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ARBITER01 · 2025-12-06T19:03:33-0600

bling said:
Where are you finding in scripture: "John's water immersion was an immersion of repentance, meaning it was symbolic of the Spiritual immersion/born"? John's baptism was a covenant action to show a commitment to accepting God's forgiveness and turning your life around.

How do you show: Immersion in water is always symbolic of the Holy Spirit, since the Jew immersed ceremonially in many ways?

These are basic NT understandings,.... why don't you understand them?

JoeySoley · 2025-12-06T19:01:21-0600

Venables said:
We haven't been to Mykonos but we were on Lefkada earlier this year, it's one of the mid-sized Greek islands off to the west, Ionian Sea I believe. It was an majestic experience, particularly for mission groups. A sizeable number of beautiful and inspirational churches and deep tradition. I'm having one of those days and can't quite recall the name, but there was one church in the particular that was extraordinary and stayed with us. From the Byzantine architects, a redoubtable design and beautiful frescoes within it. Reminded us of some of the churches on the French Mediterranean coast. Even without the icons, but the architecture on the coast seems it was similarly inspired.

You may be thinking of the Lefkada Church of Panagia Hodegetria (Παναγία Οδηγήτρια)? It's a very old church in an old village, but yes incredible and moving frescoes, though most moved to an institution in Athens as I recall.

Robban · 2025-12-06T19:00:10-0600

I know that many have plenty to do this time of year, out of tradition or not but it is nice to see all the lights in the windows,
and expectations hanging in the air.

Thinking about this I came to think of an old song, for me personally a seamans song, where a sailor far from home and thinking of the folks there at home.

First the song adopted by Svensk-Americans in english,

Second an old version, actually on listening to it brought back memories, Middle of the Atlantic, Irish sea among other places, pretty touching.

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jonojim1337 · 2025-12-06T18:57:41-0600

Well, I thank the Lord, that I have not befallen the whims of women, and that I can focus on his Grace alone ^_^

jacks · 2025-12-06T18:48:42-0600

Great message, thanks for posting.

Hentenza · 2025-12-06T18:36:43-0600

SabbathBlessings said:
Our thoughts and ideas are not Scripture nor do they trump the Testimony of God or Jesus. I know this cannot be reasoned with but I will say this last thing and than just let you have the last word and agree to disagree.

It’s called exegesis a verse. You have to look at the context before you can dogmatically interpret it.

SabbathBlessings said:
Jesus never became the Lord of the Sabbath as if He is the creation,

Well, He is the God of creation, the alpha and the omega, so He most certainly is the Lord of the sabbath.

jonojim1337 · 2025-12-06T18:23:00-0600

timothyu said:
Depends if they understand the concept of being selfish.

My understanding is that people understand very little. By the grace of God, they get a standard that they are satisfied with, and have little concern for anything else.

jonojim1337 · 2025-12-06T18:00:15-0600

I think it’s important to store your treasures in heaven, and not in video games. That being said, I do occasionally play a little video games, and it’s nothing I’m particularly proud of. He must increase and I must decrease, and whatever is in store for me, I guess I’ll find that out eventually.

jonojim1337 · 2025-12-06T17:51:47-0600

9Rock9 said:
So, I want to explore political philosophy and how it relates to Christianity.

Ideally, our faith should inform our politics, but not the other way around. Yet, this unfortunately not the case in reality. I don't intend to turn this into a finger pointing game between the left and the right, I just want to explore options here.

Should the government enact policies that reflect Christian policies?

One could argue yes, since a Christian government could provide a moral foundation for an otherwise secular society and arguably improves everyone's lives. On the other hand, one can say that the government would just bastardize Christianity and use it as a weapon for social control.

What about libertarianism? The Bible says to help the poor and needy. Yet, does that mean we should petition the government to do it, or is charity a personal responsibility for us as Christians, and thus we should not outsource it to the state?

Should there be a government? There are verses that seem to advocate for submitting to earthly authorities. Then again, many of these earthly authorities have, and sometimes still do, put innocent people to death. It can also be argued that the government has a monopoly on force and violence.

What are your thoughts?

I'm personally undecided, but that's why I made this thread. I want to see what others think to help me find out where I stand.

Christian politics is, that 12,000 from each tribe of Israel will rule together with Christ. You can take that as a literal or figurative number, but the point is they are from one bloodline. This is non-negotiable. If you want to find out what bloodline it is, I guess you have to do some more reading and praying.

Dreyma · 2025-12-06T17:36:56-0600

I'm currently teaching The Crucible to my eleventh graders. One of the characters, a slave named Tituba, is from Barbados. I didn't know where that was located, so I Googled it. Barbados is an island in the Caribbean Sea / West Indies:

Tigger Boy · 2025-12-06T17:26:41-0600

CoreyD said:
I appreciate you telling me that, thanks.

