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Speaking in tongues can edify both you and others and we are encouraged to use them

The Bible says that when we speak in tongues then NO MAN UNDERSTANDS and that we in the spirit speak MYSTERIES not unto men but unto GOD. This should settle the whole argument about tongues always being understood, because the Bible says they are not understood (unless they are interpreted).

1 Cor. 14:²For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue SPEAKETH NOT UNTO MEN; BUT UNTO GOD: for NO MAN UNDERSTANDETH HIM; howbeit in the spirit HE SPEAK MYSTERIES.

1 Cor. 14: 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

Nowhere in the Bible does it say speaking in tongues was ever used for spreading the gospel. Here is what Acts says about the very first encounter of the tongues:

Acts 2:1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.–-6Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 9Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 10Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 11Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 12And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?13Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. 14But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: 15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit UPON ALL FLESH: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: 20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come

Notice that is says THE LAST DAYS, and surely we are living in that last days even more today than 2,000 years ago?

We can read above that “every man heard them speak in his own language” but does it say that every man understood ALL languages spoken by ALL disciples? No, it doesn’t say that. If a Cretan man heard his own language spoken by a disciple, is it certain that he also understood Arabic and other foreign languages spoken by OTHER disciples? It doesn’t sound likely that ALL those men who were present had knowledge enough to understand 10-20 languages. One can easily assume that for a Cretan person most other languages must have sounded like total gibberish to him – but we know that at least ONE disciple spoke in such a way that this Cretan person understood since “every man heard them speak in his own language”. It doesn’t say each person understood ALL languages spoken. The case could also be that the tongues that were spoken were already “interpreted” into worldly languages. (I’ve heard myself speaking in French and Finnish, and actually also in Swedish but when I did not use my own words.)

Acts 10:⁴⁴While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁸And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Above we can read that these particular jews understood that the Gentiles in question had received the Holy Ghost for the reason that they spoke in tongues and magnified God. This was a SIGN to these people. Below we can read again that speaking in tongues, among other things, is one of the signs for a believer:

Mark 16:¹⁷And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; ¹⁸They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Since Paul gives instruction about tongues within the christian church, it’s evident that tongues should be used among christians – and of course only if someone can interpret them. Speaking in tongues is naturally controllable just like any other language. You decide when to speak and when not to.

It’s in the book of Corinthians where we can read the most details about tongues (see further below)

The book of Corinthians tells us that the reason for speaking in tongues is that IT CAN EDIFY BOTH YOU AND (if you have the gift of interpreting) ALSO OTHERS. It is a BETTER deal if you can edify the church, but if you don’t have the gift if interpreting SPEAK TO YOURSELF AT HOME SO YOU CAN BE EDIFIED.

1 Cor. 14:⁴He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH HIMSELF; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1 Cor. 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD

So speaking in tongues is not only for other ears, particularly not when we can read:

“he that speaketh in an unknown tongue SPEAKETH NOT UNTO MEN; BUT UNTO GOD”

If, according to Paul, you don’t even speak to men but to GOD, then of course speaking in tongues is not only for others to hear. IF they are interpreted, then they could be for others to hear, if done in proper order. It’s not certain that a person who can speak in tongues also has the gift of interpretation, but he should be EAGER to get also this gift so even MORE people can be edified.

1 Cor 11:³⁰Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹But COVET EARNESTLY the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but rather that ye may prophesy. ²For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue SPEAKETH NOT UNTO MEN; BUT UNTO GOD: for NO MAN UNDERSTANDETH HIM; howbeit in the spirit HE SPEAK MYSTERIES.

We are to speak in both ways; 1) spirit (tongues) and 2) mind (our own understanding):

1 Cor. 14:19 I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding ALSO: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

If you’re honest; are you really eager to speak in both ways as Paul says you should? Take notice of that not ONCE does Paul discourage people to speak in tongues in any way but he ENCOURAGES them, and that is what I feel all pastors and evangelists should do. It’s just the disorder that Paul warns about. If tongues were supposed to cease shortly after the generation he was addressing, why are we not able to read information about this anywhere? It would have been so easy to add a little note about this to warn people about upcoming “fake” tongues or similar IF that were true. The question that needs to be answered by those who believe speaking tongues has ceased is this: Why haven’t they ceased? I can only see two reasons to why christians in MANY MILLIONS continue to speak in tongues (if they have indeed ceased)

1) The tongues spoken today are not real tongues but from Satan, so the people who speak in tongues are demon possessed.

2) Those who speak in tongues today make them up, i.e. those who use them are LYING since the speaking in tongues is fake.

Both these options result in that those who speak in tongues are not saved unless you believe that people who are demon possessed or unrepentant liars will be saved. So this means that the cessationists believe speaking in tongues is a sign for that they are UNBELIEVERS – contrary to what Mark 16:17 says.

Paul encouraged tongues and spent a considerable amount of time and words in the book of Corinthians to give instructions about them. It certainly doesn’t seem he believed they would shortly cease and that all those instructions were in vain. IF they would shortly cease, he should have spent some time to WARN about upcoming fake tongues, but he doesn’t say one word about it. Paul gives two cases where PUBLIC speaking of tongues is inappropriate:

1) Unbelievers would think you’re crazy if they ONLY hear gibberish from you

2) No one would understand you and thus it wouldn’t really benefit others. The case could be that you actually prayed for others BUT the thing is that they would still not UNDERSTAND that, so it would be totally useless if you stood up in church and spoke in tongues. Praying for others or yourself using other tongues is fine, but just not out loud in a church for obvious reasons.

Maybe the corinthians believed “the more tongues the better” since they really believed that tongues are from the Holy Spirit, but it still doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to babble them in any way you want. There must be a proper order. So Paul’s friendly instructions should not be viewed as rebuke, but just a help to sort out misunderstandings and to enable a better order in church. Public speaking in tongues would be a total waste of time if there is no interpreter.

1) The term “oudies” in 1 Cor. 14 rules out tongues being a known language.

2) The phrase “face to face” is a Judaic idiom expressing personal interaction with the presence of God and is the same Greek as the LXX in Moses “face to face” with God. This means that tongues will cease when we meet God face to face so clearly not NOW.

3) “The perfect” cannot be the Bible because the canon wasn’t even finished.

4) Tongues as a sign to unbelievers is only ONE of the uses of the gift. Acts 10 and 19 say that the sign is to believers, just as Mark 16:17.

