Author name: godlybro

What a huge loss. Your two little children loved their grandfathers and now they are no longer able to hug, comfort, play, and teach them. The children and you are grieving deeply. We are sad and extend our heart felt sympathies to you, to the boys, and to the rest of the family.? ?But the “why” of our experiences is only known to God. God is omniscient and all loving. When we become Christians, God becomes our personal Father. He knows about all of our lives. He knows even the smallest details – like  the number of hairs in our head. However, God is not the cause of our sorrows. He does permit us to experience pain, suffering, loss, and death, but all of these evils are the result of Adam’s sin. Thus, Christians along with all mankind experience the suffering from sin and death together. ? ??However, Christians don’t grieve as do others. Paul wrote, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NKJV) We have the sure hope of the resurrection. We know we will be reunited with our loved ones again. Thus, you know that you and your sons will see their beloved grandfathers again. Even though the loss is great now, the loss is not eternal.???  We do not know how God will help you through this grief. But He will. Peter wrote, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) We are to “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret…” Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)  God has promised He will comfort you and your sons. “As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you…” Isaiah 66:13 (NKJV)?? However, we do want to be careful not to challenge God’s providential care. When Job asked God why all of these tragedies were happening to him (including the death of all of his children, loss of wealth, and loss of health), God answered in Job 38:1-40:2.  “Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said: ‘Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?’” Job 40:1 (NKJV)  Essentially, God asked Job questions about creation that Job could not begin to answer. God was teaching Job not to challenge Him. We need to have faith in God and believe that He loves us and will keep us even when we do not understand.?? Revelation 21:4, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Matthew 6:1-4 (ESV), 1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Apparently in Jesus’s day, some Jews made a great show while doing good deeds. They probably wanted social status and for people to look up to them. In some sense, we all want others to respect and to like us, so none of us are free from seeking approval from others. Judging another person’s motive is dangerous. Why? Because Jesus said, “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.” Matthew 7:1-2 (CSB) Consequently, we think it wise to follow Jesus’s directions to do our good deeds in secret, but at the same time not to judge others when they do things in a public, showy manner. Our gracious Father will surely reward us for our services to glorify His name. Jeremiah 17:10 (NKJV), “I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” We have this sure promise, but how and when God blesses us may confuse some. The reward may be a closer walk with our Lord or greater understanding of God’s purposes. These spiritual rewards may not be valued by those who seek the status of men. Also, the timing of some rewards is not immediate. Luke 14:14 (NKJV), “And you will be blessed,…for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” In the resurrection, the saints will be rewarded with a divine body and rule with Jesus. The rest of the world will learn righteousness. Those who learn to love God with their whole being will receive earthly paradise. Christ will say to restored mankind, “…take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:34 (NIV). Those who expect God and men to honor them now, have “their reward now” as Jesus said.

The number 3 (connected with days) is repeated 75 times in the Bible.  When God places emphasis on something repetitively, it is worth noticing.  This Bible pattern relates a spiritual truth and then repeats it in a similar fashion in another part of the Bible. This is often the case with the phrase “3 days”. The number 3 signifies completeness and/or perfection.  It identifies some important event that is connected to another important event. It can express a connection in time like “past, present, and future” OR “knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (Colossians 1:9)” OR “birth, life, and death”. “3 days” has many important implications to the Christian and is an integral part of one’s relationship to GOD. Matthew 16:21 records Jesus telling His disciples that He must be killed but would be raised on the 3rd day.  The connection here is – He would die, be in the earth, and resurrected in 3 days.  In Jonah 1:17 the Lord allowed Jonah to be swallowed by a big fish, be in it’s belly, and spit out, again in 3 days. Jesus connects these two events in Matthew 12:40 (NKJV), “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (under Satan’s dominion). These scriptures show the connection and wisdom of GOD, the Heavenly Father, in knowing and presenting HIS plans and purposes from beginning to end. (See Isaiah 46:10.) Jesus also stated directly, not symbolically, that He would die and be raise again on the third day. Matthew 27:63, Luke 9:22, Mark 8:31 all record Jesus’s prophetic teaching of when He would be raised. In Acts 9:9 Saul is blinded for 3 days.  This is a picture or type of Israel blinded, unable to see the true Messiah (Jesus). The days here are 1,000 year days. (2 Peter 3:8 NKJV, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”) So, in the third 1,000 year period after Jesus died (which is the present), the Jews will accept Jesus as their Savior. (See Zechariah 12:10.) There are many more scriptures depicting 3 days in other forms and features.  There is always a connection which shows a completion of GOD’s plan.

