Great show Dr. Brown, really enjoyed it and was blessed.
3 Days/3 Nights vs Friday Crucifixion/Sunday Resurrection
For many years these confusing questions never received a satisfactory response from any of our Pastors who attempted to answer them, but after some divine enlightenment, I have found that the answers are quite elementary. Now, I’m just confused about the confusion.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Do you know that if the Disciples had really grasped the meaning of that statement, that they could have accurately predicted the precise time of Jesus’ resurrection and met Him at the tomb (or at least witnessed it at a distance from a place of hiding)?
Remember Jonah captured in the belly of the fish for exactly three days and three nights and then was vomited throw out. When Jesus got arrested, John 18:12, it began the clock ticking for the 3 days/3 nights of being a prisoner. The Disciples could have noted the precise time of that arrest, and then noted that it would have been the precise time of Jesus’ release or resurrection ~ early Sunday morning. Interesting!
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
This verse tells you exactly how to count these three days. In day one, Jesus was destroyed by death and laid in the tomb. In day two, Jesus still at rest in the tomb, but in day three, He arose. As you can see, the two time frames begin on different days and are counted differently but end together ~ elementary!
The confusion probably arose from the term, ‘in the heart of the earth’. I don’t think that term means dirt, but could be a term for mankind and/or for the evilness that exist on this planet!?!
As I understand it, any part of a day is counted as being of that day. Like Friday night is still counted as Friday, Saturday, is day two, and any part of Sunday is day three. It’s the “three nights” that throw me off.
how he seemingly said adulterers will be stoned, but here is the law giver himself (God) letting david off the hook from being stoned and on the other hand someone who picks up sticks and defies the sabbath is stoned?
parents and kids are not punished for each others crimes, yet entire families are wiped out for the sins of their ungodly king fathers. another contradiction. david’s adultery kid was another one. it is endless.
how the old testament permitted the shaving of the heads of beautiful virgin POWs and presumably their rape thereafter, when her brothers (and ugly sisters?) were slaughtered. they are kept alive? good, then let them be free, or even slaves, but not sex slaves aka “wives”. how can God permit this?
Ben,
YHWH did not let David off the hook. There were great consequences to his sin. The death penalty could be imposed simply because there was an obvious lack of at least two eye witnesses, which the law stipulates for the death penalty to be performed.
There is much more to the other topics that you raise than a surface glance approach can account for. A thorough study shows the wisdom, justice and mercy of a loving creator. If we approach the scripture with an agenda we will not understand it. When we study it with a humble heart and an open mind we come away in awe of the grace, wisdom and love that is coupled with the justice and truth found in its pages.
James 1 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So you see that it is not our Creator and His word that has a double standard but his sinful creation that is double minded and cannot receive wisdom and truth. Without 100% commitment to be faithful to our Father in heaven, and His revelation to us, we relegate ourselves to confusion.
Shalom
That third sentence should read: The death penalty could NOT be imposed…
Shalom
Why do Christians go around telling people that their individual BELIEF in Jesus is the most important to get saved? yes its very important but is it more important than the GRACE of God to be saved? Shouldn’t Believers in Yeshua be going around spreading the GRACE of God in Yeshua HaMasiha more passionately than attacking the other person’s BELIEFS?
Why do you say put you faith in Jesus will save you when Jesus is just a Man, yes he is a a Prophet of God born by a miracle birth but still just a Man. Why not put your faith in the creator of the heavens and earth and Jesus? Why worship the creation and not the creator? Jesus NEVER said Worship me because I’m God. Jesus is a Man and Not God, only God is God. The only deity worth of worship is God him self and not his prophets.
Why am I born a sinner because of a mistake one man made thousands and thousands of years ago and the only way to be forgiven or saved is to believe that Jesus who is not only the Son of God but God him self let his creation kill him in a brutal dishonorable way? Jesus is NOT God because Christians believe he died. God Can NOT die so Jesus Can Not Be God. Jesus Ate drank and and what happens after one eats or drinks? Thinking God has to use the bathroom is just totally wrong and blasphemy how can anyone think of God doing such a dirty thing? God is Pure. Jesus also slept, God does not need to eat or drink and never gets tired. Who did Jesus pray to? He prayed to God, so Jesus was talking to him self? Why say “In Jesus’ Name we Pray”? when you are praying to God? Why not say “In The Name Of God”?
I think I’ve been learning not to defend much of anything the Bible says, but rather say something like “This is what it looks like to me right now, and here’s why.”
I don’t care to try to find out how the generations add up or not in Matthew 1, on which day did the Lord die on the cross and on which day did he arise, how all the events in the 4 gospels fit together, or who angels really are when they have appeared in the Old Testament.
I thing for sure I don’t want to defend is that the Bibles we have are fully accurate and have no contradictions whatsoever.
All that doesn’t seem to matter to me anymore. I think I was led the wrong way by some people telling me over and over again that the Bible is without error, or some such thing, as if it wasn’t to be believed if ever we found some things that didn’t add up for us.
I believe that’s the wrong way to approach Bible reading, though it is good to try to see how it all fits together.
I’ve learned to depend on a lot of uncertain and imperfect things in this world to get by daily, knowing that all these things are temporary.
I’m finding I can still trust God and what the scriptures say even though I may have a lot of questions and find so many things I can not explain.
I can trust him on the things I know it says. I can trust him on the things that do add up for me.