5) Why is there a gift called “interpretor” if all tongues are languages that can be understood? Why are we asked to pray for the gift of interpretation of tongues?

Rom. 8:²⁶Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

It’s true that speaking in tongues is a free GIFT, but this doesn’t mean it’s wise to do nothing and wait for this gift to be handed to you. It’s called “free” because you can’t work for it, and it’s not given to those who have reached a higher level on the “holiness scale”. However, we are told to DESIRE this free gift and be EAGER to get it. If you’re not even seeking this gift or consider it valuable in your life, then there is a risk you’re quenching the power of the holy spirit. You’re risking to miss out on a wonderful and powerful gift.

1 Thess. 5:¹⁹Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰Despise not prophesyings. ²¹Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Examples from real life

Do you obey the below instructions to the fullest?:

Matthew 6:6″But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”

Do we always obey this exactly as it says? Of course we don’t. We check the context and try to understand the reasoning behind the words. Surely we sometimes get together with other christians and pray together with them and NOT in our closets? Paul wants order in church and gave this as a reason for his instructions about tongues. Let’s not add to his words.

Let’s take a private setting as in a Thursday night prayer meeting in church OR in someone’s home. Suppose 10 christians are present and the leader asks them to start off with prayers and thanksgiving to God. Everyone begins to pray quietly, and there is usually a person who is leading the prayers and speaks out loud (naturally so that all can understand) whereas the others might say “amen” or just continue in their own private prayers. Well, what if a few of these christians prefer to speak in tongues in his/her prayers? Only believers are present, and no one is standing up demanding other people’s attention. If you wouldn’t be upset if you heard Spanish beside you in a prayer meeting, why would you be upset about tongues that you happen to overhear? You weren’t supposed to listen anyway, and Paul’s instructions concerned PUBLIC speech. If you still feel this violates Paul’s instructions, then aren’t you also violating the instructions in Matt 6:6? You are supposed to pray SECRETLY inside your closet and you should shut the door, and not to be in a public prayer meeting praying together with others.

What if Charlie asked the others to pray for him? The others wouldn’t say that they preferred not to because it would violate Matt 6:6, but they would pray for Charlie who asked for it. Maybe one person would take the lead and pray so that Charlie can hear and understand, and maybe the rest would pray quietly at the same time – some in their own language and some in tongues. Charlie has no reason to be upset about other people praying for him in whatever way they like. The same people might later on return home and continue to pray for this person, and he won’t be able to hear, understand or say Amen to those prayers either. Again, the prayers are NOT for anyone to listen to but they are prayers from one person to GOD. When someone wants another person to understand, then naturally a foreign tongue is NOT a good idea since other people cannot say Amen.

Tongues in churches today

Ja. 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.16 Confess your faults one to another, and PRAY ONE FOR ANOTHER, THAT YE MAY BE HEALED. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

People seem to be so freaked out about tongues that they decide to turn their backs on tongues altogether. Doesn’t this mean that Satan is the winner with this type of reasoning? Speaking in tongues is a very useful weapon against the darkness, so it’s a shame that we let Satan fool us by making us flee from this wonderful gift which could edify us. He would then have disarmed us of a weapon which could be used against him.

WHERE in the Bible can we read that pastors should discourage church members to speak in tongues and/or neglect to inform them about the benefit of them? Paul is definitely encouraging tongues. He said “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues”. Since Paul is highlighting the benefit of tongues I wouldn’t be comfortable in a church where the pastor doesn’t do his job to encourage them. The best way to avoid the misuse of tongues is not to avoid tongues all together, but to obey Paul’s instruction about them. Speaking in tongues is supposed to be a sign that will accompany those who believe, so it’s rather essential. I therefore feel it’s a duty of a pastor to encourage the spiritual gifts such as driving out demons, healing people, speaking in tongues, etc.

Maybe there are people who get mightily upset if they are in a church where the pastor might be overheard speaking a few words in tongues quietly to himself when he walks from the pulpit (where he just had a sermon) back to his seat. They might jump up and say:

– “See?!! I heard him speak in tongues! That’s clearly unbiblical because tongues are supposed to be interpreted if made in public, and this was not the case here so this church must be really BAD!” etc

But what about other churches where the gifts of the spirit are not even in use? Why would THIS not be a cause for concern? Why don’t the same people jump up and say:

– “See?!! I have been to this church for weeks now and not ONCE have I heard a single whisper in tongues from anyone, nor seen anyone speaking in tongues in public (interpreted of course), nor seen any signs for ANY of the gifts of the holy spirit. This is clearly against the Bible so this means this church must be BAD!”, etc.

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” Some people interpret this as in “Forget about tongues, and rather desire to prophesy ONLY” but it doesn’t say that. It says “desire spiritual gifts”. That would include tongues. Of course it’s better to be able to prophesy since MORE people can be edified, but if you don’t have this gift then don’t neglect the desire to at least speak in tongues! Of course one gift is better than no gift at all!

Finally, here is what the book of Corinthians says about tongues

1 Cor. 1:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; ⁹To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; ¹⁰To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: — ²⁸And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. ²⁹Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? ³⁰Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? ³¹But COVET EARNESTLY the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

1 Cor. 13 ⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁹For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but rather that ye may prophesy. ²For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue SPEAKETH NOT UNTO MEN; BUT UNTO GOD: for NO MAN UNDERSTANDETH HIM; howbeit in the spirit HE SPEAK MYSTERIES. ³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. ⁴He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ⁵I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. ⁶Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?— ⁹So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. ¹¹Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ¹²Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, SEEK that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue PRAY THAT HE MAY INTERPRET. ¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding ALSO: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ¹⁶Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? ¹⁷For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: ¹⁹Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. —²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. ²³If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: ²⁵And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. ²⁶How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ²⁷If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF, AND TO GOD. —³⁹Wherefore, brethren, COVET to prophesy, and FORBID NOT to speak with tongues.

We are no longer under the Law (torah) but we are still under the moral law

Oct31

The Early Church had a controversy with a group called “the Judaizers” who were teaching justification by works of the law.

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, except ye be circumcised after themanner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. (Acts 15:1)

In other words, they taught that Gentiles need to obey the law (the Torah) and perform the works of the law (circumcision) in order to be justified. Since Paul’s ministry was to the Gentiles, he dedicated a large portion of his writings in Romans and Galatians, which were to Gentile Churches, to write against the Judaizers.

You will notice that Paul continually mentioned circumcision when discussing justification by works of the law in both Romans and Galatians.

