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  1. B

    Were gentiles allowed in the Temple?

    In the Mark 11:17 verse above, the phrase "all nations" is a parable term for all true believers and the term "house" is speaking ultimately of the true believers as well, not a physical building. "But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the...
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    Matthew 16:17-19

    It is the God-given revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, that is a rock that Hades cannot overcome. In fact, Christ himself is called a rock in the Bible: "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and...
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    Where does the Bible say it is the "Word of God?"

    There is not any doubt that Jesus is 'the Word of God' based on John 1:1 ("In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.") and John 1:14 ("And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the...
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    Jesus' Divinity (two links; opposing views; same scripture)

    I always liked this scripture from Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mightyGod, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."
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    Did the true church ever vanish or completely fall away?

    My position is like yours, that there is always a remnant of true believers at any time. Romans 11:3-5 tells us this: "Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to...
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    Matthew, Mark, Luke Vs the Gospel of John

    I enjoyed how you noticed some things different in a way between the gospels, particularly in John. However, it is not as if scripture is supposed to line up with human notions of concord. In fact, Scripture points out in Ezekiel 1:10, for example, that their are many faces to the same God...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    God clues us in on the fact that he continually speaks in parables in Mark 4:34: "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." Alone with the Lord, Christ's disciples get the parables explained. Think about this statement...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    QUOTE:Psalm 78:1-2 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. [2] I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old--- It says he (Asaph) will speak in parables and it says he will utter hidden things from old. It doesn't say to what extent...
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    first-born of all creation

    Psalm 78:1-2: "[[Maschil of Asaph.]] Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:" This is referring to the law it says, to the words of God's mouth, both of which are the entire Bible. Read...
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    Adam and Eve, and the serpent

    Although you do not believe in original sin, the Bible does say that Eve was in the transgression ("And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Timothy 2:14) By pointing out that Adam was not deceived, we can see that he is a parable picture of Christ...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    Then what is Psalm 78:1-2 saying? What is Mark chapter 4 saying?
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    The fact that these things actually happen in the physical does not change the fact that they are parables of other things, spiritual things. For example, Jesus healed physically many persons but it was a picture of spiritual salvation in these cases. In the case you mention with the famine and...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    I think Jesus still has the authority to forgive sins directly without any physical rituals. This means that if a believer shares the gospel with a person that other person can be converted in their heart and be washed in the spiritual sense right then and that this is in the name of the Father...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    To you it seems arbitrary. To me not. I have appreciated getting to understand a bit of your thinking, as you have been very communicative, so thanks. I would say that the issue of allegory and parable language is one of the biggest differences we have in Bible approach. I tend to find the...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    Yes, that's pretty much how I see it too, though I suppose saying Jesus is Lord also means pretty much realizing that he is the one in charge of all things irregardless and not just from now on, but always has and will be. Still, I get your point that he is the Lord of the individual who has...
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    Believers in Hell?

    I see heaven as being God's throne, since the Bible tells us that "Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne" (Isaiah 66:1a). However, God resides in people's hearts: " until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts:" (2 Peter 1:19b). The daystar is Jesus and Jesus (the lamb) is on...
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    Believers in Hell?

    I think this is a good point. I see hell and fire in the Bible as simply destruction. You could say that it is permanent only in the sense that destruction would be final for the unsaved with no chance to exist again. The verse above (Rev 21:4) may be speaking about the situation simply for the...
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    first-born of all creation

    I agree with this. The Bible is written in parable form (Psalm 78:2) and words must be compared with other places where they occur in the Bible to get at the parable meanings. The word creation is often abused by readers who do not realize the Bible is talking about those saved persons who God...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    I enjoyed the other aspects you mention, like repentance and confession, though these are evidence that a person is saved and not something that a person can do in their own strength to be saved, like saying to yourself "I'll just say Jesus is Lord and that will make me saved.", as you probably...
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    John 1:12 But as many as received him...

    Thanks for discussing. I think Acts 1:8 might be a good verse to show that 'power' is equated with the Holy Spirit: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the...
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