such is the Father’s plan for His House, that in its centre every virtue and peculiarity should be represented, and that it should have power over all evil, and bear an equal relationship to His fallen and unfallen races.
X. We know not at what rate other heavens are growing : many of them may be comparatively stationary.
But the New Heaven founded by Christ must have been growing by millions yearly, century after century.
And its energies, abilities, and organizations for good, must be growing and perfecting as rapidly as its population is multiplying.
If young men and women could be got to dwell upon it, nothing is so fitted to kindle their lofty and pure enthusiasm as the prospect of emigration to this Kingdom of kingdoms,– the Kingdom of the Incarnation in redeemed humanity.
The highest places and honours of the political world are not worthy of the soul’s enthusiasm ; but the final kingdom of humanity is quite worthy of the soul’s loftiest passion.
XI. The kingdoms of Europe, including our own, and indeed the kingdoms of the whole world, are in ceaseless effort to make themselves invulnerable ; and at the same time are shaking with fear ; because they are aiming at the impossible, namely, to make kingdoms secure, which in their character and order are utterly opposed to the Kingdom of the Human race which the Father of men is forming in the heavens.
It is worse than useless to shirk the fact that the kings of the earth and the rulers are not moving in unison with, but against “The Lord and His Christ.”
But because He is Man, according to God, Ideal Man, and Ideal King, His throne and the Kingdom which is grown round about His throne, disturb, and will disturb, and eventually overcome, all antagonistic rule and authority.
The myriads whom He has drawn into sympathy with Himself, constitute the only “Kingdom which cannot be moved.”
This is the Kingdom which all Christ-lovers are receiving down into their souls ; and which makes us calm and confident amid all the heavings and convulsions of the nations.
The Divine human race is destined to break up, supersede, and supplant the undivine race.
Every man and woman added to the Kingdom increases its power ; and increases, likewise, the momentum with which its power moves downward into the souls of men, and into the air of the world.
XII. This new Kingdom of the Race growing in the Heavens can do nothing less than subdue the world to itself.
Think of the incalculable number of men and women who are already in it ; and who, from the depth of their sympathy with Christ, make one Power : think farther, that in every one of them, the immutable Nature of God is built up ; and you will not be able to doubt that in the end the kingdoms of this world will become one Brotherhood of men under God.
Wherefore, we pray you to foresee the decreed end to which things are coming ; and draw down the elements of your new, immutable, all victorious humanity into your souls.
You cannot belong to the Divine kingdom of our race nor go into it, unless first the Kingdom comes into you.
Love, Incorruption, Certainty, Joy, Eternity, are in the Kingdom : receive its descending Power.
Inbreathe the Divine Man’s Breath, and you are His.
Remember His words : “I will come and receive you to Myself.”
Receiving you to Himself means your entrance into your own home and among your own people, in the midst of the men and women, who like you having loved, lived, suffered, and died, on earth, have found death to be a birth into the Divine and Eternal human life.
XIII. …
Christ is a euphemism for the Church. Paul describes the Church as the body of Christ.
The Church replaces the destroyed Second Temple in Jerusalem. The return of Christ is a euphemism for the rebuilding of the Third Temple which is the Church and has already been fulfilled these past 2000 years.
The New Heaven and New Earth is what it is without that Second Temple.
DavidFord
“Militants attacked Rome and Rome brought the apocalypse, not Judea”
Did anyone think that Judea would bring an apocalypse, and if so, who?
Steefen
The Jewish God was supposed to win the Apocalypse with the Son of Man in his Glorious arrival on the clouds and establish his Kingdom.
The Jews winning the Jewish Roman Wars was the Old Testament prophecy. The New Testament is the opposite. The Son of Man coming in clouds of the sky was not that Old Testament meaning.
It was however often interpreted as being that Old Testament prophecy after the Jewish Roman Wars. 👎
Jesus came to fulfill that Old Testament prophecy but the Sanhedrin rejected the offer; therefore the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets went the opposite direction and the Law and Prophets of the Old Testament today have no divine relevance to the New Heaven and New Earth.
If Jesus and the Sanhedrin had succeeded in fulfilling those Old Testament prophecies during the Jewish Roman Wars the Quran would not state that Jesus was only a prophet. The fulfillment of those Old Testament prophecies is what creates Jesus as being God theologically; therefore the Church has traditionally interpreted it as a future event to be fulfilled.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert
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