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You speak of “veils” blinding people from seeing the truth; yet, you haven’t provided any proof the Jesus is THE Messiah (parachuting onto a verse, copy/paste theology, and misinterpreting the Tanakh doesn’t count as proof). Do you know who THE Messiah will be or what he will do according to the Tanakh? If the Jesus’ life per the NT doesn’t match what the Tanakh says about THE Messiah, can the Jesus be THE Messiah? Simple questions; tough answers!
Your focus is entirely on the Jesus to the point you can’t see the obvious written in front of you (veils) and now you’re telling others they’re wrong; yet you can’t support what you believe! You ran from our conversation and refused to answer the questions or support what you believe is truth…is it that hard? Then you go after Keith; and the moment you struck up this “conversation” with him, I knew exactly where it was going. Pretend to be nice, like you want to be besties, and in a moment turn into an attack dog.
Now you turn to Berean; claiming what he believes is false because he observes the Sabbath, (didn’t the Jesus observe the Sabbath and what does “lord of the sabbath” really mean and what about the world passing away before the law does? Crazy thoughts and questions…) but somehow what you believe is the only truth. Bottom line is everyone argues over what their religion tells them is truth, but does anyone verify what they’re peddling and is it supported by the Tanakh? I think most here won’t say what their religion is because of fear. I respect both Berean and Keith for having the fortitude to take a stand and proudly say what faith they belong to; while everyone else seems to hid behind their keyboard and others claiming they don’t belong to a faith…you do! Are you ashamed of your faith or is the fear of being critiqued the reason you won’t say what religion you belong to?
I’m still waiting to continue our conversation on how the Jesus can be The Messiah when he isn’t a biological descendant of David AND Solomon? Contrary to what you believe and no amount of dancing around the subject or the use of multiple justifications you have learned can change the FACT The Messiah will be from the house of David thru Solomon…biologically. Nowhere does G-d say HE would impregnate a woman. HE did say HE would establish this son of David’s kingdom and make his dynasty permanent. We get the name of this son in I Chron 22:9, “Indeed, Solomon will be his name.” The Jesus doesn’t have an earthly daddy and is therefore not in the line of David according to how the Jewish people track ancestry. Once you see it, you can NEVER unsee it and once that “veil” thingy you accuse others of suffering from is removed, christianity begins to fall apart.
To the general reader,
I have given many hours of thoughtful responses to DesireTruth and have answered the questions the best I know how. In return I have been spoken to rudely, and I am choosing to not continue responding to him anymore.
How have I spoken “rudely” to you; please provide examples. To say you have given “many hours of thoughtful responses”… REALLY!! you’ve peddled what you have been taught (the irony is, it’s mostly the same thing I was taught); I want truth! You’ve run from virtually every question I’ve asked.
To the “general reader”, if you can’t support what you believe, why do you believe it? Verify everything you have been told is truth; and you will find it. This is coming from someone who was in christianity for 40 years, before I began testing what I was told and began verifying it against the Tanakh (aka Old Testament), read it in its context, and if it doesn’t match, it’s a lie!
To say you are choosing to not continue responding to me simply says you can’t and so you go after those you can! That sounds like weakness to attack those you feel are intellectually inferior to you; which means what???? What you’re really saying is you can’t support the Jesus as The Messiah; which I find hilarious!!! Run Forest, RUN!!
Good luck to you and enjoy the rapture that will never happen. Continue waiting for the Jesus to return; may want to read with comprehension Matt 24 where the Jesus says he’ll return after the destruction of the Temple and Revelation 1:1,3; 22:6,7,12,20 where the Jesus says he is coming soon. Is 2000 years later “soon” to you? Even Peter was expecting the Jesus to return after the destruction of the Temple in his first epistle and when he didn’t changed his tune is his second (a year is but a thousand years, and a thousand years is but a day to G-d). Time to wake up!!
P.S. I will continue to responsed to lies in the hopes of correcting them or at least being able to offer an opposing view to create a dialog for those who are genuinely seeking.
Hi
GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son. (Galatians 4:4)
Christ came into this world to reveal the Father, to give humanity a true knowledge of God, and to manifest His love. Without the knowledge of God, humanity would be utterly lost. […] Life and strength must be imparted by the One who created the world.
The promise made in Eden—that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head—was the guarantee of the coming of the Son of God. He alone could impart the knowledge of God.
God promised Abraham: “All the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.” He revealed to him the plan for the redemption of humanity. […] Christ declared: “Abraham your father rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
Jacob foretold: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
God spoke face to face with Moses, as with a friend, and gave him indications concerning the Messiah. He told the people: “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear!”
