I. Good works are only such as God has commanded in His holy Word,[1] and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.[2] II. These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith:[3] and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,[4] strengthen their assurance,[5] edify their brethren,[6] adorn the profession of the Gospel,[7] stop the mouths of the adversaries,[8] and glorify God,[9] whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,[10] that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.[11] III. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.[12] And that they may be enabled thereunto, beside the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will, and to do, of His good pleasure:[13] yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.[14] IV. They who, in their obedience, attain to the greatest height which is possibly in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.[15] V. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come; and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom, by them, we can neither profit, nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins,[16] but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants:[17] and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit,[18] and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's judgment.[19] VI. Notwithstanding, the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in Him;[20] not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreproveable in God's sight;[21] but that He, looking upon them in His Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.[22] VII. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others:[23] yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith;[24] nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word;[25] nor to a right end, the glory of God,[26] they are therefore sinful and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God:[27] and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.[28] Scriptural references for each number accessible from this page: http://www.reformed.org/documents/wcf_with_proofs/
I already told you that all eyes will be opened. That includes Israel. So I have given you the correct answser. I don't need Zechariah to back me up. How anyone will respond when their eyes are opened is what you assume to know. You don't know, and Zechariah doesn't know either. Why should anyone mourn me? As far as I am concerned, I did not suffer when pierced, did not die when I "died", and proved it. How is that not good news? Besides that, when eyes are opened and you see the Son of God, it is a joyful vision. You may shed tears, but they will be tears of joy. There is nothing about the sight of me that would inspire bitterness or regret. So you have proved nothing by grasping for scriptures that sound like they describe me according to your prejudices. Jesus
I'm not real religious but I understand some things about consciousness, procedure of thought, and energy. We see things at a limited level compared to a high consciousness. Many thoughts are arrived for near term survival so for us to understand divinity would be limited and so for that reason living entities even with science can not ever fully understand existence because of short term thoughts. This argument is a very substantial one and that is that an advanced life form could not evolve from a rock (existence from a dead object). I believe something gave man life and yes life is a recipe of sorts but one of a divine source that comes from an existence on a different realm.
You are behaving like a hypnotized parrot. Isaiah 53 does not describe me. It is not about me. That is the truth. But you won't accept this because you are determined to fit a square peg into a round hole according to your prejudices. You are falling into the same trap many of my followers fell into after I had ascended into heaven. You are attempting to gain street credibility by correlating my experiences with what you consider authoritative sources. You think that you can lend credibility to my story by associating me with archaic literature. But I don't need any help from the Jewish Bible. Why do I need help from the Jewish Bible? Only those who do not know me could possibly think I need help from the Jewish Bible. Here's the catch. Only those who are promoting a false version of my message need the Jewish Bible to back them up. I was backed by the Holy Spirit and miracles. What more do I need? Did I occasionally appeal to the Jewish Bible to back me up? Sure. For example, when the Pharisees challenged my assertion that I and the Father are One, I pointed to that verse where it says, "Ye are gods". But this does not really back me alone. It backs anyone and everyone who thinks he is the son of man, and is mistaken. I simply illustrated how to read the Bible. By twisting scriptures to apply to me, you make the same mistake as the Jews who twisted scriptures to apply to a hoped-for Messiah. They did not recognize me, and neither do you. Now you are both in the same boat, looking to the future for the arrival of your own version of what a Messiah ought to be like, look like, sound like and act like. It gets really rediculous when you tell me, as per psalm 22, how I should feel under given circumstances. You underestimate the Son of God. He does not feel like you feel unless he is mistaken as much as you are. Jesus
Luke 22:3-6 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. Then he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude. Matthew 27:3-5 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!" Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. There are a WHOLE lot more. Note that the prophecy of 30 pieces of silver and others are OT prophecies.
Your batting average is dropping quickly. The actual scriptural message follows (Elect = those predestined to believe). CHildren have no higher percentage than anyone else: III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit,[12] who works when, and where, and how He pleases:[13] so also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.[14] IV. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,[15] and may have some common operations of the Spirit,[16] yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:[17] much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess.[18] And to assert and maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.[19] Scriptural references: [12] LUK 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ACT 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. JOH 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 1JO 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ROM 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. [13] JOH 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. [14] 1JO 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. ACT 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. [15] MAT 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen. [16] MAT 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. HEB 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. [17] JOH 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. [18] ACT 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. JOH 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. EPH 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. JOH 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. [19] 2JO 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 1CO 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. GAL 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from rcanfiel: Please provide a precise explanation about the fact that the cosmos seems to be 11 dimensional? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from I am: The cosmos of time, space and form is complex. It is complex enough to confuse... This is obviously drivel. As the supposedly divine being, you should at least know as much as the cosmologists..
------------------------------------------ Quote from rcanfiel: 12) Describe exactly, the nature of dark energy and dark matter. 13) Is there life on other planets? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from I am...: Energy is thought. And the thoughts that make this world are dark. The drivel continues...
Quote from rcanfiel 14) Do people basically do good or bad? What is the passage that gives the definitive answer about how many people you have seen who do good? Quote from I am...: "Bad" is only a concept that exists in time. In time, it is possible to "sin" and do "evil". But it's all a set up to trick you. What appears to be bad is a behind the scenes drama made up by minds in communication which mask agreements made between victim and victimizer. I have told you that this world is Christ crucified, and that he does it to himself. "Bad" is when Christ beats Christ up, and masks the cause...[/QUOTE] Wrong. The scripture is quite clear that no one is good: "The fool hath said in his heart, NO GOD ! They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." *** Psalm 14:1 & 3 - 4 ". . .Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." *** Mark 7:6 ". . . I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name. I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh Me to anger continually to My face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;" *** Isaiah 65:1-3 "For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" *** Revelation 6:17 "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My Word. Yet, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fear upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not." *** Isaiah 66:1-4 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." *** Romans 3:10-12 "For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word. Behold, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their molten images are wind and confusion." *** Isaiah 41:28-29 Who among you will give ear to this? Who will hearken and hear for the time to come. The Lord is crying out, "Is there not one who will serve me?