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? (Those who had the Torah) Is he not also of the Gentiles? (Those who did not have the Torah) Yes, of the Gentiles also. Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith. (Rom. 3:28-30)

Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only or upon the uncircumcision also? For we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? When he was in the circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. (Rom. 4:9-10)

Paul is arguing that Abraham was justified before circumcision, before the law of circumcision was given, and therefore the Gentiles too can be justified by faith without the work of the law of circumcision.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Gal. 6:15)

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Gal. 5:6)

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God (1 Cor. 7:19).

Paul continually and repeated referred to circumcision when discussing justification “by works of the law” and said that circumcision does not “availeth anything” and is “nothing” but what matters is “a new creature” “faith which worketh by love” and “keeping of the commandments”.

It needs to be understood that Paul was not coming against the preaching of repentance in his epistles when he discussed justification by works of the law. In Galatia the Judaizers came and convinced the Gentile Church there that they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. Paul wrote his epistle to the Galatians to correct this error of the Judaizers. It was not that the Galatians were repenting of their sins and Paul thought, “I better put a stop to this”. Paul certainly would not have any problem with Gentiles repenting of their sins since his God given ministry was to bring the Gentiles to repentance (Acts 26:20). When Paul preached to the Gentiles in Athens, he told them that God was calling all of them to repent (Acts 17:30). Paul said that we needed to be circumcised, not in our flesh, but in our hearts (Rom. 2:28-29). The circumcision of the heart is putting off your sins (Col. 2:11). Paul bemoaned those Gentiles in Corinth who had not repented of their uncleanness and fornication (2 Cor. 12:21). Paul explicitly said that we should not continue in our sins (Rom. 6:1-2) but that we should awake to righteousness and stop sinning (1 Cor. 15:34). Paul even warned the Galatians that if they lived sinful lives, they would not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). It was the Apostle Paul who said “after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath” (Rom. 2:5), and that “repentance” leads “to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10). Clearly Paul would not have had any problems with Gentiles repenting of their sins. Rather, Paul was upset that the Gentile Church in Galatia started to believe falsehoods from the Judaizers about how to be saved.

A good example of how Gentiles find the forgiveness of sins is the story of Nineveh. The narrative records that the people believed God (Jonah 3:5) and turned from their sins (Jonah 3:8). When God saw this, He changed His plans and decided not to destroy them as He said He would (Jonah 3:10). These Gentiles did not need to adopt the Jewish customs, obey the Torah, or be circumcised in order to be pardoned. They were saved, or found the mercy of God, through simple repentance from sin and faith in God. Jesus even said that sinners will be condemned if they do not repent the way Nineveh did (Matt. 12:41). Therefore the way that Gentiles were saved through repentance and faith in the Old Testament is the same way that they are saved in the New Testament, according to Jesus. Repenting of sin is required in both the Old and New Testament as Jesus said and therefore repentance is not the works of the law Paul preached against.

We know that Jesus Christ taught repentance (Lk. 13:3) and Paul certainly would not have contradicted Jesus Christ since Paul was an Apostle of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1). Paul explicitly said that men ought to listen to the wholesome words of Jesus (1 Tim. 6:3). Paul was by no means attacking the preaching of repentance when he wrote against justification by works of the law. Paul was attacking the Judaizers and their false gospel that Gentiles must convert to Judaism, be circumcised, and obey the Torah.

Thanks to Jesse Morell

Is there a difference between sinning and PRACTICING sin? 1 John 3:9

Oct31

Some people suggest that christians are safe and will not lose their souls as long as they don’t PRACTICE sin – as in “habitually”. They might also suggest that true born-again christians do not practice sin but they do sin occasionally and they can never stop sinning. This is just another attempt to excuse sinning.

How many sins must a person commit to be considered “practicing” sin? One single murder or bank robbery in a life time would not be considered to sin habitually, but we know that one single sin made a huge difference for Adam and Eve. Perhaps being unfaithful every other year wouldn’t be considered practicing sin either? Where do we draw the line? The Bible says that nothing impure shall enter the new Jerusalem:

Rev. 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

True repentance (along with our faith) is the only thing that can save us.

The Greek word used for “to commit” is in itself proof that “commit” does not mean “practice”. In the Greek NT there are two words that are commonly used to express the idea of doing something. The first is “poieo”, the second is “prasso”, according to Blueletter Bible.

4160 poieo, appear. to make or do (in a very wide application)

4238 prasso, to “practice”, i.e. perform repeatedly or habitually (thus differing from poieo which refers to a single act); to execute, accomplish, fare, commit, deeds, do, keep, require, use arts.

When the Apostle John wrote “Whosoever is born of God doth not COMMIT sin” he used the word “poieo” (to make or do sin with the idea of a single act), and if he wanted to communicate the concept of “practicing” sin he could have used “prasso”.

John Wesley says:

“But some men will say, ‘True: whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin habitually.’ Habitually! Whence is that? I read it not. It is not written in the Book. God plainly saith, ‘He doth not commit sin’; and thou addest, habitually! Who art thou that mendest the oracles of God?-that ‘addest to the words of this book’? Beware I beseech thee, lest God “add to thee all the plagues that are written therein’!” / John Wesley’s Fifty Three Sermons “The Marks of the New Birth” April 3, 1741

1 John 3:9 mostly applies to Jesus because he is certainly “born of God” and his seed remains in God (the Father), but in a way it also applies to us who are in the son. Jesus actually had the capacity to sin or else he would not be tempted in all things just like us, like the Bible says he was. He rather chose to live a sinless life for our sake. We too obviously have the capacity to sin, but if we are led by the holy Spirit, we do not sin. The term “seed” above is generally understood to mean “God’s word” and seed is often typical of the Word of God (for example, Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23) but we know that believers are also referred to as “seed” (Rom 9:8; Gal 3:16, 19, 29)

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed (the believer) remaineth in him (Jesus): and he (the believer) cannot sin, because he is born of God (which is to abide in Jesus).” 1 John 3:9

This is confirmed in 1 John 3:6

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:6

It is not impossible for a believer to sin but rather, it is impossible for a believer to sin as long as he abides in Jesus (which is a condition to remain a believer). The chapter does not teach that it is impossible for a christian to sin but that it is possible that he, through God’s grace, avoids it. No believer has to sin (Titus 2:11-12, 1 Cor 10:13) and the Bible does not say that we are off the hook if we only transgress the law just once in a while instead of several times. Repentance is the only cure. If we mix sin and “sorries” on a daily basis, we have not truly repented.