Even though I can’t follow Jesus every day in the scriptures, what he did on this day or that day, I know he died on a cross right during the Passover time, generally speaking, though I’m not sure if he died on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, or if he got up on a Saturday or Sunday.
I’m still amazed at the timing, for he is our Passover Lamb. That much I know for sure. One day we will know as we should know.
So if someone asks me how I can trust in the Bible if I see things I can’t put together, I do it the same way I drive my vehicle even when I have parts left over and don’t know where they go. I do it by faith. I get there that way, and God supplies me with all that I need to get by.
Amen, Ray. Amen.
Dear friends. thank you for responding to my post and sharing ur thoughts generaly for us to all read. i am personally of the school of thought of Ray above #7. but i shall respond in detail and u can tel me ur thoughts.
“YHWH did not let David off the hook. ”
Oh yes he did, yes he surely did! His law states that such people are to be stoned. It’s quite simple really.
SO anyways what are the consequences that YWHW brought on (if any)? (1) the death of that kid and (2) Abasalom.
If YWHW did bring on those consequences as a divine judgment (i.e. David probably knew it was a divine judgment because he was weepeing and fasting and wearing sackcloth hoping the kid would be spared) then why did the Divine jugment OMIT the death of the king as stated in YWHW own law? Selective judgment isn’t it? Divine judgment would be like Herod having a stroke, or like the king of assyria having his sons kill him.
IF it (abasalom, the kid’s death) was not divine judment, then let us take the man who picked up sticks on the sabbath and comapare him to king david. David is the king of Israel and everyone looks to him. The man who picked up sticks was some obscure individual. who knows. who cares. if you’re gonna make an example of a nobody, you better especially make an example fo the rich and powerful too. fair is fair. also david murdered someone, and slept with his wife. a double whammy. what a terrible evil, wicked thing to do! the other guy didn’t hurt no one. picking up sticks = innocous. But YWHW, Mr justice PERSONALLY says that the man who picked up those sticks will be stoned to death for defying my decrees and my sabbath, but the King who murders is not similarly condemned. friends, doesn’t this smack fo double standards? he personally intervenes in one instance when the crime is small, but does not intervene in another instance when the crime is a billion times worse, and with a king too – a prime time to make an example of someone!
divine justice or not, YWHW is down for the count either way.
Take another example. The census. Let’s just say this was David’s bright idea. A lot of innocent people were killed because of David’s, and David alone’s mistake. Again the innocent were condemned for another’s crimes and the guilty is acquited. David himself says: “These people haven’t done the wrong, I have”. Another example of YWHW punishing someone else for the crimes of another. it’s ridiculous. what sort of Fair playing, just god is this?
Dear friends. can you see where i am coming from? what do you think?
The “three nights” I referred to above, is not my greatest apologetics question. Those who will not be convinced of the truth of God, or, the scriptures, want to know, “why does God allow suffering, especially for children?”
Ben,
Life is not fair. If you want fair you will have to bring everyone down to a very low level of health, IQ, and physical ability, not to mention everyone must work for the same low wages, live in the most meager of housing and eat the same diet. You do not really want fair…trust me. And by the way…what are you doing to make life “fair” for all those that have it badly? Are you really doing all you can in denying yourself creature comforts and using your wealth to make life fair for others? If you are doing this, my hat is off to you. If you are doing this, you have gotten the beam out of your own eye so that you can judge righteously. If not….
YHWH is not fair and we should not expect Him to be. He is Just. There is a big difference. Everyone will be rewarded and or punished for the deeds they have done here on earth. Some will get a portion of that reward or punishment in the here and now, but all will receive there just recompense before the new heavens and earth are inaugurated.
David deserved to be stoned, but there were not the required 2 witnesses to enact the death penalty. To stone him without the 2 eye witnesses would have been unjust. He only got off temporarily. He will be judged according to the things he did in this life, just like the rest of us. The story of David and Bathsheba shows us that YHWH does see our deeds and will not let those deeds go unrewarded. David had consequences in this life and will still have some in the next.
Was it really better for David so see his sons murdered and killed and his wives raped instead of “getting off easy” with a quick death penalty. After having had one of my sons die, I would rather have been the one that suffered his pain and death. But YHWH is just and my son has a better life in the resurrection coming.
The sabbath breaker was an out and out high handed sinner. He was acting very presumptuously. (You will have to look those Biblical concepts up if you are going to understand the reason for his stoning.) If he was rebellious enough to shake his fist in YHWH’s face right in front of everyone, he deserved to die. YHWH just got done saving him from hard bondage and slavery and miraculously preserved his life at the red sea. He had been feeding him miraculously and providing life sustaining water. Actually he would have never have existed at all if YHWH hadn’t created the whole universe and maintained it for thousands of years. He was living by the good graces of YHWH and he decided to slap him in the face. Not smart!
Part of the purpose of the death penalty is to encourage others to not take life lightly. It was to instruct us to not continually shake our little fists in YHWH’s face and thus forfeit eternal life. When we think that we know better than YHWH we prove ourselves to be ungrateful fools that have ceased to glorify Him as Elohim.
Romans 1 21 Because that, when they knew Elohim (God), they glorified him not as Elohim (God), neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Mankind perpetrates injustices constantly. Only YHWH has the power and wisdom to see that these are corrected in the end. If we want a better or more just world, we could simply rid it of humans. I like YHWH’s answer better.