Thanks for trying.
That was a great effort, and you did well - far better than Copilot, because you saw that these are not examples that will stand up, but actual people. This is why intelligent minds are better than AI.
You are correct. That is exactly what these texts are saying. Quite simply

The next step is to find out if this judgment is a day where people will line up before a throne, and sentence be read, after which, wrongdoers are punished.
I think you already recognize that cannot be the case, since the Queen of Sheba is spoken of in a positive way, as well as the Ninevites. In fact, even those in Sodom and Gomorrah, where that city and all in it were destroyed for gross sin, are all said to stand up "with this generation, and condemn it".

So then, how long is the judgment day?
Please read Luke 22:28-30; Revelation 20:4-6
Here, we see that Jesus judges with those chosen to rule with him for the thousand years, when the Devil is bound, so that he does not mislead the nations until the thousand years are ended. Revelation 20:1-4

Judgement day is a period of 1,000 years where all who return... actual people who lived in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, Tyre and Sidon, .... the entire globe of unrighteous people, will be raised to, what Jesus calls, a resurrection of judgment. John 5:28, 29
What does this involve?

Revelation 20:12
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and [h]books were opened; and another [i]book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the [j]books, according to their deeds.

Of course, physically dead people cannot stand, so this scripture evidently refers to spiritually dead.
So, we can conclude that these are the same unrighteous people, that are raised to a resurrection of judgment.
The verse says these dead ones are judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.
The Bible does not say what these books are, but they are judged according to their deeds.
Since the judgment is 1,000 years their deeds would correspond with that period, and those books.

The next verse tells us they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds, and if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life [the other book that was opened], he was thrown into the lake of fire... which means the second death. Revelation 20:13-15
That means, obviously, their deeds during the 1,000 years did not lead to righteousness.

So, after the 1,000 years, when Satan is loosed, and goes out to deceive the nations which are at the four corners of the earth, he gathers together a great number of them that is like the sand of the seashore. Revelation 20:7, 8
Their final outcome is the second death.
However, they were given an opportunity to learn righteousness and practice it.

The answer then, to your query regarding God's mercy for people in the Old Testament. Yes. Not only is it reasonable, it's scriptural, that God remembers unrighteous people who died before having the opportunity to put faith in Jesus Christ, and will resurrect these ones to life, so that they can learn the truth, and live by righteous deeds... if they so desire. Acts 24:15
Those spiritually dead ones who practice righteousness, will come to life spiritually, after the 1,000 years. Revelation 20:5

Corey, my understanding of the thousand year judgement of Rev. 20, is a literal thousand years in which the living saints at the time of Christ return and those resurrected in the first resurrection (believers of all ages past) will set with Christ in heaven during this sentencing portion of Christ’s judgment of the lost. The saints will examine each lost individuals book of deeds to determine the amount of restitution that each sinner must atone for in Hell before they experience the second death.

The earth is void during this time, as all the lost are slain by the sword (command) that comes out of the mouth of the, Faithful and True [Christ] Rev. 19. The lost of all ages are resurrected in the second resurrection at the end of the thousand years, Revelation 20:5. Satin and his angels too, are released from the spirit realm again and gather the lost to destroy New Jerusalem, the camp of God’s people, the city He loves, (Rev. 20:7-9) which has come down from heaven.

Jesus commands a halt to Satan and the fallen before their assault on the city, for the Great White Throne Judgement is to take place. Here at this time all who have ever had life will be in attendance. The saints inside of New Jerusalem and the lost outside. The saints will have just witnessed that even when the wicked see New Jerusalem in it’s splendid glory before their very eyes, they still will not repent and honor God, but were willing to follow Satin and destroy God and His people. Their actions prove God was correct in judging them as unrepentant.

At this time also God wants the lost to understand why He could not save them, thus each individual is show their book of deeds that had been recorded during their lifetime, out of which Christ Judge them. After this reveal, every knee will bow before Christ our creator. The wicked because His justice was true, and the saints because of His mercy to save them by faith, knowing their unworthiness.

Then follows the fires of hell falling from heaven which devours the wicked, according to the restitution that each must pay before eternal death (the wages of sin) claims their life. Thus sin is no more, and Christ creates the new heaven and earth, and the saints witness it all, and receive it as their inheritance, because of their faith in Christ.

Dan Perez · 2025-12-06T17:26:38-0600

Dave... said:
Yes, they are in Heaven.

