when is jesus speaking directly to his followers?

[waitasec]

Paul taught that Jesus might come back at anytime. This is as true today as it was then. Christ said that no one would know when He would return. Jesus also taught that all Christians should live as if He may return today no matter how long we think it takes. You do not pick the Old or New Testaments to live by you live by His word as a whole. The Old Testament is what it is. God who knows all things made the choice to do things the way He did and that led to the coming of Jesus in the New testament. I am not surprised by your reaction to God I use to use the GD word a hundred times a day just to upset a guy I knew that believed in the Bible. God is real to me because He came to me and changed my heart, my mind, and my soul. If He does not do the same for you or anyone else then no amount of debate will change your mind. It is funny now that I can "see" to watch as God's created beings try to justify themselves and even go as for as to tell God why He is wrong. Look at us how good we are! The Bible says that our good works are as filthy rags to God. So good luck making a better world without God. The truth is life flies by and it will not be long before you and I are no longer here. I know where I will be. I hope that one day you know where you will be.

1 cor 7:29
29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.


is paul telling the church NOT to have sex with their spouses from there on out?
(that one ALONE should give you an indication he is talking about the near future)
is paul telling the church NOT to mour for those that have passed away because you will be reunited with them SOON
is paul telling the church NOT to enjoy themselves from there on out?
is paul telling his church not to get to comfortable with what they by because the end is NEAR...

so again how do you decipher when god is speaking to you through the bible?

 

[waitasec]

Paul taught that Jesus might come back at anytime. This is as true today as it was then. Christ said that no one would know when He would return. Jesus also taught that all Christians should live as if He may return today no matter how long we think it takes. You do not pick the Old or New Testaments to live by you live by His word as a whole. The Old Testament is what it is. God who knows all things made the choice to do things the way He did and that led to the coming of Jesus in the New testament. I am not surprised by your reaction to God I use to use the GD word a hundred times a day just to upset a guy I knew that believed in the Bible. God is real to me because He came to me and changed my heart, my mind, and my soul. If He does not do the same for you or anyone else then no amount of debate will change your mind. It is funny now that I can "see" to watch as God's created beings try to justify themselves and even go as for as to tell God why He is wrong. Look at us how good we are! The Bible says that our good works are as filthy rags to God. So good luck making a better world without God. The truth is life flies by and it will not be long before you and I are no longer here. I know where I will be. I hope that one day you know where you will be.

IMO, it seems christians are afraid of their own potential,

it is within yourself you will find peace, through acceptance and forgiveness
it is within in yourself you will find strength and courage
it is when we deny our own truths that problems arise within ourselves

 

[rkm7878]

1 cor 7:29
29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.


is paul telling the church NOT to have sex with their spouses from there on out?
(that one ALONE should give you an indication he is talking about the near future)
is paul telling the church NOT to mour for those that have passed away because you will be reunited with them SOON
is paul telling the church NOT to enjoy themselves from there on out?
is paul telling his church not to get to comfortable with what they by because the end is NEAR...

so again how do you decipher when god is speaking to you through the bible?

This is going to be very hard for you to understand. The answer is yes he is saying that it would be better(not a commandment just the better thing) if the church would stop worrying about all things in this world and work on spreading the gosple and serving Christ. There is a twofold reason for this. 1. Guess what all of those Christians are dead now. The could have stopped worrying about themselves and given everything to God and now be enjoying their treasue in heave or they could waste their time on earth and lose reward for all time. To you it is a big deal to live for God but not for those who love Him and trust Him beyond the here and now. 2. People are dieing and going to hell for lack of knowledge about Jesus so is it not a good thing if we who have the truth put peoples eternal salvation above our self pleasure? I am just explaining the scripture not saying that Christains are good at it.

 

[rkm7878]

IMO, it seems christians are afraid of their own potential,

it is within yourself you will find peace, through acceptance and forgiveness
it is within in yourself you will find strength and courage
it is when we deny our own truths that problems arise within ourselves

It is easy to be wise in our own eyes. You are a created being with a creator that is a fact no matter how many times you say it is not so. The creator is over the creation. Wish yourself into a god if you must but you will remain created.

 

[logician]

Many times the supposed Jesus was alone when "speaking" in the gospel stories. Who exactly was recording his words?

 

[rkm7878]

Many times the supposed Jesus was alone when "speaking" in the gospel stories. Who exactly was recording his words?