Hebrews 10 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
You mention “innocent people,” but I am pretty sure we have all sinned after we knew better. You see, YHWH is not the problem…man is. Are there really innocent people in the true and ultimate sense? You see we all deserve to die because we too have slapped YHWH in the face. YHWH has let us all off easy as far as the death penalty is concerned. We have all done presumptuously. Good thing He has been kind and gracious enough to let us live. Good thing He has come and died in our stead so that we can have the opportunity live in His kingdom to come.
If we are going to judge righteously, we are going to have to get the beams out of our eyes. As far as I know, there has not been an election to vote in a new ruler of the universe.
If we think you can do as well as YHWH then we have fallen for the same lie as Eve. I seriously doubt that our little personal kingdoms are perfectly virtuous and “fair.” Why then, should we trust our judgment over YHWH’s? I doubt that we have the power to make all things right in the end either, so even if we were smarter than YHWH we will not be able to bring true justice in the end.
A little humility goes a long way.
James 4 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Shalom
I have to agree with Bo, life definitely isn’t fair.
But the funny thing is, here we are sitting around talking about fairness, and no one has mentioned the ULTIMATE example of unfairness in the history of human events:
God’s Son Himself stepped down from His throne and veiled His glory in a robe of flesh; He was humbled to be born of a virgin; He ate the meager bread of a Hebrew carpenter (and before that was nursed at an unclean and sinful human’s breast), played in dirty streets, and voided His bowels behind bushes; He rubbed shoulders with the scum of the earth, and was spit on by the enemies of His people, not to mention rejected by his people themselves and traded for a murderer. He even was nailed to a cross and pinned with the sins of all mankind, though He Himself had done no wrong.
He died, though he did not deserve to. And though He now lives, He still bears the marks.
Fair would be the Lord of Glory never leaving His seat of dominion and glory to die a criminal’s death for me and you. Bo nailed it: we don’t want fair…
…we want Grace.
Tom,
Amen!
Oh, my mistake. Bo actually did mention it in passing. Still, it’s a fact we would do well to remember whenever we start grumbling about “fairness”. Jesus certainly didn’t complain about a lack of fairness – and He was the one and only man who ever lived with the right to.
Tom,
Thanks for noticin’.
No one asked me this question, but I am curious if anyone here knows the answer to it. I guess basically I’m asking it.
In the book of Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and then they died by the Spirit of God. My question is this…Are they now in Heaven or Hell? Also, why did they die because of their sins and we who sin don’t die immediately because of sin? I just don’t get it. Anyone know the answers here?
Bo…you seem pretty smart,do you know?
Is this the answer???? Peter said in Acts 5:3 “You have not lied to men but to God.”
Is it because they lied to God? Interesting, if this is correct. I know I told the Lord I wouldn’t do this particular “thing” anymore. But I did it anyways, over and over again. Did I do the same thing to God as Ananias and Sapphira did, lie to God?
El/God can do different things at various times. Also as the Adonai/Lord manifests Himself, things become more serious.
Ben,
Here is another answer to your basic question of YHWH being unfair:
Romans 9 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
What if YHWH wanted to show His “goodness to those that love Him” by His dealings with David and show His “hatred of rebellion” in the sabbath breaker’s stoning? He owns everything. It is His to do as He pleases. We may not like it, but we are out of place to question YHWH’s ownership.
Also YHWH has dealt the same with many of us as He did with David. He has been merciful to our adulterating society. Is He unfair in giving us time to repent? He did destroy Sodom for the same type of wickedness that we openly flaunt in the USA. Do we want fair? Why have no room to complain of injustice when we murder millions of babies every year.
Try this parable that Y’Shua told to explain YHWH’s seeming unjustness:
Matthew 20 1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Shalom
Debbie Fraser,
Thanks for the kind words.
My IQ is about average and I think too highly of my knowledge often enough.
The best way I have found to understand the difficult things in scripture is to pay very close attention to the immediate context. Then to look for how the passage fits with the general themes and principles of scripture and to look for parallel ideas or events. The cultural context and idiomatic statements of scripture need to be taken into consideration also.
This said, it seems that the miracles and divine judgments of YHWH generally, but not always, come at times in which He is inaugurating a “new thing” so as to place His stamp of approval on it and His chosen leaders. This “extreme” approach also tends to squelch any “leavening agents” from corrupting the new movement. Please see: Lev. 10:1-11 and Num. 16:1-17:13.
Also, there is a principle of declaring the truth when bringing an offering to YHWH in Deut.26:1-15. So Peter had a precedent in YHWH’s law from which to draw His conclusion. Lying to YHWH in a public declaration of what you have given evidently is quite abhorrent to our Father in heaven. The hypocrisy of doing this sort of thing must greatly stink when compared to the sweet aroma that was being offered just before this incident with Ananias and Sapphira. See Acts 4:34-37.
These seem to me to be the major Scriptural reasons that this divine judgment happened. There are other examples such as Judah’s sons dying and Miriam’s leprosy etc. that give us more background that could help us understand YHWH’s dealings in these sort of things. Keep studying and your understanding will increase.
Shalom
Ben,
The only time YHWH was “down for the count” was for three days and nights. He has risen victorious and is the only final judge of the living and the dead. We would do well to agree with his righteous judgments.
Psalm 19 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Shalom
Thanks Bo, I understand what you said. God is a just God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He changed not. God will not be mocked.
I’m getting the picture here. Talk about the fear of the Lord. Wow!
Question…Are most of you folks here Hebrews students? You talk like you are Hebrew intellects.
The most difficult apologetics question for me is how the judgement of God will fall on only one generation, as Jesus stated, or was it one race (both the same idea at the time in Hebrew)? Generations come and go, but only one will be judged for the sins of all?