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

1 Joh. 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.—¹⁰In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

We are told to not hate anyone because hating is like being a murderer. If we are to believe that our souls are not in danger as long as we do not habitually sin, does this mean we can perhaps get away with hating one single brother? Of course not, because no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

1 Joh. 3.¹⁵Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

We can also see that the condition for having confidence toward God is that our heart does not condemn us. If the case is that our conscience tells us that we have acted wickedly (our heart condemns us) then God is merciful and will forgive us IF we confess our sins and truly repent. If we harden our hearts and pursue in the sin we know is wrong, then our souls are in danger. If you have a chance, do read the article about our faith as “filthy rags”.

1 Joh. 3:¹⁹And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.²⁰For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.²¹Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Other mentions of “committing” sin outside of 1 John 3

John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

James 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Why did Jesus say “I pray not for the world” in John 17:9?

Oct7

I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine (John 17:9)

The above verse is sometimes used as an attempt to prove that God does not want everyone to be saved and that Jesus did not even bother to pray for all people for this reason. However, in the same chapter we can also read:

²⁰NEITHER PRAY I FOR THESE ALONE, BUT FOR THEM ALSO which shall believe on me through their word

”The world” is often contrasted with christian believers, and often stands in relation to Satan’s dominion and to all which is evil. It is obviously not a sin to be born into this world and to live in it, but we must make sure to not live OF this world by blending in with it – or love it more than God. This present world is considered to belong to Satan and in this sense prayers for it would not accomplish much since it i represents the root of all evil. Why spend time praying for Antichrist when we already know the future result of his evil actions against God’s plans? Prayers for individuals would make more sense – that they will be able to escape the temptations of this wicked world and turn to Jesus Christ – who does not want anyone to perish. As Paul says to the Ephesians “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world”. If all things were already determined (individuals chosen for heaven or hell before the world began), then of course there would be no reason to wrestle against anyone, nor to pray at all.

Isaiah 13:¹¹And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

John 7:⁷The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 12:²⁵He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 15:¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Ephesians 6:¹²For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.¹³Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

1 John 2:¹⁵Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.¹⁷And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

1 John 5:¹⁹And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Jesus is in this particular passage focusing on his disciples (apart from Judas who has already fallen), just like we sometimes focus on only some of our family members or friends in our prayers. Jesus sends his disciples on a mission to be the light of this dark world, and this of course requires lots of strength and prayers. Jesus is not giving “the world” this particular task because the world is against him and everything he stands for. The world is the reason why believers, like his disciples, need to be protected. By reading the rest of the passage (v. 2–8), we can see that those who the Father has given Jesus are those who have passed certain requirements:

They must KNOW the only true God
They must KEEP THE WORD
They must RECEIVE the word
They must BELIEVE that the Father has sent the son to the world

²As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.³And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.—⁶I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and THEY HAVE KEPT THY WORD.—⁸For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and THEY HAVE RECEIVED THEM, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and THEY HAVE BELIEVED that thou didst send me.

Even though certain people are “given” Jesus and thus very special, they still need to be prayed for so that they will be kept and so that they may be ONE as Jesus and his Father are one in thoughts and goals. It is not a certainty that they will be kept, and we already know that Jesus lost one of his disciples given him – Judas Iscariot. Moreover, Jesus did not pray that his disciples would be taken out of this world but he prays that they will be KEPT while still living in this world. So Jesus prayers concerned his disciples who were with him (v. 12), but not all disciples were with him from the start. In. v. 20 he continues to pray also for all those who would believe on him through their words.

¹¹And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. ¹²While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. —¹⁵I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Jesus also prayed for others besides his disciples, like those who would be hearing the gospel from the mouths of the disciples.

²⁰NEITHER PRAY I FOR THESE ALONE, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; ²¹That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

One of many prophesies in the OT about Jesus is that the Messiah would be praying (make intercession) for his transgressors:

Jesaja 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Luke 23:33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. ³⁴Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

Obviously Jesus prayed also for non-believers. If we are to believe that Jesus never prayed for anyone else but a certain lucky crowd (the elect), should we take his example and pray only for a select few? No, the Bible says that we should even pray for our enemies.

Matt. 5:⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

You can read verses that say that Jesus died for the whole world in this blog article

Är Gud god som dödar kananeiska barn?

Sep13

Jes. 57:1 Den rättfärdige går under, men ingen bryr sig om det. Fromma människor rycks bort,utan att någon inser att den rättfärdige tas bort för att slippa ondskan.2 Han går in i friden. De som vandrar sin väg rakt fram kommer till vila på sina läger.

Eftersom Gud är den som skapat människorna så borde samma Gud också ha rätt att avlägsna människor från jorden, men han gör det förstås inte utan orsak. Det var aldrig meningen att döden skulle få en plats i Guds skapelse. “Syndens lön är döden” heter det ju, så hade det inte funnits någon synd så hade heller inte döden behövt komma. Vi kan läsa att döden är en FIENDE så självfallet skulle Gud aldrig frivilligt att orsakat så att en fiende kommit in i världen. Vegetation och insekter är inte inräknade i det hebreiska uttrycket för “levande liv” vilket är “nephesh cayah”, och förmodligen inte fiskar heller. Kravet för att inberäknas i “nephesh chayyah” verkar vara att varelsen ska innehålla blod och/eller att varelsen ska kunna andas. Det har alltså hela tiden varit meningen att plantor och insekter ska dö men inte att djur som inbegrips i “nephesh chayyah” ska dö. Även däggdjur som dör innebär ju någonting negativt eftersom även djur kan känna smärta och saknad av föräldrar eller barn.

1 Kor. 15:26 26. Den sista FIENDEN som blir borttagen är DÖDEN

Vi kan också läsa att skapelsen suckar och våndas vilket är någonting verkligen negativt, och vi kan läsa om varför skapelsen hamnat under förgängelsen:

Rom. 8:20. Ty skapelsen har blivit underkastad förgängelsen, inte av fri vilja, men för hans skull, som lade den därunder, med en förhoppning, 21. att också skapelsen en gång skallbli frigjord från förgängelsens träldom till den frihet, som hör Guds barns härlighet till.22. Ty vi vet, att hela skapelsen tillsammans suckar och våndas intill nu

Döden är alltså någonting nödvändigt ont så fort synden är en verklighet och det finns ingen annan väg att gå nu när synden kommit in i världen. Om vi aldrig dött fysiskt så skulle vi leva i evighet i en fallen värld och det skulle faktiskt vara ett öde värre än döden. Vi kan ju läsa att Guds förhoppning är att vi i slutänden ska bli Guds barn och ta emot Hans härlighet så Gud har en mycket bättre värld för oss. Att Adam och Eva kunde introducera synden till jorden emot Guds vilja beror på att de använde sin egen fria vilja med att inte lyda Gud. Vi har dock inte ärvt deras synd – eftersom det inte går att ärva VAL vilket synd är – men däremot måste vi dö fysiskt pga dem. Vi dör själsligt när VI själva väljer att bryta Guds bud och syndar. Vi kan inte skylla på Adam och vi syndar inte av ren nödvändighet.

