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https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Malachi, you are another rather new member of our little family of Bible study lovers. We cherish your involvement, and look forward to your posts.
The "strait" or "narrow" gate is the Cross of Christ, and the blood of Christ shed on that Cross. That Gate has a Door, and there is a Way beyond that Gate, directly into God's presence.
This Scripture should be linked to John 10:9 (the words of Christ): "I AM THE DOOR; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture".
Also with John 14:6 (the words of Christ): "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".
Also, with Hebrews 10:19,20: "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".
This being a Bible study thread and all I do not mean to debate what you have said, but in a fashion I must disagree with what you have said. While the cross and the blood of Christ is quite necessary, it is not the strait and narrow gate. There are many who have accepted and believe upon the crucifixion and blood of Christ, yet they still have not found the narrow gate. Just as Jesus said of them when they said but Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and done many great works in your name; and he shall say to them depart from me you workers of iniquity. This is spoken of those who believe, yet they never entered through the gate; when their lord returned they were caught on the outside of the city, having not already entered through that narrow gate. Yet more importantly, instead of repenting form their ways because they did not hearken unto their Lord and follow his instructions, they instead offered their own works for their justification.
The straight and narrow gate is not the cross, nor is it the blood of Christ, and it certainly has nothing to do with our works. The straight and narrow way is the way of FAITH, and that faith is not our own, but is a gift from the Lord if you will accept it.
Thank you ezrider. You're another person who I enjoy reading your posts. You certainly have a Biblical view of whatever a thread is, and you are certainly welcome to continue to join our little family here on a regular basis. When you disagree with something posted, I know that I'm going to learn something different. Whatever your views are, that's Ok here because we appreciate each other as Jesus taught us to.
I agree that 1/3 of Malachi's post was not the initial cause of the narrow gate, it was an addition to the gate exposing part of the process of becoming a true believer. I totally agree with your statement that even though people have believed in the blood & cross, it by no means that they have entered the narrow gate. I'm glad that your brought that up as tomorrow we will study that exact posture. John 2:23-25 (23) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. (24) But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,(25) And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man."
I hope you join us tomorrow because I sense that you have some good info that the study needs....we need you!
May I add may experience with the "narrow gate?"
The first time I went to "church" I had been insane for five days, they greeted me, asked me if I wanted to receive Jesus, 'cuz He would help me with all of my problems (what caused my insanity was the only woman I loved left me and my prayer to Jesus was for Him to bring her back), they patted me on the back, gave me a Bible and welcomed me into the family.
It was four years later, after the Lord had healed me, I was attending "church," in fact had many ministries in the "church" and was being groomed to be assistant pastor, when at a Wednesday night Bible study in July of '86 the Divine fiat of "Let there be Light" shone into my darken spirit to reveal all of the chaos inside me, I saw for the first time all of my sin, and it was a terrible weight resting on my shoulders, there I was naked before God, ...the "Light" illuminated the Cross and the finished work Jesus Christ had accomplished on it and I knew deep in my soul I needed what He had provided for me, I asked Him to forgive me, come into my heart and take control of my life, ...I woke up the next morning a new creation, what I had excused the day before was now repulsive to me, my old habits no longer held any pull on my life, ...I had been set free. PTL
I had been walking on the broad path with other "Christians" thinking everything was okay with my soul, but until the Divine fiat of "Let there be Light" shines individually upon our chaotic lives, we can't even see the narrow gate!
Thank you Chopper for your kind words. You make mention of John 2:23-25, and as I read how Jesus did not commit himself unto them because he did not want that they should testify of a man. Jesus was a man, and he did not want the people worshiping him as a man. Jesus did not seek glory for himself, but instead sought to glorify the Father. It reminds me of your study thread on the book of Deuteronomy where we discussed how God appeared to them in a cloud of fire, and that the people only heard the voice, and yet saw no similitude, for he knew what was in the heart of man.
This passage also reminds me of another scripture:
John 6:14-15 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Jesus departed from the people when they sought to make him a king after the manner of the flesh, and withdrew himself to keep the people from worshiping and testifying of him instead of worshiping the Father and testifying of the works of God.
Thank you ezrider. That is a perfect reply to my thinking on John 2:23-25. It also is an important instruction for my understanding. You have presented another side of those three verses. I hadn't thought of the human side where as Jesus didn't want those people worshiping Him just as a supernatural man and not the Son of God, their Messiah who must die for their sins.