It also perplexes how every generation will be held accountable in terms of eternity, how “all Israel will be saved’, per Rom 11, if generations of Israel have died over time with unbelief in Yeshua, while others will arise with a remnant of faithful in Yeshua. SO how some absolutes appear in scripture which are somehow arbitrary and not at the same time. When will all particulars of the Prophets of old be completed, fulfilled, and done in order to move ahead with the rest of the story?
Not only why the Messiah tarries seems a problem to some, when do we get to the final events of the last days seems problematic to others. How can their be both a Millenium and a heavenly Jerusalem coming down from heaven without spot and wrinkle in the scheme of events?
A father’s ways with his sons in this world can be in many ways. At times he will correct a son over and over again teaching him as much as he can and at other times he may simply watch his son and see what he does without making mention of his son’s ways.
In this world a father’s judgment will be seen in different ways at different times, and he will treat one son a bit different than another. He knows each of his sons and how each are unique.
One son might walk close in his father’s ways and one son might not.
It can be a real mystery.
Ben, God is always on top of everything.
Debbie,
When the Spirit of God is near, there comes great miracles. There also comes great judgment. Since God is Holy, His presence cannot tolerate sin. This is why Jacob, Moses, and Gideon all thought they were going to die when they saw God’s presence. This is also why the priest had to first create a cloud of incense (so he couldn’t see God’s presence) and then atone for his sin when entering into the holy of holies, and why punishment was so much harsher when anything was done wrong in that place – God’s presence was there, and therefore that place could not tolerate sin.
I believe that the miracles performed by the Acts church, the incredible outpouring of the Spirit causing the speaking of tongues and so forth, provide us evidence that God’s presence was near and powerful in their midst. Just as in the Old Testament, with this presence, a higher calling to holiness and greater judgment comes near as well. I believe our sin prevents God from drawing near to us, because if he did draw near the sin would be judged, and many would probably die.
We cannot know whether they are in heaven or hell; that depends on whether or not they put their trust in Jesus. But we can know that this is a shining example of a pattern we saw throughout the old testament, and also a good reason we don’t have much in the way of revival or miracles in America today. While grace is a gift, our sin can obstruct God’s working through us, because of his love not to judge us.
This is my understanding. Sorry I didn’t take the time to quote all the specific passages; I need to take a chapter from Dr. Brown’s book and get memorizing!
Dr. Brown, Why does Apostle Paul say in Galatians that the people were “kept under the Law” until the righteousness that came by faith would be revealed — but, in Hebrews, it mentions so many people (including, of course, Abraham) that were righteous through faith? How was Noah considered “righteous”? How, were Elijah, Daniel, David, Ezekiel, and others who were UNDER THE LAW etc., considered “righteous” — if the Law is the power of sin, how did they escape sinning, and be considered (by the writer of Hebrews) to be “righteous”? How is the righteousness of Noah & Abraham (not under the Law) different from the righteousness of an Elijah or a David (under the Law)? Did those under the Law walk by faith? If so, was the effect of the Holy Law on sinful flesh not such that men were 100% incapable of walking by faith? Since Romans says that righteousness escaped the (majority of the) Jews under the Old Covenant for the reason that they did not follow the Law ‘by faith’, does that not cause problems for Galatians’ teaching that ‘the Law is not faith’? If ‘the Law is not faith’, why is he ‘forcing’ the Jews to adhere ‘in faith’ to the Law in Romans; disqualifying them from having reached righteousness because of not following the Law ‘by faith’? Isn’t that contradictory? What am I SUPPOSED to believe? Is this saying that I can believe a lie, and as long as I believe it, and live accordingly, that I am righteous? Why would I NOT ‘believe’ in the Truth of the blessing/advantageousness/reward of the Instruction of the Father [out of the Law], Who knows ALL things, since there is so much blessing in them (science attests to it)? Also, the curse of not walking accordingly is also evident. The world is falling into a Deuteronomy 28 situation, because of it (although, it says that ALL who are in the flesh — not “in Christ” — are under the curse of the Law; so, the curse of the Law is acting very strongly in these days); so, perhaps, even for those attempting to walk by the Law, the curse would be unavoidable?? How could you do an act “as unto God” if it isn’t according to knowledge/Truth? I hope you understand my question (not that it should be difficult for you, by the grace of God).
Is it because we are supposed to be DEAD, and incapable of doing works — and only [God] ‘grace’ is supposed to be working, now (as Paul said, “I was abundant in labors above them all — yet, not I; but the grace of God worked.”?
Thanks
(and, as Revelation states, “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, that they may rest from their works’ — ‘amen, and their works follow them'”
Jesus said that the Father was working IN HIM… but how did He GET the Father to be working in Him — wasn’t it through KEEPING His Father’s Written Word?? I mean, as long as He kept FAITH, the Spirit was operating in Him… but, faith in what, if the Law is not faith [and He was under the Law]? How do I get the Father to do His Works in me?)
But, how does ‘grace’ work (as Revelation said and as Paul said)? How does it BEGIN its work? Isn’t it in HEARING? Okay, then WHAT am I supposed to be HEARING? If I disregard the Truth, do I not also disregard the Spirit of Truth (and Grace) — choosing, instead, to do something evil/unTruthful) — and, thus, disqualify myself from having the Father work His Works in me?
Great show Dr. Brown, really enjoyed it and was blessed.