The offerings and sacrifices foreshadowed the Savior who was to come and be offered for the sins of the world. They heralded a superior ministry, in which God would be worshipped in spirit, in truth, and in holiness.
The Jewish service symbolized atonement for the transgressed law. The sacrificial victim—a lamb without blemish—represented the Redeemer of the world, holy and capable of taking away the sin of the world. David received the promise of Christ’s eternal reign and of the kingdom that would have no end.
The Hebrews lived in expectation, hoping for the promised Messiah. Many died in faith; having not received the promise but having seen it from afar, they believed and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
E.G. White – Youth’s Instructor, September 13, 1900.)
Safety in the Rock
The rock hyrax is a terrestrial mammal that resembles a guinea pig and is found in Israel. As its name reveals, it lives among rocks in which it can quickly escape from predators. The animals are especially known for using sentries that send out alarm calls from high points if a predator comes close.
Hyraxes (called “conies” or “rock badgers” in the Bible) typically live in groups of 10 to 80. Their ability to regulate body temperature is limited, so their activity is related to seasons and times of day. They are short and squatty with a weight of about nine pounds and a length of almost 20 inches. Their thick fur ranges from a dark brown color to a lighter gray, depending on the climate.
Hyrax herds are often subdivided into smaller groups of 5 to 15, with a dominant male who defends and watches over the group. In Africa they are preyed upon by leopards, cobras, adders, wild dogs, and eagles. Yet in Israel the rock hyrax is rarely preyed upon by terrestrial predators because of their excellent system of sentries. This combined with living among the rocks and crags gives them considerable protection.
The Bible says, “There are four things which are little on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise” (Proverbs 30:24). Besides the ant, locust, and spider, the hyrax is listed: “The rock badgers (hyrax) are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags” (v. 26).
If you have ever felt small, take heart! Wisdom has nothing to do with our size or strength. We can learn a few lessons from the rock hyrax. The first is to live for others. Be willing to be a “sentry” and share warnings to those you love. And second, learn to live in the shelter of the Rock. Jesus will protect you from the predator (Satan) who is seeking to take you down.
Key Bible Texts
And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; (2 Samuel 22:2 KJV)AN UNPREPARED PEOPLE
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save the people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
The Jewish people had lost sight of their religion, with its useless festivals and customs. […] Subject to the Romans, they were forced to pay tribute. The Jews suffered under their circumstances and awaited the promised Messiah who was to bring the powerful deliverance of their nation, foretold by prophecy. […] They believed that when he came, the Messiah would establish his reign, subdue the oppressor by force of arms, and take the throne of David. If they had studied the prophecies with spiritual insight, they would not have underestimated the prophecies foretelling a first coming in humility, nor misunderstood those concerning the second coming, with glory and power. […] They failed to distinguish between the prophecies that predicted Christ’s first coming and those describing his glorious return. They expected glory and power for his first coming. […]
When the time came, Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger, surrounded by animals. His divine glory and majesty were clothed in his humanity, and the angels announced his coming. His birth was celebrated in heaven, while the powerful of this world knew nothing of it. […] They expected a powerful prince who would take the throne of David and whose reign would last forever. Their prideful ideas about the coming of the Messiah did not conform to the prophecies they claimed to explain to the people. […]
The angels descended from heaven to announce the birth of Christ to those whom he had come to bless and save. They knew of his glory in heaven and believed that he would be received on earth with honors worthy of his character and sacred mission. […] The angels saw with astonishment the people’s indifference and ignorance concerning the coming of the Prince of Life.
(E. G. White – Review and Herald, December 17, 1872.)
She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save the people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
You copy/paste this passage from your “prophetess” and I have a few questions concerning it. I thought this child was to be named “Immanuel” (Isa 7:14) and now his name is “the Jesus.” Then your prophetess miss quotes the actual passages saying “he will save the people” when what is actually written is “ he will save his people” and who are “his people”…hint, the Jesus was Jewish…and on a side note, didn’t the Jesus say “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Where does the none Jew factor into the task of the Jesus? Finally, and most importantly, where does it say The Messiah was to “save people from their sins” (this would come from the prophets) and later we can find salvation/everlasting life for just “believing” in him (John 3:16)? Even I believe the Jesus was a real historical person. Or am I suppose to “believe” he was a human sacrifice, a type of sacrifice G-d called an abomination, and that thru this “sacrifice” ones sins are forgiven? However, to be a real sacrifice, doesn’t it have to be done on the alter in the Temple?
I thought this child was to be named “Immanuel” (Isa 7:14) and now his name is “the Jesus.”
In biblical times, a name meant much more than the word used to identify someone. A name could represent a person’s purpose, identity, character, reputation, authority etc.