Om vi påminner oss om att syndens lön är döden så är det lättare att förstå varför alla människor måste dö. Jorden är inte vårt rätta hem och vi lever här endast temporärt. Om vi väljer att gå Guds väg så ligger det bästa framför oss. Paulus verkade längta efter döden så att han kunde förena sig med Kristus och få sin efterlängtade vila, men han insåg också att ytterligare några år på jorden skulle kunna innebära fördelar för andra:

Fil. 1:21. Ty för mig är livet Kristus och döden en vinning. 22. Men om det att leva i köttet för mig innebär frukt i mitt arbete, så vet jag inte vilket jag skall välja. 23. Ty jag dras åt båda hållen. Jag längtar efter att få bryta upp och vara hos Kristus, vilket skulle vara mycket bättre. 24. Men att bli kvar i köttet är mer nödvändigt för er skull.

Kananéerna var inte en samling oskyldiga Svenssons som du och jag. De verkar vara värre än Pol Pot och Hitler tillsammans och de drog sig inte ens för att kasta sina egna barn i elden. Det skulle också kunna vara så att åtminstone vissa var väldigt högresta (jättar?) baserat på både exempel i skriften och sekulära berättelser. Det verkar som andra folkgrupper tog efter många av deras traditioner och Gud gav också flera varningar om just detta farliga inflytande. När israelerna tågade mot Kanans land så kände invånarna både i och utanför landet till att de var på väg, och de fick lång tid på sig att omvända sig och ansluta sig till dem. De visste om att den Gud som israelerna tillbad var väldig i kraft och gav dem seger efter seger, men inte heller israelerna var immuna mot Guds vrede gentemot synd (en kärleksfull Gud hatar synd och gör någonting åt den) eftersom de bland annat miste 3.000 man när de gjöt en guldkalv för att tillbe och senare också miste avsevärt fler man när de gjorde uppror mot Gud vid olika tillfällen. Gud har inga gullegrisar. Egentligen kan man säga att Gud hade ett större krav på att hans egendomsfolk israelerna skulle leva rättfärdigt eftersom målet ju var att fler folkgrupper skulle bli frälsta genom dem. Om Gud skulle ha sett mellan fingrarna på att israelerna sysslade med trolldom, tillbad andra gudar, behandlade varandra illa eller levde i olika sorters omoral, så skulle övriga folkgrupper kunna håna deras Gud och säga: “Israelerna lever ju precis likadant som alla andra, så deras Gud kan ju knappast ha andra krav eller vara bättre än våra gudar”.

Ryktena om israels Gud borde ha fått kananérna att underkasta sig samma sanna Gud i stället för de falska gudar som de själva tillbad, men i stället fortsatte de på samma onda väg. Gud kan till skillnad mot människor se hela bilden och vet att det faktiskt skulle innebära ännu mer död och plåga för ännu fler människor om han skulle låta kananéerna leva. En del drar efter andan när jag kommer så långt i mitt resonemang och menar att just ett sådant tänkande är vad som är grunden till att folk krigar mot varandra, eftersom alla menar att just deras gud bett dem att ha ihjäl andra. Det är alldeles sant att det finns massor med människor som ljuger och menar sig ha ett direkt budskap från Gud att agera på ett visst sätt trots att så inte är fallet, men Gud själv vet att de ljuger och vi själva vet också att det finns många falska profeter och vi är ombedda att pröva allt. Gud gav både israeler och andra en MÄNGD bevis för att han faktiskt var och är den sanna Guden. Hypotesen handlar ju om det finns en sann Gud som faktiskt skapat himmel, jord och människor som Bibeln säger, och om så är fallet så har den Guden all vetskap om det han själv skapat och vi måste acceptera att han faktiskt vet mer om sakers tillstånd och framtiden än vad vi gör. Vi har ingen rätt att döda men det har faktiskt Skaparen.

Är det då inte grymt att döda små kananitiska barn? Jag litar på Guds omdöme. Vad är alternativet? Att döda alla vuxna, och låta barnen bli ensamma kvar? Att inte döda någon alls och låta denna ovanliga ras av människor (som nu är utrotad) fortsätta att utökas och producera ännu fler framtida tyranner? Tänk inte på dessa barn som Svensson-barn, för det var de inte. Tänk i stället att de skulle växa upp och antingen bli kastade i elden eller bli mördare som kastar sina egna barn i elden. Denna ras av människor var mycket ovanlig. Om dessa barn hade fått chansen att växa upp så vet Gud (men inte vi) att även de skulle bli precis som sina föräldrar, men då blir skillnaden att de måste stå till svars för det som de gjort, och då blir domen Helvetet. Dör man som barn är man fortfarande omedveten om några lagar och betraktas då inte som skyldig. Låt oss aldrig heller glömma att om dessa barn inte dött då så hade de i alla fall dött NÅGON GÅNG. Vi ska alla dö någon gång. Allt står inte och faller med detta TEMPORÄRA liv på jorden. Det är en droppe i havet jämfört med den evighet som är vårt rätta hem. Vi dör alla förr eller senare och många längtar efter att komma hem till Herren även om de lever ganska bra på jorden.

Samma människor (ofta ateister) som förfasar sig över att kananeiska bebisar dog av Guds hand har ofta inga som helst problem med att acceptera att barn får dödas i magen. Ca 37.000 bebisar aborteras varje år i Sverige för att minst en förälder anser att de inte är människor som är värda att leva, men denna slakt ses inte som något problem utan de menar att en ung tjej har rätt över sig egen kropp. Uppenbarligen har unga tjejer som fortfarande är i magen inte denna rätt till sin egen kropp.