3 Days/3 Nights vs Friday Crucifixion/Sunday Resurrection
For many years these confusing questions never received a satisfactory response from any of our Pastors who attempted to answer them, but after some divine enlightenment, I have found that the answers are quite elementary. Now, I’m just confused about the confusion.
Matthew 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Do you know that if the Disciples had really grasped the meaning of that statement, that they could have accurately predicted the precise time of Jesus’ resurrection and met Him at the tomb (or at least witnessed it at a distance from a place of hiding)?
Remember Jonah captured in the belly of the fish for exactly three days and three nights and then was vomited throw out. When Jesus got arrested, John 18:12, it began the clock ticking for the 3 days/3 nights of being a prisoner. The Disciples could have noted the precise time of that arrest, and then noted that it would have been the precise time of Jesus’ release or resurrection ~ early Sunday morning. Interesting!
John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
This verse tells you exactly how to count these three days. In day one, Jesus was destroyed by death and laid in the tomb. In day two, Jesus still at rest in the tomb, but in day three, He arose. As you can see, the two time frames begin on different days and are counted differently but end together ~ elementary!
The confusion probably arose from the term, ‘in the heart of the earth’. I don’t think that term means dirt, but could be a term for mankind and/or for the evilness that exist on this planet!?!
As I understand it, any part of a day is counted as being of that day. Like Friday night is still counted as Friday, Saturday, is day two, and any part of Sunday is day three. It’s the “three nights” that throw me off.
how he seemingly said adulterers will be stoned, but here is the law giver himself (God) letting david off the hook from being stoned and on the other hand someone who picks up sticks and defies the sabbath is stoned?
parents and kids are not punished for each others crimes, yet entire families are wiped out for the sins of their ungodly king fathers. another contradiction. david’s adultery kid was another one. it is endless.
how the old testament permitted the shaving of the heads of beautiful virgin POWs and presumably their rape thereafter, when her brothers (and ugly sisters?) were slaughtered. they are kept alive? good, then let them be free, or even slaves, but not sex slaves aka “wives”. how can God permit this?
Ben,
YHWH did not let David off the hook. There were great consequences to his sin. The death penalty could be imposed simply because there was an obvious lack of at least two eye witnesses, which the law stipulates for the death penalty to be performed.
There is much more to the other topics that you raise than a surface glance approach can account for. A thorough study shows the wisdom, justice and mercy of a loving creator. If we approach the scripture with an agenda we will not understand it. When we study it with a humble heart and an open mind we come away in awe of the grace, wisdom and love that is coupled with the justice and truth found in its pages.
James 1
5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
So you see that it is not our Creator and His word that has a double standard but his sinful creation that is double minded and cannot receive wisdom and truth. Without 100% commitment to be faithful to our Father in heaven, and His revelation to us, we relegate ourselves to confusion.
Shalom
That third sentence should read:
The death penalty could NOT be imposed…
Shalom
Why do Christians go around telling people that their individual BELIEF in Jesus is the most important to get saved? yes its very important but is it more important than the GRACE of God to be saved? Shouldn’t Believers in Yeshua be going around spreading the GRACE of God in Yeshua HaMasiha more passionately than attacking the other person’s BELIEFS?
Why do you say put you faith in Jesus will save you when Jesus is just a Man, yes he is a a Prophet of God born by a miracle birth but still just a Man. Why not put your faith in the creator of the heavens and earth and Jesus? Why worship the creation and not the creator? Jesus NEVER said Worship me because I’m God. Jesus is a Man and Not God, only God is God. The only deity worth of worship is God him self and not his prophets.
Why am I born a sinner because of a mistake one man made thousands and thousands of years ago and the only way to be forgiven or saved is to believe that Jesus who is not only the Son of God but God him self let his creation kill him in a brutal dishonorable way? Jesus is NOT God because Christians believe he died. God Can NOT die so Jesus Can Not Be God. Jesus Ate drank and and what happens after one eats or drinks? Thinking God has to use the bathroom is just totally wrong and blasphemy how can anyone think of God doing such a dirty thing? God is Pure. Jesus also slept, God does not need to eat or drink and never gets tired. Who did Jesus pray to? He prayed to God, so Jesus was talking to him self?
Why say “In Jesus’ Name we Pray”? when you are praying to God? Why not say “In The Name Of God”?
I think I’ve been learning not to defend much of anything the Bible says, but rather say something like “This is what it looks like to me right now, and here’s why.”
I don’t care to try to find out how the generations add up or not in Matthew 1, on which day did the Lord die on the cross and on which day did he arise, how all the events in the 4 gospels fit together, or who angels really are when they have appeared in the Old Testament.
I thing for sure I don’t want to defend is that the Bibles we have are fully accurate and have no contradictions whatsoever.
All that doesn’t seem to matter to me anymore. I think I was led the wrong way by some people telling me over and over again that the Bible is without error, or some such thing, as if it wasn’t to be believed if ever we found some things that didn’t add up for us.
I believe that’s the wrong way to approach Bible reading, though it is good to try to see how it all fits together.
I’ve learned to depend on a lot of uncertain and imperfect things in this world to get by daily, knowing that all these things are temporary.
I’m finding I can still trust God and what the scriptures say even though I may have a lot of questions and find so many things I can not explain.
I can trust him on the things I know it says. I can trust him on the things that do add up for me.
Even though I can’t follow Jesus every day in the scriptures, what he did on this day or that day, I know he died on a cross right during the Passover time, generally speaking, though I’m not sure if he died on a Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, or if he got up on a Saturday or Sunday.