Those who believe in the Bible believe that the writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

 

[Blackdog22]

This is going to be very hard for you to understand. The answer is yes he is saying that it would be better(not a commandment just the better thing) if the church would stop worrying about all things in this world and work on spreading the gosple and serving Christ. There is a twofold reason for this. 1. Guess what all of those Christians are dead now. The could have stopped worrying about themselves and given everything to God and now be enjoying their treasue in heave or they could waste their time on earth and lose reward for all time. To you it is a big deal to live for God but not for those who love Him and trust Him beyond the here and now. 2. People are dieing and going to hell for lack of knowledge about Jesus so is it not a good thing if we who have the truth put peoples eternal salvation above our self pleasure? I am just explaining the scripture not saying that Christains are good at it.

So why haven't you given all of your belongings away again? Why are you wasting your time with a job and being happy instead of saving up for riches in heaven?

So far everything that you have said is hard to understand to most people because it makes no sense and goes back and forth contradicting itself far too often.

 

[waitasec]

1 cor 7:29
29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.


is paul telling the church NOT to have sex with their spouses from there on out?
(that one ALONE should give you an indication he is talking about the near future)
is paul telling the church NOT to mour for those that have passed away because you will be reunited with them SOON
is paul telling the church NOT to enjoy themselves from there on out?
is paul telling his church not to get to comfortable with what they by because the end is NEAR...

so again how do you decipher when god is speaking to you through the bible?

It is easy to be wise in our own eyes. You are a created being with a creator that is a fact no matter how many times you say it is not so. The creator is over the creation. Wish yourself into a god if you must but you will remain created.

you are not answering the question...
paul was telling his church the time was near "From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none" how can you decipher if this message is for you now and not for those who died waiting?

 

[rusra02]

i am very curious as to how christians decipher when jesus is talking to them personally through the bible or when he is only speaking to the crowd or a particular person. for example;

in the famous John 3:16 jesus is having a conversation with nicodemus
but somehow that conversation, in the minds of EVERY christian, can be applied to everyone, then and now

but when jesus is talking to a certain ruler, in luke 18, who asks; "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" even though he has followed all the commandments
jesus replies with "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

this commandment is mentioned TWICE in the gospels and this commandment in john is only mentioned ONCE.

even when he is speaking to a crowd or to his disciples he says,
not all of you will taste death before the son of man will come with power in his kingdom...

how do you decode the scripture and figure out when his words are meant FOR YOU TODAY?

It is not necessary to 'decode the scripture'. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 tells us that "All scripture is inspired by God and beneficial." Certainly we should take the context of a statement into account and to whom Jesus was speaking. However, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. So what he said is of utmost importance to all of us. As John 3:16 says "Everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." Who is everyone? Everyone!

 

[waitasec]

It is not necessary to 'decode the scripture'. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 tells us that "All scripture is inspired by God and beneficial." Certainly we should take the context of a statement into account and to whom Jesus was speaking. However, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth. So what he said is of utmost importance to all of us. As John 3:16 says "Everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life." Who is everyone? Everyone!

this tells me nothing
jesus also told a rich leader AND a tax collector to SELL EVERYTHING
in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven...well?
why have you not sold everything?

again, how do you decipher when god/jesus is talking to YOU through scripture?

if you read post #4, i explain how that passage in john 3 is suspect of not even being a conversation jesus and nicodemus had...

 

[logician]

Those who believe in the Bible believe that the writers were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The rest of us understandably require more proof.

Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary evidence. In this case, there is none.

 

[Thief]

The rest of us understandably require more proof.

Extraordinary claims, require extraordinary evidence. In this case, there is none.

And faith by definition requires no proving.

 

[rusra02]

this tells me nothing
jesus also told a rich leader AND a tax collector to SELL EVERYTHING
in order to inherit the kingdom of heaven...well?
why have you not sold everything?

again, how do you decipher when god/jesus is talking to YOU through scripture?

if you read post #4, i explain how that passage in john 3 is suspect of not even being a conversation jesus and nicodemus had...

Jesus words to the rich young ruler were directed to him alone. However, the lesson this account teaches is for all, that is, that nothing should be more important to us then following the Christ. (Matthew 6:33)

If you do not believe the scriptures, including John 3:16, or suspect them of not being inspired by God, why worry about what they say and to whom?

 

[logician]

Jesus words to the rich young ruler were directed to him alone. However, the lesson this account teaches is for all, that is, that nothing should be more important to us then following the Christ. (Matthew 6:33)

If you do not believe the scriptures, including John 3:16, or suspect them of not being inspired by God, why worry about what they say and to whom?