När Joshua träffade Rahab i fiendestaden Jeriko bekänner hon att alla landets inbyggare är väl medvetna om Israels Gud, vad han sagt och vad han gjort och berättar att alla landets inbyggare till och med lever i ångest pga honom. De verkar vara väl medvetna om att det som de har hört och sett endast kan betyda att Herren är den verkliga Guden. Trots det lever de i uppror mot honom:

Joshua 2:9»Jag vet att HERREN har givit eder detta land, och att förskräckelse för eder har fallit över oss, ja, att alla landets inbyggare äro i ångest för eder.10Ty vi hava hört huru HERREN lät vattnet i Röda havet torka ut framför eder, när I drogen ut ur Egypten, och vad I haven gjort med amoréernas konungar, de två på andra sidan Jordan, Sihon och Og, huru I gåven dem till spillo 11Då vi hörde detta, blevo våra hjärtan förfärade, och numera har ingen mod att stå eder emot; ty HERREN, eder Gud, är Gud, uppe i himmelen och nere på jorden.

We all stumble in many ways + No man can tame his tongue? (James 3:8)

Sep1

We all stumble in many ways + No man can tame his tongue? (James 3:2 NIV + James 3:8)

Some people who are searching through the Bible in order to find verses which support sinning sometimes try to use the half verse in James 3:2 to persuade themselves and others that no one can ever stop sinning and/or that it’s not that serious if we fall.

It’s interesting that many of them despise the NIV version and vehemently explain what a terrible translation it is and yet they prefer to use NIV in THIS particular case since they prefer the word “stumble” before “offend” which the KJV uses. The rest of the passage in James 3:2 offers a solution to the problem, that if any man offend NOT in word then he is also able to bridle his whole body – which seems like a good idea. James doesn’t say this is impossible but compares with other situations where man has successfully made horses and even large ships obey him.

James 3:2 For in many things we OFFEND all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (KJV)

What does “offend all” mean? The transliteration is “ptaiomen”/”ptaió” which indeed means “to cause to stumble” or “stumble”. The only passages in the Bible where this word is used are in the following verses, apart from James 3:2:

James 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.

Romans 11:11 I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.

James 3:2 For in many things we OFFEND all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (KJV)

There are other Greek words that are translated as “sinning” and/or “falling away” such as “pipto” and “ekpipto” but they are not used here. Another significant word is “skandalizo”, which is often translated as “fall away” and “stumble” and this is used when Jesus tells his disciples “You will all fall away because of me this night” (Matthew 26:31 NAS). Skandalizo also is the word used in Mathew 24:10, where Jesus talks about a “falling away” in the end times maybe due to persecutions. “Skandalizo” is also used in Mark 4:17, where Jesus tells a parable about seed falling on rocky soil to describe believers who “fall away” in times of trials. In Luke’s parallel passage the Greek word behind “fall away” is “aphistemi” – the root from which the Greek word for apostasy is drawn. So there are words that contain a much more serious risk for a christian than the Greek word that is translated as “stumble” in James 3:2.

So let’s remember that when Jesus said “Sin no more” he uses a different Greek word than in James 3:2, and the same goes for other places in the Bible when we are told to avoid sinning such as when Paul said “Awake to righteousness and SIN NOT”. Stumbling doesn’t seem to be as serious as sinning or falling away.

Revelation 2:⁵Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Jude 1:²⁴Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

No man can tame his tongue

Another verse that is often used to support sinning is “No man can tame his tongue” which is also mentioned by James. He explains that animals have indeed been tamed by man and man can even make horses obey and large ships, but when it comes to the tongue it seems generally impossible for man to tame it. But he doesn’t conclude that this is therefore normal behaviour and totally acceptable for a christian in any way. He says that the tongue boasts, that it can lit a fire, is a world of INIQUITY, DEFILES the body and it is set on fire of HELL. Would James ever claim that this is a totally acceptable for true christians? Of course not! He says “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, THESE THINGS OUGHT NOT TO BE“. Of course James would never say that something that causes INIQUITY and defiles the body is accepted and normal. Iniquities always separate us from God!

If “no man can tame his tongue” means that it’s never possible to avoid lies and slander, then James is in contradiction with himself. He says a few verses later:

“¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and LIE NOT against the truth”

Lie not? Didn’t James know that no man can tame his tongue and must always lie? Obviously James is not saying that it’s acceptable to not tame his tongue even if it seems generally impossible. He is saying that we should, because these things should NOT be so, and he says departing from the truth (which lying and slandering is) is DEVILISH, and not taming a tongue would result in envying and strife which is in turn the foundation of EVERY EVIL WORK. There is a famous commandment which says “You shall not LIE”. Is James saying that we can just as well forget about this commandment because no man can tame his tongue? Of course not. James says:

1:^26″If any man among you seem to be religious, and BRIDLETH NOT HIS TONGUE, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain”.

The entire context from James 3:

²For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, THESE THINGS OUGHT NOT SO TO BE. ¹¹Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? ¹²Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. ¹³Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and LIE NOT against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, DEVILISH. ¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and EVERY EVIL WORK. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

The moral law is still valid today and is NOT optional to obey

Aug6

We are no longer under the Jewish ceremonial law concerning clothes, food, etc BUT the moral law has always been valid ever since Adam and Eve and it’s still applicable for us today. It has ALWAYS been prohibited to murder, steal, lie and commit adultery. These laws did not start with Moses even if he wrote down also these very foundational laws on stone tables. We can never EARN our salvation by keeping the law and be good (because then we must keep it to 100% which no one has chosen to do) but this does NOT mean that it’s ok to continue to break the law and believe that grace will always cover our sins. If we are cleansed from our sins in the blood of Jesus, it does NOT make sense to return back to breaking the law and become filthy once again. Sins will ALWAYS separate us from God. Obeying the law won’t save you but breaking it will send you to hell. Repentance is the only cure, but if we sin, repent, sin, repent, then we have not truly repented.

Here are some verses which show that the moral law is still in force:

1 Cor.7:¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, BUT KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS of God.

Gal.5:¹⁸BUT IF YE BE LED OF THE SPIRIT , YE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. ¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, ²⁰Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, ²¹Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matt. 22:³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.³⁸This is the first and great commandment.³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Rom.3:³⁰Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.³¹Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, We ESTABLISH THE LAW.