I’m still amazed at the timing, for he is our Passover Lamb. That much I know for sure. One day we will know as we should know.
So if someone asks me how I can trust in the Bible if I see things I can’t put together, I do it the same way I drive my vehicle even when I have parts left over and don’t know where they go.
I do it by faith. I get there that way, and God supplies me with all that I need to get by.
Amen, Ray. Amen.
Dear friends. thank you for responding to my post and sharing ur thoughts generaly for us to all read. i am personally of the school of thought of Ray above #7. but i shall respond in detail and u can tel me ur thoughts.
“YHWH did not let David off the hook. ”
Oh yes he did, yes he surely did! His law states that such people are to be stoned. It’s quite simple really.
SO anyways what are the consequences that YWHW brought on (if any)?
(1) the death of that kid and
(2) Abasalom.
If YWHW did bring on those consequences as a divine judgment (i.e. David probably knew it was a divine judgment because he was weepeing and fasting and wearing sackcloth hoping the kid would be spared) then why did the Divine jugment OMIT the death of the king as stated in YWHW own law? Selective judgment isn’t it? Divine judgment would be like Herod having a stroke, or like the king of assyria having his sons kill him.
IF it (abasalom, the kid’s death) was not divine judment, then let us take the man who picked up sticks on the sabbath and comapare him to king david. David is the king of Israel and everyone looks to him. The man who picked up sticks was some obscure individual. who knows. who cares. if you’re gonna make an example of a nobody, you better especially make an example fo the rich and powerful too. fair is fair. also david murdered someone, and slept with his wife. a double whammy. what a terrible evil, wicked thing to do! the other guy didn’t hurt no one. picking up sticks = innocous. But YWHW, Mr justice PERSONALLY says that the man who picked up those sticks will be stoned to death for defying my decrees and my sabbath, but the King who murders is not similarly condemned. friends, doesn’t this smack fo double standards? he personally intervenes in one instance when the crime is small, but does not intervene in another instance when the crime is a billion times worse, and with a king too – a prime time to make an example of someone!
divine justice or not, YWHW is down for the count either way.
Take another example. The census. Let’s just say this was David’s bright idea. A lot of innocent people were killed because of David’s, and David alone’s mistake. Again the innocent were condemned for another’s crimes and the guilty is acquited. David himself says: “These people haven’t done the wrong, I have”. Another example of YWHW punishing someone else for the crimes of another. it’s ridiculous. what sort of Fair playing, just god is this?
Dear friends. can you see where i am coming from? what do you think?
The “three nights” I referred to above, is not my greatest apologetics question. Those who will not be convinced of the truth of God, or, the scriptures, want to know, “why does God allow suffering, especially for children?”
Ben,
Life is not fair. If you want fair you will have to bring everyone down to a very low level of health, IQ, and physical ability, not to mention everyone must work for the same low wages, live in the most meager of housing and eat the same diet. You do not really want fair…trust me. And by the way…what are you doing to make life “fair” for all those that have it badly? Are you really doing all you can in denying yourself creature comforts and using your wealth to make life fair for others? If you are doing this, my hat is off to you. If you are doing this, you have gotten the beam out of your own eye so that you can judge righteously. If not….
YHWH is not fair and we should not expect Him to be. He is Just. There is a big difference. Everyone will be rewarded and or punished for the deeds they have done here on earth. Some will get a portion of that reward or punishment in the here and now, but all will receive there just recompense before the new heavens and earth are inaugurated.
David deserved to be stoned, but there were not the required 2 witnesses to enact the death penalty. To stone him without the 2 eye witnesses would have been unjust. He only got off temporarily. He will be judged according to the things he did in this life, just like the rest of us. The story of David and Bathsheba shows us that YHWH does see our deeds and will not let those deeds go unrewarded. David had consequences in this life and will still have some in the next.
Was it really better for David so see his sons murdered and killed and his wives raped instead of “getting off easy” with a quick death penalty. After having had one of my sons die, I would rather have been the one that suffered his pain and death. But YHWH is just and my son has a better life in the resurrection coming.
The sabbath breaker was an out and out high handed sinner. He was acting very presumptuously. (You will have to look those Biblical concepts up if you are going to understand the reason for his stoning.) If he was rebellious enough to shake his fist in YHWH’s face right in front of everyone, he deserved to die. YHWH just got done saving him from hard bondage and slavery and miraculously preserved his life at the red sea. He had been feeding him miraculously and providing life sustaining water. Actually he would have never have existed at all if YHWH hadn’t created the whole universe and maintained it for thousands of years. He was living by the good graces of YHWH and he decided to slap him in the face. Not smart!
Part of the purpose of the death penalty is to encourage others to not take life lightly. It was to instruct us to not continually shake our little fists in YHWH’s face and thus forfeit eternal life. When we think that we know better than YHWH we prove ourselves to be ungrateful
fools that have ceased to glorify Him as Elohim.
Romans 1
21 Because that, when they knew Elohim (God), they glorified him not as Elohim (God), neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Mankind perpetrates injustices constantly. Only YHWH has the power and wisdom to see that these are corrected in the end. If we want a better or more just world, we could simply rid it of humans. I like YHWH’s answer better.
Hebrews 10
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
You mention “innocent people,” but I am pretty sure we have all sinned after we knew better. You see, YHWH is not the problem…man is. Are there really innocent people in the true and ultimate sense? You see we all deserve to die because we too have slapped YHWH in the face. YHWH has let us all off easy as far as the death penalty is concerned. We have all done presumptuously. Good thing He has been kind and gracious enough to let us live. Good thing He has come and died in our stead so that we can have the opportunity live in His kingdom to come.