When the Bible speaks about “the name of Jesus” fir example, it usually means more than simply saying the word Jesus / Yeshua. It refers to who Jesus is, the authority he has and everything he represents.
For example, when Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk”, he was not using Jesus’s name as a magic wand. He was acting under the authority and power of Jesus.
To pray in Jesus’ name also means more than adding those words to the end of a prayer. It means praying as one of his followers and asking for things that agree with his character and will.
So if his name is “God with Us”, then yes, the Father was in Christ, redeeming the world to himself. So the actual sound of the name that he is called is almost irrelevant. It is more about what he represents, and interestingly enough, he came in his Father’s name.
Do not confuse this word with the limited way we use it in English.
Of course Hebrew names have a meaning behind them, but what does that have to do with the fact the Jesus was NOT named Immanuel as was supposedly prophesied about him in Isa 7:14? The passage chrisianity clings to every christmas claiming his mother was impregnated by G-d and she was a “virgin”, making the Jesus a demigod…so Greek and Roman!
The point is the Jesus DIDN’T fulfill Isa 7:14 because he wasn’t name Immanuel. Logically, the Isaiah passage CANNOT be attributed to the Jesus, thus making the book of Matthew a lie! Or is there an acceptable number of lies that can be in the NT and still be called the “inspired word of G-d”?
It’s amazing what happens when one starts studying and not blindly following what one is told is truth…verify everything!
Hi
HIS WORDS AND HIS EXAMPLE
A large crowd listened to him with delight. (Mark 12:34)
Christ never viewed anyone as insignificant or beyond redemption; instead, He strove to bring salvation to all. He always had a lesson that was useful and relevant to the situation at hand. He sought to instill hope in the most hopeless individuals, assuring them that their character could reflect the image of God. They could become children of God, even if they had lived in an evil and corrupt society. That is why so many listened to Him with joy. From childhood, He dedicated Himself to others, illuminating the moral darkness of the world with His presence. He shared His family’s burdens and carried out a public ministry, revealing the character of God. He encouraged people to prioritize what was essential, yet He did not simply urge young people to dream about the future. He taught them, through both His words and His example, that the future is determined by how we live in the present. Our actions shape our destiny. Those who strive to do good and act in accordance with God’s plan in small matters will find opportunities to be of service on a larger scale. […]
Today, we have the privilege of participating in Christ’s mission in everything we do. He does all He can to free us from our narrow, self-centered lives so that we, too, may be a blessing to others. He wants us to understand that we are responsible for doing good and that we are the ultimate losers if we neglect this duty. […]
Jesus bore the burden of humanity’s salvation alone. He knew that those who did not accept Him—and who failed to change their lives and goals—would be lost. No one can imagine the weight He carried in His heart. From His earliest years, He was deeply committed to being the light of the world. That is what He was, and that light still shines for all who live in darkness. Let us walk in the light He has given us.
(Ellen G. White – Youth’s Instructor, January 2, 1896.)
Blessings
The great apostasy began in the 2nd century( 2Thess 2:3) turned into Catholicism and all her divided branches. The protestants tried to fix things but only had error filled and altered translating to use thus fixed little and twisted it into a mass of confusion.
DID JESUS BREAK THE SABBATH—OR MAN-MADE SABBATH RULES?
People accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath.
But did Jesus actually break God’s commandment?
The answer is found in the difference between God’s Sabbath and human traditions.
The Sabbath commandment says:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
(Exodus 20:8–11)Jesus kept the Sabbath as His custom. (Luke 4:16)
So why were the religious leaders angry with Him?
Because Jesus didn’t follow their man-made restrictions about what could and couldn’t be done on the Sabbath.
When His disciples picked grain because they were hungry, the Pharisees accused them of breaking the Sabbath. (Matthew 12:1–8)
Jesus responded:
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.”
(Mark 2:27)Then Jesus healed on the Sabbath.
The religious leaders considered this unlawful—but Jesus asked:
“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”
(Mark 3:4)Jesus wasn’t destroying the Sabbath.
He was showing what the Sabbath was actually meant to be.
A day for worship.
A day for rest.
A day for doing good.
A day for mercy.
A day to draw closer to God.
Jesus never said, “The Sabbath is abolished.”
Instead, He called Himself:
“Lord even of the Sabbath.”
(Mark 2:28)The problem wasn’t God’s Sabbath.
The problem was turning God’s gift into a burden through human rules.
Jesus didn’t break the Sabbath.
He broke the man-made expectations surrounding it—and restored the Sabbath to its true purpose.RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH
Convenient Faith
We are living in rather troublous times, aren’t we? There are wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and tsunamis, pestilences and destruction, uncertain economic times, killings of innocent babies, decline in moral standards, and so much more atrocities and cruelty pervading the human family.