Matt.5:¹⁷Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am NOT come to destroy, but to fulfil. ¹⁸For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ¹⁹Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, AND SHALL TEACH MEN SO, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Hebr.10:¹⁶This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord,I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR HEARTS, and in their minds will I write them;

Romans 2:¹²For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;¹³(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.¹⁴For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:¹⁵Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Ingen RÄTTFÄRDIG finns enligt Rom. 3:10? Jo, det finns massor

Jun15

Rom. 3:¹⁰Det står skrivet:Ingen rättfärdig finns, inte en enda¹¹ingen förståndig finns, ingen finns som söker Gud

Ovan används ibland för att försöka ge bild av att ingen kan vara rättfärdig men vi måste läsa versen i sitt sammanhang och dessutom se till att vi läser alla avsnitt på ett sådant sätt att vi inte åstadkommer bibelmotsägningar. Gud säger ju också:

Jer. 29:¹³Ni skall söka mig, och ni skall också finna mig om ni söker mig av hela ert hjärta.

Matt. 6:³³Nej, sök först Guds rike och hans rättfärdighet, så skall ni få allt det andra också.

I Romarbrevet 3:10-11 refererar Paulus till ett par psalmer som vi måste läsa i sitt rätta sammanhang för att förstå poängen. Läser man Rom. 3:9-18 kan vi direkt se att Paulus helt enkelt inte kan syfta på 100% av alla människor eftersom vi har kännedom om en rad gudfruktiga människor i Bibeln (se exempel nedan) som älskade Gud av hela sitt hjärta.

Rom. 3:⁹Hur är det då? Har vi något företräde? Nej, inte alls! Vi har ju redan anklagat både judar och greker för att alla vara under syndens välde. ¹⁰Det står skrivet: Ingen rättfärdig finns, inte en enda¹¹ingen förståndig finns, ingen finns som söker Gud.¹²Alla har avvikit, alla har blivit fördärvade. Ingen finns som gör det goda, inte en enda. ¹³En öppen grav är deras strupe. Sina tungor använder de till svek. Huggormsgift är bakom deras läppar.¹⁴Deras mun är full av förbannelse och bitterhet.¹⁵De är snabba på foten till att utgjuta blod.¹⁶Förödelse och elände råder på deras vägar,¹⁷och fridens väg känner de inte.¹⁸De har inte gudsfruktan inför sina ögon.

Psalmer kan läsas bokstavligt eller bildligt och de kan också spegla sanningen poetiskt.Vi kan läsa att de ogudaktiga kontrasteras mot de RÄTTFÄRDGIA som tar sin tillflykt till Herren, som tillber honom och som vill bli ledda av honom. Notera att det är DÅRARNA som säger att det inte finns någon Gud och DESSA är de som är fördärvade.

Psalm 14:DÅRARNA säger i sitt hjärta: “Det finns ingen Gud.”Onda och avskyvärda är deras gärningar, det finns ingen som gör det goda.²Herren blickar ner från himlen på människors barn för att se om det finns någon förståndig, någon som söker Gud.³Men alla har avfallit, alla är fördärvade. Ingen finns som gör det goda,  inte en enda.⁴Förstår de ingenting, alla dessa OGÄRNINGSMÄN, de som äter MITT FOLK som om de åt bröd och som inte åkallar Herren. ⁵Där grips de av förfäran, ty Gud är hos de RÄTTFÄRDIGAS släkte.⁶Den betrycktes råd hånar ni, ty Herren är hans tillflykt.⁷O, att det från Sion kom frälsning för Israel!När Herren gör slut på SITT FOLKS fångenskap, då skall Jakob jubla, Israel glädja sig.

Psalm 5:Herre, led mig genom din rättfärdighet för mina förföljares skull.  Gör din väg jämn för mig.¹⁰Ty vad deras mun talar kan ingen lita på, deras inre är fördärv,  en öppen grav är deras strupe och sin tunga gör de hal.¹¹Förklara dem skyldiga, Gud, låt deras planer bli deras fall. Driv bort dem för deras många synders skull, ty de är upproriska mot dig.¹²Men låt alla som flyr till dig få glädja sig. I evighet skall de jubla, ty du beskyddar dem. I dig skall de fröjdas  som älskar ditt namn.¹³Ty du, Herre, välsignar den RÄTTFÄRDIGE, du omger honom med nåd som med en sköld.

Psalm 36:I mitt hjärta hör jag vad synden viskar till den ogudaktige. Det finns ingen gudsfruktan inför hans ögon. ³Han förringar inför sig själv att man skall upptäcka och hata hans brott.⁴Hans muns ord är ondska och svek, han vill inte göra det som är förståndigt och gott. ⁵Ondska tänker han ut på sin bädd, han går den väg som inte är god,  han skyr inte något ont.

Det är inte så att dessa onda människor aldrig hade någon chans att inte komma till Gud och förstå honom, för förstånd är alltid tillgänglig för alla som vill söka sanningen. Paulus själv, som yttrade orden i Rom 3:10-11, var också rättfärdig och är vi inte rättfärdiga kommer vi inte in i Guds rike.

Människor i Bibeln var rättfärdiga genom att visa sin tro med gärningar

1 Mosebok 6:9 Detta är berättelsen om Noas släkt. Noa var en rättfärdig man och ostrafflig bland sitt släkte; i umgängelse med Gud vandrade Noa.

Hebr 11:7. Genom tron BYGGDE Noa i gudsfruktan en ark till räddning för sitt hus, sedan han hade fått en gudomlig varning om de ting som ännu inte var synliga, och genom den dömde han världen och blev arvinge till den rättfärdighet, som är av tron.

Jakob 2:²¹Blev inte vår fader Abraham erkänd som rättfärdig genom gärningar, när han bar fram sin son Isak på altaret?

Hebr. 11: 8. Genom tron var Abraham LYDIG då han blev kallad, och drog ut till det land som han skulle få till arvedel, och han drog ut trots att han inte visste vart han skulle komma.

Matt 1:19. Men eftersom Josef var en rättfärdig man och inte ville utsätta henne för vanära, tänkte han i hemlighet överge henne.

Luk 2:25. Och se, i Jerusalem var en man vid namn Simeon och den mannen var rättfärdig och gudfruktig och väntade på Israels tröst, och den Helige Ande var över honom.

Matt 23:³⁵Så kommer över er allt rättfärdigt blod som är utgjutet på jorden, från den rättfärdige Abels blod till Sakarias, Barakias sons, blod, honom som ni mördade mellan templet och altaret.