If we are going to judge righteously, we are going to have to get the beams out of our eyes. As far as I know, there has not been an election to vote in a new ruler of the universe.
If we think you can do as well as YHWH then we have fallen for the same lie as Eve. I seriously doubt that our little personal kingdoms are perfectly virtuous and “fair.” Why then, should we trust our judgment over YHWH’s? I doubt that we have the power to make all things right in the end either, so even if we were smarter than YHWH we will not be able to bring true justice in the end.
A little humility goes a long way.
James 4
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Shalom
I have to agree with Bo, life definitely isn’t fair.
But the funny thing is, here we are sitting around talking about fairness, and no one has mentioned the ULTIMATE example of unfairness in the history of human events:
God’s Son Himself stepped down from His throne and veiled His glory in a robe of flesh; He was humbled to be born of a virgin; He ate the meager bread of a Hebrew carpenter (and before that was nursed at an unclean and sinful human’s breast), played in dirty streets, and voided His bowels behind bushes; He rubbed shoulders with the scum of the earth, and was spit on by the enemies of His people, not to mention rejected by his people themselves and traded for a murderer. He even was nailed to a cross and pinned with the sins of all mankind, though He Himself had done no wrong.
He died, though he did not deserve to. And though He now lives, He still bears the marks.
Fair would be the Lord of Glory never leaving His seat of dominion and glory to die a criminal’s death for me and you. Bo nailed it: we don’t want fair…
…we want Grace.
Tom,
Amen!
Oh, my mistake. Bo actually did mention it in passing. Still, it’s a fact we would do well to remember whenever we start grumbling about “fairness”. Jesus certainly didn’t complain about a lack of fairness – and He was the one and only man who ever lived with the right to.
Tom,
Thanks for noticin’.
No one asked me this question, but I am curious if anyone here knows the answer to it. I guess basically I’m asking it.
In the book of Acts 5. Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and then they died by the Spirit of God. My question is this…Are they now in Heaven or Hell? Also, why did they die because of their sins and we who sin don’t die immediately because of sin? I just don’t get it. Anyone know the answers here?
Bo…you seem pretty smart,do you know?
Is this the answer???? Peter said in Acts 5:3 “You have not lied to men but to God.”
Is it because they lied to God? Interesting, if this is correct. I know I told the Lord I wouldn’t do this particular “thing” anymore. But I did it anyways, over and over again. Did I do the same thing to God as Ananias and Sapphira did, lie to God?
El/God can do different things at various times. Also as the Adonai/Lord manifests Himself, things become more serious.
Ben,
Here is another answer to your basic question of YHWH being unfair:
Romans 9
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
What if YHWH wanted to show His “goodness to those that love Him” by His dealings with David and show His “hatred of rebellion” in the sabbath breaker’s stoning? He owns everything. It is His to do as He pleases. We may not like it, but we are out of place to question YHWH’s ownership.
Also YHWH has dealt the same with many of us as He did with David. He has been merciful to our adulterating society. Is He unfair in giving us time to repent? He did destroy Sodom for the same type of wickedness that we openly flaunt in the USA. Do we want fair? Why have no room to complain of injustice when we murder millions of babies every year.
Try this parable that Y’Shua told to explain YHWH’s seeming unjustness:
Matthew 20
1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way.
5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.
6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?
7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.
8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.
9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.
10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny.
11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.
13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny?
14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.
15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Shalom
Debbie Fraser,
Thanks for the kind words.
My IQ is about average and I think too highly of my knowledge often enough.
The best way I have found to understand the difficult things in scripture is to pay very close attention to the immediate context. Then to look for how the passage fits with the general themes and principles of scripture and to look for parallel ideas or events. The cultural context and idiomatic statements of scripture need to be taken into consideration also.
This said, it seems that the miracles and divine judgments of YHWH generally, but not always, come at times in which He is inaugurating a “new thing” so as to place His stamp of approval on it and His chosen leaders. This “extreme” approach also tends to squelch any “leavening agents” from corrupting the new movement. Please see: Lev. 10:1-11 and Num. 16:1-17:13.
Also, there is a principle of declaring the truth when bringing an offering to YHWH in Deut.26:1-15. So Peter had a precedent in YHWH’s law from which to draw His conclusion. Lying to YHWH in a public declaration of what you have given evidently is quite abhorrent to our Father in heaven. The hypocrisy of doing this sort of thing must greatly stink when compared to the sweet aroma that was being offered just before this incident with Ananias and Sapphira. See Acts 4:34-37.
These seem to me to be the major Scriptural reasons that this divine judgment happened. There are other examples such as Judah’s sons dying and Miriam’s leprosy etc. that give us more background that could help us understand YHWH’s dealings in these sort of things. Keep studying and your understanding will increase.
Shalom
Ben,
The only time YHWH was “down for the count” was for three days and nights. He has risen victorious and is the only final judge of the living and the dead. We would do well to agree with his righteous judgments.
Psalm 19
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Shalom
Thanks Bo,
I understand what you said. God is a just God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He changed not. God will not be mocked.
I’m getting the picture here.
Talk about the fear of the Lord. Wow!
Question…Are most of you folks here Hebrews students? You talk like you are Hebrew intellects.