It is as exactly as our Savior predicted conditions would be just before He returns. Then He so eloquently warned, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8).” In other words, we ain’t seen nothing yet. The worst is yet to come…but praise God, beyond that, the BEST is assured. Into this environment marches the menace of convienent faith.
Ask any Christian if he/she believe that Jesus Christ died for their sins and you would get a resounding YES. Ask them if they believe He rose from the grave; again the unapolegetic answer is YES. Ask if they believe that God created the world in six literal days; there may be some hesitation, but overwhelmingly the answer would be YES. What about the Virgin Birth? Difinitely some doubt there; but the large majority of Christians would answer in the affirmative.
Now, ask if they believe that they are righteous, and the theological discussion begins. Consternation steps in and doubt covers the countenance. The mind shifts into internal debate mode. The confidence that accompanied the response to the questions on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ evaporates. Every Christian will confidently affirm that they believe the story of Jesus Christ by faith; but that they are righteous—not so sure!
What is this thing called faith? The Bible of course gives the classical answer: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). How many understand its meaning is another question altogether.
Faith, in essence, is accepting as reality that which we have not experienced with our natural senses. As children of Almighty God, everything we believe, teach, and live must be based on faith. It is trusting, without doubt, what He has revealed in His word. Our Christian experience must be rooted and grounded in that faith. Since none of us were there when God created the world, or when Christ was born, died on Calvary, and rose from the dead; and since none of us were eyewitnesses to the marvelous events of Scripture, then we must conclude that it is by faith alone that we live and have our being. We are admonished, ”For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).
Regardless of any man’s opinion or our own personal feelings, genuine faith demands our yielding to God’s word and God’s word only. Such faith comes ONLY by a personal, dedicated study of God’s word which produces an intimate relationship with our Creator that is beyond the realm of human understanding. The apostle Paul explains,“So then, faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10: 17).
That faith cannot be convenient, believing when one chooses and rejecting when it does not fit their presuppositions and exegesis. Unfortunately, this is the prevelent condition when it comes to the doctrine of Righteousness by Faith.
The Million Dollar Question
As one peruses the Bible he/she would discover that, from God’s perspective, there are only two groups of people—the wicked and the righteous. They are distinguished by their relationship with Creator God. The righteous accept Him, the wicked reject Him. This phenomenon is exemplified in a very particular way in the Book of Psalms as the Psalmists frequently contrast the experiences of the two. For example, the Psalmist David, in attempting to explain this overarching theme of the human experience, informs us, “A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the Lord upholdeth the righteous” (Psalms 37:16-17).
Being counted in the company of the righteous does not indicate that someone is doing everything right. Certainly, it does not mean that he or she is sinless. What being righteous entails is that one has accepted the Creator as the God of their life and believes in His promise and ability to empower them to be totally obedient to Him. The declaration that Yahweh makes when one accepts Him is what constitute ones righteousness. He speaks of Himself, “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness (Psalms 119:172).
Upon accepting Him as Creator, God bequeths to the penitent His righteousness, something he/she did not earn or is worthy of. The prophet Moses tells us of an ancient soul who epitomizes this principle: “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). The learned apostle Paul would later enlighten us concerning Abraham’s encounter with the Almighty Creator, “As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were (Romans 4:17). God emphasizes this reality by consistently reminding the believer that his/her righteousness is not based upon anyhing he or she has done, is currently doing, or can in the future do; but rather it’s a free gift from their Creator.
Nineteenth/twentieth century inspired Bible Commentator reflects upon the profoundity of this immersuable gift: “The thought that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us, not because of any merit on our part, but as a free gift from God, is a precious thought. The enemy of God and man is not willing that this truth should be clearly presented; for he knows that if the people receive it fully, his power will be broken. If he can control minds so that doubt and unbelief and darkness shall compose the experience of those who claim to be the children of God, he can overcome them with temptation” (Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, pg. 161).
She concludes,” That simple faith which takes God at His word should be encouraged. God’s people must have that faith which will lay hold of divine power; “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”(GW 161.1 [Ephesians 2:8.].
As one contemplate God’s Great Exchange Project, the million-dollar question arises, how do I see myself? The answer to this question is of eternal consequences. For it will determine how one lives today and will ultimately face, withstand, and hopefully survive the soon-coming crisis that is about to come upon this world as an overwhelming surprise.
Sinners sin. Righteous people do righteously. Do you view yourself as a sinner who occasionally do righteous things; or as a righteous person who sometime falls into sin? If you see yourself as the latter, then there is a glorious hope for you that is expressed in these comforting words: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Righteousness by Faith, therefore, is not a doctrine to be debated but rather a glorious experience to be lived.
(Aubrey L.Duncan)
to be continued
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