Before the cross John 3:13-15. That Psalm passage in post #21 was the wrong one. I fixed it. It said Psalm 16:19, but I meant Psalm 16:10-11. That was to show that what was called Sheol in the OT, is called Hades in the NT.

And John. 3:13 SAY that no one has ASCENDED. IN. HEAVEN ,( BUT // ME. , IS A DISJUNCATIVE PARTICLE NEGATIVE. ). means

NEVERRRRR has ascended to HEAVEN. but he that came down. FROM HEAVEN !!

So where does anyone go after DEATH ??

And I do have answer and shown just where the lost go after . death and. where those saved go after dying !!

dan p

Coolerranch · 2025-12-06T17:24:29-0600

*Takes a sip of magic tea* May God bless you even if it may seem as though satan has gotten an advantage or is worth believing. For God will send someone to help you whether it be the Holy Spirit, or angels, or a person to remind you that you're being helped by these beings.

St_Worm2 · 2025-12-06T17:18:59-0600

Chocolate Covered

Hans Blaster · 2025-12-06T17:18:51-0600

Episode 38 continues, though the North vent (the weaker one today) is already shut down. The South vent is still throwing lava about 1/2 mile through the air. (It must really hate the V2 cam.)

Here is a news report from the Big Island:

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jonojim1337 · 2025-12-06T17:15:22-0600

Lukaris said:
I have found trying to conform my conscience to the Lord’s commandments useful for daily living. I need my conscience for necessary functional living and I need the Holy Spirit as my counselor. When, for ex., I read John 14:15-18 this seems very clear to me. I believe what Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:5 can be applied here on an individual level although their discussion is on a pastoral level.

When I refer to the Lord’s commandments, of course I refer to Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 7:12 per Matthew 7:1-12, Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 per Romans 13:1-14 etc. The basic way to live this is to try to practice basic charity & prayer ( see Matthew 6:1-13, Matthew 9:36-38, 1 Timothy 2:1-6 etc.).

Probably most believing Christians are already doing this but not seeing the whole picture & feeling something might be missing. Paul tells us realize that the Lord’s grace given to us is sufficient ( 2 Corinthians 12:9) & not to get confused by things we may not be able to handle ( 2 Corinthians 12:1-9).

I believe challenges continue to face us as we live. When I read Galatians 5:1-25 ( for ex.), I see the bigger picture but I am still, as with others, moving along ( see Philippians 3:12-16). I see myself more towards the slower end of the line but my faith moves me along.

When reading Romans 13 I think it’s important to point out that God has indeed appointed authorities, but this is not the same as anyone who appoints themselves as authority is from God.

Tom D · 2025-12-06T17:13:46-0600

The only thing I’ve ever been absolutely right about is knowing I can be wrong.

Its good to be wrong sometimes, it helps us to learn humility, which even many Christians ignore.
Don't ignore it, embrace it --- It is the Queen of virtues.

SabbathBlessings · 2025-12-06T17:10:14-0600

WordSword said:
It's ok of course but we just differ in our understanding concerning the Law and the OT. God bless!

Almost all the verses I quoted of the Law of God including the original Text James2:11 is NT.

As God’s Testimonies are sure. Psa19:7 Exo31:18 Deut4:13, heaven and earth will pass, but not God’s word which He uses interchangeably with His commandments.

Mat 25:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away..

Mat5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Luke 16:17 It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fail.

Mat 15:3 And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves also break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ From the Ten Commandments
Mat 15:6 he is not to honor his father or mother.’ And by this you have invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.

Mat 7:13 And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men

Which commandment?
‘Honor your father and your mother’ (from the Ten Exo20:12 Deut4:13)

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

The entire Bible is about the testimony of God through His prophets and apostles. John5:39 and which one of these have a greater testimony than God Himself? Exo31:18 Deut4:13 Heb8:10 2Cor3:3, not one.

God bless!

Guojing · 2025-12-06T17:07:30-0600

eclipsenow said:
Acts 2:

I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

The phrase "great and glorious day of the Lord" has a very specific meaning in the OT, you can check that out.

eclipsenow said:
So again, what evidence do you have that the Apostles were thinking of Daniel 9 specifically?

I already said, the Acts 2 church followed Luke 12:33 literally and sold all their possessions. They were expecting the Mark of the Beast anytime soon, that is why they did that.

Do you think they were doing that "for fun"?

St_Worm2 · 2025-12-06T17:07:11-0600

JohnB445 said:
I asked AI about forgiveness, it said it's a good thing, but not good to forgive those who are not remorseful, and who are still malicious.

Hi John, I'm still doing my best to wrap my mind around Ai, but it's hard to do so because, unlike the search engines of old, how Ai answers what we ask it seems to change daily (so, I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in what it tells you, not just yet anyway).