If you're a Christian, otherwise, not.

 

[waitasec]

Jesus words to the rich young ruler were directed to him alone. However, the lesson this account teaches is for all, that is, that nothing should be more important to us then following the Christ. (Matthew 6:33)

If you do not believe the scriptures, including John 3:16, or suspect them of not being inspired by God, why worry about what they say and to whom?

you're still not answering the question, how do you decode the bible...why does jc's conversation apply to YOU and not the conversation with the tax collector or the rich ruler...? is it because it's easier to say you believe rather than showing your faith through works? sure looks like it

 

[rusra02]

you're still not answering the question, how do you decode the bible...why does jc's conversation apply to YOU and not the conversation with the tax collector or the rich ruler...? is it because it's easier to say you believe rather than showing your faith through works? sure looks like it

Jesus trained and commissioned his followers to "make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19.20). Thus, all of Jesus teachings recorded in the Bible are relevant to people living today. As to understanding Jesus teachings properly, we need to find the true religion that does show faith through works, and really follows the Christ. True Christians will be following Jesus command at Matthew 28:19,20 and will observe all the things Jesus commands. Those who are searching for God will be directed to true Christians who can help them. (Acts 8:26-39)

 

[URAVIP2ME]

you're still not answering the question, how do you decode the bible...why does jc's conversation apply to YOU and not the conversation with the tax collector or the rich ruler...? is it because it's easier to say you believe rather than showing your faith through works? sure looks like it

Doesn't 'context' and 'setting' show who Jesus is directly addressing?

For example: Matthew [24v3] Jesus disciples came to him privately asking questions. Verse 4 Jesus answers as to who? He gives answers to his disciples.

 

[waitasec]

Jesus trained and commissioned his followers to "make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19.20). Thus, all of Jesus teachings recorded in the Bible are relevant to people living today. As to understanding Jesus teachings properly, we need to find the true religion that does show faith through works, and really follows the Christ. True Christians will be following Jesus command at Matthew 28:19,20 and will observe all the things Jesus commands. Those who are searching for God will be directed to true Christians who can help them. (Acts 8:26-39)

ok
so sell everything you have and give it to ME
i am in need of cash...
my paypal account is....

 

[waitasec]

Doesn't 'context' and 'setting' show who Jesus is directly addressing?

For example: Matthew [24v3] Jesus disciples came to him privately asking questions. Verse 4 Jesus answers as to who? He gives answers to his disciples.

yes and so was his conversation with the tax collector, the rich ruler and nicodemus....so how do you know which conversation applies to YOU TODAY?


i guess selling everything you own seems a bit much, huh

 

[budha3]

With Nicodemus Jesus was speaking to what he perceived Nicodemus's understanding to be.
While Luke presents Christ in his humanity as the son of man; John portrays Him in his deity as the son of God. The real question here is; did John hype Jesus in order to spark belief or faith in his readers? I truly cannot be certain that this is true, but when I read some of the scriptures that John has written, I do have to question his motives. Keep in mind; it was John who wrote that “no man has ascended into heaven.” In order to lift someone up, you first have to separate that person from the crowd. The problem with John’s statement is that it is refuted by the very person that he is trying to spark faith in. It is Jesus himself who refutes John’s statement when he states in the Beatitudes: Matthew 5: 8 states: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
John 3: 1-7 states: “There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and saith unto him. “Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.” Jesus answered and said unto him. “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born (aware) again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus saith unto him. “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born (aware) of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom Of God. That which is born (aware) of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born (aware) of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee; ye must be born again.”” Jesus knew that Nicodemus didn't comprehend what he was, saying; that's why he was just speaking to him.
Here's the mystery: To be aware of water is important, because when we enter into or mother’s womb, we are immersed in water; more specifically; embryonic fluid. Before we are born; or enter into our mother's womb, we are immersed in spiritual fluid. In modern terms this is the astral plain. Embryonic fluid is frozen astral or spiritual plain. God uses this fluid to create an easy transition for us from the spiritual plain; God's embryonic fluid is ethereal. Jesus told Nicodemus not to marvel or worry about being born again, because he knew that Nicodemus was searching for the truth, and by seeking the truth, he would eventually find it.
Jesus wasn't telling Nicodemus that he must go through some type of ritual, or baptism, because being born again is not something we should marvel or be concerned about, it just a type of awarenes that we need to be born, or made aware of, in order to comprehend spiritual concepts. Entering in to heaven means understanding spiritual concepts.