Acts 7:49-50 (NIV), 49 “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? 50 Has not my hand made all these things?” God made our whole universe – all the heavens and all galaxies, stars, comets, planets, etc. God was dwelling in His “heavenly” home much before the creation of the physical universe. Where is His dwelling place? “God is a spirit…” John 4:24. The Bible does not give us information about the spirit universe. Why? Because God wants us to focus on to worshipping Him “in spirit and in truth” in our present conditions. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind…” Philippians 3:13-15 (NKJV) Imagining the spirit universe would be a distraction and lead us to inaccurate conclusions. Another reason the Bible does not include literal descriptions of where God dwells is because we could not understand it. When an angel came to Manoah to tell him that he and his wife would beget Samson, the following conversation took place: “Then Manoah said to him, ‘What is your name, so that we may honor you when your words come true?’ 18 ‘Why do you ask my name,’ the angel of the LORD asked him, ‘since it is beyond understanding.’” Judges 13:17-18 (CSB)  So if even the names of the angels are beyond our comprehension, further information about God’s spirit dwelling place would also be incomprehensible. Although there are symbolic pictures of God on His throne (Revelation 4), these are symbols to help us appreciate God’s glory and grandeur. These are not literal descriptions of God’s dwelling place.

Conclusion: Jesus’s death on the cross satisfied justice and redeemed Adam and all of his offspring from the death sentence. Discussion: The cross is the answer if the question is “What is the remedy from the curse of death pronounced upon Adam and his posterity (Romans 5:12) and the curse of death brought upon Israel through the law?” (Galatians 3:10) It was through death on a cross that Jesus paid the penalty that was brought upon mankind through Adam. This death was the conclusion of three and a half years of Christ ministering unto the people and sacrificing his life on behalf of mankind. Though he was harmless and separate from sinners he was numbered with the transgressors. (Hebrews 7:26, Mark 15:28) This perfect life was given in order that he could purchase back what was lost through Father Adam, thus the just (Jesus) dying for the unjust (Adam). 1 Peter 3:18 (RSV), “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the righteous (just) for the unrighteous (unjust), that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit”. His death on the cross allows the only hope of salvation for mankind. As the apostle Paul explains “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (I Corinthians 15:21-22) Dying on the cross, he not only bore the sin of the world, but also bore the curse that came upon the nation of Israel through the law. For it is written, “Cursed is any man that hangs on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13) By unjustly becoming a curse for them, he bore the full penalty brought upon Israel through their breaking of the law therefore nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV), 13 “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” It is through the death of Christ on the cross that He has secured an opportunity for salvation for all mankind – Jews and Gentiles alike.

The Bible indicates that Solomon built the Temple atop the threshing floor that his father had purchased from Araunah the Jebusite, though it must surely have extended far beyond it.  2 Chronicles 31:1, “Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.”  2 Samuel 24:16-24 relates the events surrounding this purchase by David. Mt. Moriah is the location where Abraham was directed by God to go and offer Issac as a sacrifice. Genesis 22:2. The powerful significance of Abraham’s faithfulness certainly explains why God would direct his Temple to be built at this location. Solomon’s temple, the rebuilt temple of Ezra (Ezra 5:3-11) and the great temple built by King Herod are associated with this location. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem is Mount Moriah and is recognized as the traditional location of these three temples by the vast majority of Jews and Christians today. A prediction concerning the tribe of Benjamin was made through Moses, “the beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders,” Deuteronomy 33:12. This has reference chiefly to the favored and honored position that the tribe would occupy. It is intimated that the temple, where Jehovah would dwell, would be situated within the territory of this tribe. This was the case. Jerusalem, the holy city, was in the lot of Benjamin (Joshua 18:28). Though Zion, the city of David, is supposed to belong to Judah, yet Mount Moriah, on which the temple was built, was in Benjamin’s lot. God is Himself said to ‘dwell between his shoulders’ because the temple was positioned on the mount as the head of man over his shoulders. Mount Zion has Biblical importance, but its actual location is not a specific mountain.  It has spiritual implications depending on the context in which it is found.  The first reference, and most accurate historical clue to the general location of Mount Zion is found in 1 Chronicles 11:5, “The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, ‘You shall not enter here.’ Nevertheless David took the mountain stronghold of Zion (that is, the city of David).”  Symbolically, the term “Mt. Zion,” has come to stand for the special care and attention of God as first expressed by David and carried through the Scriptures.

Jesus loved to spend time with children. When parents brought their children to him so he could pray for them, his disciples tried to stop them, thinking they were bothering the Master, but in Matthew (19:14, NLT)  Jesus said, “…Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” He meant that his followers needed to adopt the humble and teachable qualities of children. Here are some ways that kids can serve God: Children have a responsibility to their parents to be obedient and respectful. One of God’s commandments is to “Honor your father and mother.,…” (Exodus 20:12, NLT) Colossians (3:20, ESV) says, “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Children can also serve God by copying the qualities of His son, Jesus. Be an example to your friends of kindness, compassion, and unselfishness. Encourage others like Jesus did. Record a nice message or song, draw a picture, or make a card for someone who is sad or sick. Sit with a classmate who looks lonely. By copying Jesus, your time and efforts become special gifts – and God loves a cheerful giver! (see 2 Corinthians 9:7) If you have brothers or sisters, be kind to them by playing with them and supporting them if they need help with their homework or making friends. Ask others how you can be a blessing. Parents will appreciate it if you help around the house with a good attitude, and teachers are always looking for extra help! Begin a relationship with God by praying – if you feel shy, write Him a letter! If you don’t know what to say, make a list of blessings and tell Him what you are thankful for. Study the people of the Bible. This shows God that you are interested in His word and getting to know His people. Become inspired by godly leaders and important prophets in the Bible! Memorize scriptures. These will bring you even more comfort as you get older. Being able to recite scriptures by memory helps us feel closer to God and His word. It might be difficult, but we all need discipline. Parents sometimes have to teach their children when they are wrong. Proverbs says that good parents discipline their children out of love. (see Proverbs 13:24) So let’s do our best to receive instruction in a thoughtful and humble way, because it’s meant to help us do better. So, how can children serve God? They can respect and obey their parents, copy the qualities of Jesus, be kind to their siblings, ask others how they can be a blessing, pray, study the Bible, memorize scriptures, and receive instruction in a humble way. Proverbs (20:11, NLT) says, “Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.”