2 Pet 2:⁷Men han frälste den rättfärdige Lot, som plågades av de ogudaktigas utsvävande liv. ⁸– Den rättfärdige mannen bodde nämligen bland dem, och dag efter dag plågades han i sin rättfärdiga själ av att se och höra det onda som de gjorde.

1 Thess 2:10. Ni är vittnen, och även Gud, hur heligt, hur rättfärdigt och ostraffligt vi uppträdde bland er som tror. (vi=Paulus, Silas och Timotheus)

Job 1: 1 I landet Us levde en man som hette Job. Han var en from och rättsinnig man, som fruktade Gud och undvek det onda.

Människor som inte har tro kan ändå göra gott

Varje gång som någon beslutar sig för att inte mörda, stjäla eller synda på annat sätt borde ju ha gjort ett gott beslut inför Herren? De kan även välja att göra goda handlingar, såsom att ge uppmuntrande ord till en annan människa eller t o m ta lån för att hjälpa människor i nöd. Det finns ateister som agerat helt osjälviskt i många situationer och även gett sina liv för andra människor. Det betyder förstås inte att de är frälsta, men de kan absolut välja att göra gott. Den förlorade sonen var andligt död, men han tog ändå ett gott moraliskt beslut och omvände sig från sina synder och vände åter till sin Fader.

Mattheus 7:¹¹Om ni som är onda förstår att ge era barn goda gåvor, hur mycket mer skall då inte er Fader i himlen ge det som är gott åt dem som ber honom.

Apg 28:1 Sedan vi hade blivit räddade, fick vi veta att ön hette Melite.²De infödda visade oss en ovanligt stor vänlighet. De tände en eld och tog hand om oss alla, eftersom det började regna och var kallt.

1 Kor. 14:²⁴Men om alla profeterar och en som inte tror eller förstår kommer in, då blir han avslöjad av alla och dömd av alla.²⁵Hans hjärtas hemligheter uppenbaras, och han faller ner på sitt ansikte och tillber Gud och ropar: “Gud är verkligen i er!”

Jakobsbrevet 4:¹⁷Den som vet att göra det goda men inte gör det, han syndar.

Rom 2:¹⁴Ty när hedningar som saknar lagen, av naturen gör vad lagen befaller, då är de sin egen lag, fastän de inte har lagen. ¹⁵De visar att det som lagen kräver är skrivet i deras hjärtan. Om det vittnar också deras samveten och, när de är tillsammans, deras tankar, som anklagar eller försvarar dem.

Läs gärna fler artiklar om rättfärdighet såsom denna

Muslims should follow “the people of the BOOK” from before them

Jun4

The people of “the book” are christians and jews who follow THE BIBLE. Muslims usually claim that the Bible is corrupted but that doesn’t fit the bill. The Bible was a complete book for many centuries before Muhammed even entered the scene, and he seems to trust it as a complete book.

“If you (Muhammad) are in doubt regarding that which We have revealed to thee, ASK those who READ the book from before you…” S. 10:94

If the Bible is corrupted or lost, this proves that Allah is telling Muhammad to verify his own message, the Quran, on a corrupted source! Therefore by disproving the Bible you would also disprove the Quran. Even the Quran says to judge based on previous scriptures.

“And I will write down (my mercy) for those who are righteous and give alms and who believe in our signs; who follow the apostle, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in the Torah and the Gospel that IS WITH THEM.”

Here the Quran even claims that Muhammad is found in previous scriptures! So if the Bible was corrupted then we must conclude that Allah is a liar since we wouldn’t be able to find Muhammad in it. If it is corrupted then it shows that Muhammad is a corrupted prophet being prophesied by a corrupted book.

“And let the People of the Gospel JUDGE by what God has revealed in it. If any fail to judge by what God has revealed, they are licentious.” S. 5:50 “

“If only the People of the Book had believed and been righteous, we should have blotted out their sins and admitted them to gardens of bliss.” “If only they had performed the Torah and the Gospel and all that was revealed to them from their Lord, they would have eaten from above and from under their feet. Among them is a People (umma) on the right course, but evil is that which many of them do…”

“Say,O People of the Book! You are not (founded) on anything until you PERFORM the Torah and the Gospel, and what was revealed to you from your Lord.” S. 5:68-71

Hence to accept Bible corruption, one would be force to conclude that Allah’s revelations can be change by mere human beings. Also it says that the people of the book (Bible means book) have to perform the Torah.

The words of thy Lord are perfect in truth and in justice; NONE CAN CHANGE HIS WORDS: For He is the one who heareth and knoweth all. S. 6:115

THERE IS NONE THAT CAN ALTER THE WORDS OF ALLAH. Already hast thou received some account of those messengers. S. 6:34

THERE IS NO CHANGING THE WORDS OF GOD; that is the supreme triumph. S. 10:65

And recite that which hath been revealed unto thee of the Scripture of thy Lord. THERE IS NONE WHO CAN CHANGE HIS WORDS, and thou wilt find no refuge beside Him. S.18:27

If the Bible is corrupted or lost then this means that the Quran is incorrect.

“God has bought from the believers their selves and their wealth, and for them is the garden (of Paradise) if they fight in the ways of God: and whether they kill or are killed, the promise of God IS true in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur’an, and who is more faithful to his promise than God?” S. 9:111

“To you (Muhammad) We revealed the book in truth,attesting to (the truth of) that which IS between his (its) hands from the scripture (the Torah and Gospel), and guarding it (wa muhaiminan `alaihi)…” S. 5:51

According to the Quran, the promise of God is true in both the Torah and Gospel. Also Allah said that he revealed “THE BOOK”.

“They (the Meccans) say, `Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?’ What! Has not a clear sign come to them in what IS in the former pages (al-suhuf al-aulla )?” S. 20:133

“And before thee (Muhammad), We sent no one, except men, to whom We granted revelation. ASK (plural) the people of the Scripture message, if you don’t know.” S. 21:7

According to the Quran clear proof of God himself is in the former scriptures of the Torah and Gospel and he even commanded Muhammad to ask the people of the scripture if he didn’t know.

Mohammed said, “Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith Al Buhkari vol. 9:57)

“Slay the idolators [non-Muslims] wherever ye find them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush. Fight against such of those who have been given the Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the last Day…. Go forth, light-armed and heavy-armed, and strive with your wealth and your lives in the way of Allah! (Sura 9:5,29,41).

So according to the Quran self defence is not a needed excuse for slaying someone else, but it’s enough if he or she is a non-muslim.

Also read “How to explain the trinity for muslims”.