The most difficult apologetics question for me is how the judgement of God will fall on only one generation, as Jesus stated, or was it one race (both the same idea at the time in Hebrew)? Generations come and go, but only one will be judged for the sins of all?
It also perplexes how every generation will be held accountable in terms of eternity, how “all Israel will be saved’, per Rom 11, if generations of Israel have died over time with unbelief in Yeshua, while others will arise with a remnant of faithful in Yeshua. SO how some absolutes appear in scripture which are somehow arbitrary and not at the same time. When will all particulars of the Prophets of old be completed, fulfilled, and done in order to move ahead with the rest of the story?
Not only why the Messiah tarries seems a problem to some, when do we get to the final events of the last days seems problematic to others. How can their be both a Millenium and a heavenly Jerusalem coming down from heaven without spot and wrinkle in the scheme of events?
A father’s ways with his sons in this world can be in many ways. At times he will correct a son over and over again teaching him as much as he can and at other times he may simply watch his son and see what he does without making mention of his son’s ways.
In this world a father’s judgment will be seen in different ways at different times, and he will treat one son a bit different than another. He knows each of his sons and how each are unique.
One son might walk close in his father’s ways and one son might not.
It can be a real mystery.
Ben, God is always on top of everything.
Debbie,
When the Spirit of God is near, there comes great miracles. There also comes great judgment. Since God is Holy, His presence cannot tolerate sin. This is why Jacob, Moses, and Gideon all thought they were going to die when they saw God’s presence. This is also why the priest had to first create a cloud of incense (so he couldn’t see God’s presence) and then atone for his sin when entering into the holy of holies, and why punishment was so much harsher when anything was done wrong in that place – God’s presence was there, and therefore that place could not tolerate sin.
I believe that the miracles performed by the Acts church, the incredible outpouring of the Spirit causing the speaking of tongues and so forth, provide us evidence that God’s presence was near and powerful in their midst. Just as in the Old Testament, with this presence, a higher calling to holiness and greater judgment comes near as well. I believe our sin prevents God from drawing near to us, because if he did draw near the sin would be judged, and many would probably die.
We cannot know whether they are in heaven or hell; that depends on whether or not they put their trust in Jesus. But we can know that this is a shining example of a pattern we saw throughout the old testament, and also a good reason we don’t have much in the way of revival or miracles in America today. While grace is a gift, our sin can obstruct God’s working through us, because of his love not to judge us.
This is my understanding. Sorry I didn’t take the time to quote all the specific passages; I need to take a chapter from Dr. Brown’s book and get memorizing!
Dr. Brown,
Why does Apostle Paul say in Galatians that the people were “kept under the Law” until the righteousness that came by faith would be revealed — but, in Hebrews, it mentions so many people (including, of course, Abraham) that were righteous through faith?
How was Noah considered “righteous”?
How, were Elijah, Daniel, David, Ezekiel, and others who were UNDER THE LAW etc., considered “righteous” — if the Law is the power of sin, how did they escape sinning, and be considered (by the writer of Hebrews) to be “righteous”?
How is the righteousness of Noah & Abraham (not under the Law) different from the righteousness of an Elijah or a David (under the Law)?
Did those under the Law walk by faith? If so, was the effect of the Holy Law on sinful flesh not such that men were 100% incapable of walking by faith?
Since Romans says that righteousness escaped the (majority of the) Jews under the Old Covenant for the reason that they did not follow the Law ‘by faith’, does that not cause problems for Galatians’ teaching that ‘the Law is not faith’? If ‘the Law is not faith’, why is he ‘forcing’ the Jews to adhere ‘in faith’ to the Law in Romans; disqualifying them from having reached righteousness because of not following the Law ‘by faith’?
Isn’t that contradictory? What am I SUPPOSED to believe? Is this saying that I can believe a lie, and as long as I believe it, and live accordingly, that I am righteous?
Why would I NOT ‘believe’ in the Truth of the blessing/advantageousness/reward of the Instruction of the Father [out of the Law], Who knows ALL things, since there is so much blessing in them (science attests to it)? Also, the curse of not walking accordingly is also evident. The world is falling into a Deuteronomy 28 situation, because of it (although, it says that ALL who are in the flesh — not “in Christ” — are under the curse of the Law; so, the curse of the Law is acting very strongly in these days); so, perhaps, even for those attempting to walk by the Law, the curse would be unavoidable??
How could you do an act “as unto God” if it isn’t according to knowledge/Truth?
I hope you understand my question (not that it should be difficult for you, by the grace of God).
Is it because we are supposed to be DEAD, and incapable of doing works — and only [God] ‘grace’ is supposed to be working, now (as Paul said, “I was abundant in labors above them all — yet, not I; but the grace of God worked.”?
Thanks
(and, as Revelation states, “blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on, that they may rest from their works’ — ‘amen, and their works follow them'”
Jesus said that the Father was working IN HIM… but how did He GET the Father to be working in Him — wasn’t it through KEEPING His Father’s Written Word?? I mean, as long as He kept FAITH, the Spirit was operating in Him… but, faith in what, if the Law is not faith [and He was under the Law]?
How do I get the Father to do His Works in me?)
But, how does ‘grace’ work (as Revelation said and as Paul said)?
How does it BEGIN its work? Isn’t it in HEARING? Okay, then WHAT am I supposed to be HEARING? If I disregard the Truth, do I not also disregard the Spirit of Truth (and Grace) — choosing, instead, to do something evil/unTruthful) — and, thus, disqualify myself from having the Father work His Works in me?