The context of the following scripture is Peter’s sermon at Pentecost Acts 2:29,34 (KJV), 29 “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. … 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens…” Thus, Peter was saying that David was still dead and not in heaven. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” Matthew 11:11 (NKJV) Hebrews 11 is a wonderful chapter honoring a few of the many faithful Old Testament people. But the chapter ends with verses 39-40,  “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us (a heavenly resurrection), that they without us should not be made perfect (perfect human beings).” Why will these “ancient worthies not receive a heavenly resurrection? Because before Jesus died on the cross, satisfied justice, and provided a way to redemption, no one could be forgiven of their sins and be begotten of the Holy Spirit. (Even the apostles had to wait until Pentecost before they were spirit begotten.)  Paul calls this high, heavenly calling a “new and living way.” “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” Hebrews 10:19-20 (KJV). Paul also wrote, “who saved us and called us to a holy calling…which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (ESV). In the earthly phase of Christ’s kingdom, these faithful people will be leaders on the earth. Isaiah 1:26 (NKJV), “I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.” Ezekiel 37:25-27 (NKJV), 25 “Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David (David means “Beloved,” and this refers to Christ) shall be their prince forever. 26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. 27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (YLT), “And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead — the first-fruits of those sleeping he became, 21 for since through man is the death, also through man is a rising again of the dead, 22 for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, 23 and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the Christ’s, in his presence,…” Christ means anointed. Jesus was the first to be anointed and begotten of the Holy Spirit. He was the first to be resurrected from death. (Other people, who were “resurrected,” were merely resuscitated or revived. They all died again.) “He (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Colossians 1:18 (NKJV) Then there are the body members of Christ. True Christians also receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and are part of Christ.  At Jesus’s second advent, the dead in Christ are resurrected. Therefore, in 1 Corinthians 15:20, the dead (saints) in Christ are part of the first-fruits. (Please note that first-fruits is plural.) After the dead in Christ are raised, anointed Christians still living will need to “make their calling and election sure,” (2 Peter 1:10.) These saints will die and immediately be resurrected, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet… and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52. Is there any resurrection that happens after Christ (Head and Body)?  Yes, first-fruits indicates there will be after-fruits (the world of mankind). The order of the resurrection is Jesus Christ, His anointed body members, and the world of mankind. Do all the resurrections (other than Jesus’s) wait until the Judgment Day? Yes, Jesus taught, “He (God) has given Him (Jesus) authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28…an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life (the Christ), and those who have done evil (mankind) to the resurrection of judgment.” John 5:27-29 (ESV) The world’s resurrection will take place during Christ’s reign on earth. This is the time when the willing of mankind will have all that Adam lost restored to them (Acts 3:21). Then Isaiah 11:9 (ESV) will be gloriously fulfilled: “They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” Also see Isaiah 35:1-10 and Jeremiah 31:31-35.

True, Christians are not under the Law Covenant as Paul wrote in Galatians 3:24. The Law Covenant was made only with the nation of Israel. Paul was explaining to Jews who converted to Christianity that they specifically were not under the Law any more. Let us now consider your 1 Corinthians question. 1 Corinthians 7:19 (NKJV), “Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.” Circumcision was established before the Law Covenant and was not part of the Law. God told Abraham to circumcise himself, his male family members, and the males of his household (including his servants) in Genesis 17:9-14. All male Jews were to be circumcised because they were part of Abraham’s offspring. But what commandments was Paul writing about in Corinthians? The principles of God’s commandments are discussed in many New Testament scriptures. 1 John 3:22-24, “…this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,…” A Pharisee asked Jesus what the greatest commandment was. “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.’” Matthew 22:36-40. Thus, we are commanded to love God, Jesus, and our neighbors.. Who specifically are our neighbors? 1 John 4:20-21,  “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” Jesus explained our neighbors even include our enemies. Matthew 5:43-44,  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. To summarize, if we think ourselves Christians, we must love God in word and deed. We show our love of God by obeying God’s principles in the Bible. God’s commandments teach us to love our brethren in our worldwide Christian family, to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love even our enemies. How can we attain to this state in our hearts? Only by changing our characters and natural tendencies and letting ourselves be renewed through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we do not speak and act out of love, we cannot be God’s ambassadors, and if we say we are, we are liars.