I have been captivated by the process of the Father somehow communicating truth to the disciples of which Jesus made comment about that in, Matthew 16:17 "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." I have always considered this a very important Scripture as to obtaining Truth of God's Word. Somehow, I must have help in understanding Scripture, which goes along with our study here. Everyone who tries to interpret Scripture can't all be right. Only those of whom the Father thru the Holy Spirit reveals the truth is for real. I'm afraid that there are many on that wide road who try and interpret the Word, but their teachings are just plain false. Oh my friend ezrider, we must be so very careful that Our understanding comes from the Author Himself or we are operating in the flesh.
Thank you ezrider. That is a perfect reply to my thinking on John 2:23-25. It also is an important instruction for my understanding. You have presented another side of those three verses. I hadn't thought of the human side where as Jesus didn't want those people worshiping Him just as a supernatural man and not the Son of God, their Messiah who must die for their sins.
I have been captivated by the process of the Father somehow communicating truth to the disciples of which Jesus made comment about that in, Matthew 16:17 "And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." I have always considered this a very important Scripture as to obtaining Truth of God's Word. Somehow, I must have help in understanding Scripture, which goes along with our study here. Everyone who tries to interpret Scripture can't all be right. Only those of whom the Father thru the Holy Spirit reveals the truth is for real. I'm afraid that there are many on that wide road who try and interpret the Word, but their teachings are just plain false. Oh my friend ezrider, we must be so very careful that Our understanding comes from the Author Himself or we are operating in the flesh.
Yes, yes, yes!!!
It's the New Covenant instituted on the day of Pentecost,
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My Laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," Heb 10:16
And in conjunction with,
But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and no lie, and as He has taught you, abide in Him. 1Jn 2:27
That means the Holy Spirit is teaching me through His empowering someone with His gift of teaching, saying, "yes, this is true," to my spirit, ...or some just blowing hot air, "Jesus didn't say that," or "that is not the way Jesus intended it," or "that is taken out of the context of how Jesus taught it."
Sad, but true, so many don't understand that and are telling me the Holy Spirit said this or the Holy Spirit said do that and the witness Rom 8:16 inside of me is saying NO, NO, NO!
Chopper, your last statement and word or caution is a perfect segue into the thought on false prophets. In your post above you said "In other words, their teaching MUST adhere to the Scripture!!" But we must be more astute than that, and more discerning of the spirits. For the scriptures do speak to the wrath of God, but that wrath belonged to the old covenant. But we are not under the old covenant, we are under the new covenant, and under the new covenant we are not appointed unto wrath, but unto salvation. When we look after the manner of flesh, and see the evidence for sin all around us, we are tempted then to proclaim God's wrath instead of His salvation and thereby become a false prophet.
You point out very well that it is only the Holy Spirit that can reveal unto us the truth. But many people claim that the Holy Spirit teaches them all kinds of things from the Bible, and many believe that the Holy Spirit teaches them about the Anti-Christ, or Satan, so that when he appears they shall know him as he is. But is that the work of the Holy Spirit? To have us seek after the enemy so that we may know him? Or is that a signature of a false prophet?
We find in John 15:26-27 what the purpose of the comforter is for: But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to testify of Christ, the Son of God. So who then is a true prophet of the Lord?
Rev 19:9-10 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, and not just the testimony of the works you believe Jesus performed as a man, but the testimony of the effectual working of the Spirit of Christ in your heart. The testimony of salvation and the Grace and Mercy of the Lord. To stand a witness and proclaim the kingdom of heaven in our midst.
So much of it does come down to what we see in our flesh or what we may perceive by the spirit. When people look to earthquakes and famines as signs according to their prophecies, they are looking after the manner of the flesh and the things of this world and not the kingdom of their Lord. Yet I am reminded of the story of Elijah when he fled into the wilderness for fear of his life, and the Lord brought Elijah unto Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God where Elijah was shown a vision.
1 Kings 19:9-13 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
All these things that Elijah saw, the Lord was not in them; only the still small voice. The same voice we are to listen to when we hear the comforter from within our own heart, the spirit of truth that testifies of Christ.
NOW here is my question to our Bible Study family theologians. How in the world can anyone perform these "works" and not be saved? HOW? I have s few suggestions, I don't know how valid they are though.
1. Some have suggested demon forces. Even though they cast out demons, it was just for show to deceive the public into believing that these "false prophets" could be relied on for instruction from the almighty.
2. The Name of Jesus was so powerful in that first Century that the mere mention of His Name brought a miracle if directed at something that was in an area that Jesus would have changed.