That said, I'm surprised that it told you what it did, to ~not~ forgive those who remain remorseful/those who have not asked to be forgiven, IOW. Could the way that you questioned your Ai have given it the sense that you were looking for a Biblical answer to your question?

Whether it did or did not, the answer that it gave you could certainly be understood as coming directly from the Bible, because it was the Lord Jesus Himself who gave us the following commands concerning forgiveness,

Luke 17 (NASB 95')

3 “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and ~if~ he repents, forgive him.

4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

So, why do you think that Jesus gave us these commands, particularly the ones above about 1) rebuking those who sin against us and then 2) withholding forgiveness from them until they chose to repent and ask to be forgiven?

Do you think that withholding forgiveness in this way can be understood as a benefit and/or a blessing of some kind to one or both parties, and if so, how?

JohnB445 said:
I would find it hard to forgive those people, and very hard to forgive someone who took pleasure in hurting me.

@eleos1954 mentioned, "attitudinal forgiveness", and I think that is an important stance for a Christian to adopt, that of always being "ready" to forgive someone, because once someone has done that the ball is back in your court and the next step that needs to be taken is yours.

There is much more to consider (including your concern about what we should do in the case of violent, life-changing sins, like rape and murder), but this is enough for now

God bless you!!

--David
p.s. - finally, one thing that you may want to figure out is the reason, purpose or endgame that each side has for teaching the kind of forgiveness that they do, because I believe that doing so will shine a very bright light on all of this for you!

Delvianna · 2025-12-06T17:01:50-0600

The Liturgist said:
If the concept was important to salvation, it would have appeared in the Nicene Creed, the Apostles’ Creed or the Athanasian Creed and in the writings of the early church fathers.

This is where we're just not going to agree because when I read scripture, I see something differently and don't trust in any of that ^. I can agree with the statements, but I don't form my beliefs around those statements.

mourningdove~ · 2025-12-06T16:50:32-0600

David Hunter said:
I'm back with another Sermon on the Mount Series, and this time we'll look at what Jesus says about knowing a tree by its fruit! And... the most scariest words He spoke...

Thanks for including the info on the "Christmas Groove".

I found a link to the livestream event ...
will be watching tonite at 7pm!

Christmas Groove

www.christmasgroove.org

rjs330 · 2025-12-06T16:48:44-0600

Servus said:
1 John should be required reading.

I agree. Every believer sins. But every believer does not walk in sin. Scripture teaches us that we all commit sins and it teaches us that we should not walk in sin, or continue in sin. Christians should walk in continual repentance. Which does not mean walking around in sackloth and ashes. It means always recognizing when we fail asking for forgiveness and then changing our life with the power of the Holy Spirit and not make excuses to continue in the practice.

LoricaLady · 2025-12-06T16:21:01-0600

06 December 2025 – Iran

Pray for God’s blessing on two Christian converts who fled Iran after each being sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges related to the possession of multiple copies of the Bible. Mehdi Rahimi, aged 49, and Kia Nourinia, 55, were sentenced in April after raids by intelligence officers on their homes in Tabriz.

05 December 2025 – Iran

Children in Iran are indoctrinated by state propaganda and hatred in school from a young age. Pray for those growing up in Christian homes who hear such contrasting views from their parents and teachers, and for whom saying the wrong word in class could lead to their parents’ arrest.

04 December 2025 – Iran

Our partner asks for prayer for its team in Turkey and for those Iranian Christians there who face threats of deportation, regular harassment from local authorities and discrimination in their schools and workplaces. May God soften the hearts of those who are mistreating them.

03 December 2025 – Iran

Pray for the training events run by our partners in neighbouring countries to equip and encourage the leaders of Iran’s house church movement. Without the infrastructure of established churches, these networks and their leaders need regular training and opportunities to meet safely.

02 December 2025 – Iran

Give thanks for the impact of multiple media ministries that transmit the gospel into people’s homes, bypassing government attempts to repress Christianity. Pray for those working to translate the Jesus film, The Chosen and other evangelistic material into Iran’s many indigenous languages.

01 December 2025 – Iran

Pray for Christian Mehran Shamloui, aged 37, who was arrested on his arrival in Iran after being deported from Turkey in July. Mehran had been sentenced to a total of ten years in prison following his arrest in Tehran in November 2024. In connected raids on homes, two other Christians, Abbas Soori (48) and expectant […]

30 November 2025 – Philippines

Praise God for the church denominations that are supporting workers in dangerous locations and are prepared to adopt new methods of evangelism and church planting that are sensitive to the local culture.

For email prayer alerts: info@releaseinternational.org

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