Dennison,I can certainly see why one may be confused how to correctly interpret that passage as those titles also apply to Jesus and so the Spirit of Christ/God that fills all that are in unity with God's righteousness and holiness. Still the context I cited earlier, even as written in the KJV, is clearly speaking if those that claim to be…[Read more]

Dennison,God does appear to be speaking of redeeming Israel, or at least those who claim to be Israel.Isaiah 44:3-5(NIV) reads:Quote For I will pour water on the thirsty land,       and streams on the dry ground;       I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,       and my blessing on your descendants. h They will spring up like grass in…[Read more]

Dennison,I will have to read the context to answer your question. Thank you for the mystery.

To all,Thank you all.

Ed J,Twice dead leaves the “to the spirit of righteousness” implied. All sin is willing as it comes the evil desires within us but some is compelled by an impure spirit while others are voluntary. According to scripture those that continue to sin voluntarily have no forgiveness for sins left. They are the ones I would say are twice dead.In…[Read more]

All,Thank you! I left the hospital Monday afternoon and feel better than I did before entering it. I am shaky which may effect my spelling.

Dennison,Thank you for the information.

Irene,I believe you fail to understand that when a child is born it is revealed to all those present. The first born, who is also the first fruit, in most cases being the first to be revealed. Since we who are the first fruits of the new creation, the beginning which is rooted in the death of Jesus. and Jesus came first it is therefore he that…[Read more]

Dennison,I am not sure what your conclusion is about whether the Law also included Gentiles from what you wrote since I have my own take on the scriptures you chose. My point is there are laws in the Law books of Moses that explicitly state they apply to strangers. I understand strangers to mean God fearing Gentiles in those cases.

Dennison,There is only one Jesus and there is only one God.

Martian,The conversation has been pleasant.

Pierre,Well said!

Irene,I am not seeing what being the firstborn of the new creation or the firstborn, Romans 8:23, of those who are buried with him, Romans 6:9, has to do with pre-existence unless you are speaking of the spirit of Christ.John 17:18 makes the case that Jesus sent the Twelve into the world. Does that mean that they too are pre-existent? It is the…[Read more]

Jerry,The law specifically addresses Gentiles in its statues and thus I will not disagree with it.   I will look and try to determine how Paul’s teaching to the Ephesians does not disagree with it either.  It is clear that Gentiles are foreigners and excluded from citizenship in Israel unless they covert.    They can also said to be guests as ev…[Read more]

Ed J,You fail to understand my tactics. First, I was pointing out the flaws in your arguments irrelevant of whether I agree or disagree with your conclusions. Second, I pointed out that according to the meaning of conceived and the exact wording of Jeremiah 1:5 Jesus and thus other human beings are formed in their mother’s womb. In that way I…[Read more]

'Ed J,The word beginning is vague as it is a descriptive word.  The something that is being described is simply not mentioned in John 15:26-27 and therefore is implied.  John's First Century readers most likely knew what Jesus was speaking of but you seemed to have missed it.  Have you ever considered the possibility Jesus was speaking of his mi…[Read more]

Ed J.My mother has been with me from the beginning therefore according to you it follows that she pre-exists. I fail to understand how that is so.

Jerry,What you state is not what is written. It is not even implied in scripture. That is why I warned you against dividing scripture.The old covenant covers both Jews and Gentiles though it is still the Law of the Land of Israel as heaven and earth have not yet disappeared, Matthew 5:18(NIV).For example the law states either the “alien or n…[Read more]

Mike Boll,The first is also a case of mis-defining words as is done by those who do not speak fluently in a language.  In this case the languages is spiritual and the speaker is not being so.  “Nature” simply means God's righteous and holy nature which we also instructed to emulate.  “Fullness” though is a vague term when used by itself as it is…[Read more]

Choosenone, The bottom line is that the principles of the good news of God always applies to us. The scriptures I mention address the principle of being saved from slavery to sin.One part of that principle is that those not under the new covenant whether Jews or Gentiles are all slaves to sin. The other part is that they all also all set free…[Read more]