Tuesday, October 9, 2007

1John 4:16 And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.

Here we see, God is love. This a very dramatic statement. It is like saying "a ball is rubber." We know from this simple statement the ball is made up of a substance called rubber. You can look up where rubber comes from and discover even how it's made. It is clear in this simple phrase the "God is love." We learn something important of the Unseen one, the Great I am and many other such names through out the Bible. The fact that you can not see love, but can not touch it, smell it, taste it or hear it. Explains this easily and in way that is precious and wonderful.

God is Love

JCN

Thursday, October 4, 2007

TODAY IS:

HAVE YOUR SAY DAY


WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW OR WHAT BOTHERS YOU
HAVE AT IT
POST A COMMENT


God Bless Your Day
JCN

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

John 13:5

After that1534 he poureth906 water5204 into1519 a basin,3537 and2532 began756 to wash3538 the3588 disciples'3101 feet,4228 and2532 to wipe1591 them with the3588 towel3012 wherewith3739 he was2258 girded.1241

Let us look at "wash" first:

G3538
νίπτω
niptō
nip'-to
To cleanse (especially the hands or the feet or the face); ceremonially to perform ablution: - wash. Compare G3068.


Easton Bible Dictionary
Washing
(Mark_7:1-9). The Jews, like other Orientals, used their fingers when taking food, and therefore washed their hands before doing so, for the sake of cleanliness. Here the reference is to the ablutions prescribed by tradition, according to which “the disciples ought to have gone down to the side of the lake, washed their hands thoroughly, 'rubbing the fist of one hand in the hollow of the other, then placed the ten finger-tips together, holding the hands up, so that any surplus water might flow down to the elbow, and thence to the ground.'” To neglect to do this had come to be regarded as a great sin, a sin equal to the breach of any of the ten commandments. Moses had commanded washings oft, but always for some definite cause; but the Jews multiplied the legal observance till they formed a large body of precepts. To such precepts about ceremonial washing Mark here refers. (See ABLUTION.)

Ablution
Or washing, was practiced
(1.) When a person was initiated into a higher state: e.g., when Aaron and his sons were set apart to the priest's office, they were washed with water previous to their investiture with the priestly robes (Leviticus_8:6).
(2.) Before the priests approached the altar of God, they were required, on pain of death, to wash their hands and their feet to cleanse them from the soil of common life (Exodus_30:17-21). To this practice the Psalmist alludes, Psalm_26:6.
(3.) There were washings prescribed for the purpose of cleansing from positive defilement contracted by particular acts. Of such washings eleven different species are prescribed in the Levitical law (Leviticus. 12-15).
(4.) A fourth class of ablutions is mentioned, by which a person purified or absolved himself from the guilt of some particular act. For example, the elders of the nearest village where some murder was committed were required, when the murderer was unknown, to wash their hands over the expiatory heifer which was beheaded, and in doing so to say, “Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it” (Deuteronomy_21:1-9). So also Pilate declared himself innocent of the blood of Jesus by washing his hands (Mathew_27:24). This act of Pilate may not, however, have been borrowed from the custom of the Jews. The same practice was common among the Greeks and Romans.
The Pharisees carried the practice of ablution to great excess, thereby claiming extraordinary purity (Mathew_23:25). Mark (Mark_7:1-5) refers to the ceremonial ablutions. The Pharisees washed their hands “oft,” more correctly, “with the fist” (R.V., “diligently”), or as an old father, Theophylact, explains it, “up to the elbow.” (Compare also Mark_7:4; Leviticus_6:28; Leviticus_11:32-36; Leviticus_15:22) (See WASHING.)

What is so special about his "towel" or is it better defined "a linen apron?"

G3012
λέντιον
lention
len'-tee-on
Of Latin origin; a “linen” cloth, that is, apron: - towel.
Thayer Definition:
1) a linen cloth, towel
1a) of the towel or apron with which servants put on when about to work

The reason this matters is quite simple as a servant he dressed. He then performed
a task mentioned in the Bible 22 times 13 in the Old Testament and 9 in the New Testament.
Of which, exactly 6 are in John alone and all are in one chapter (13).

Abraham was the first mentioned and he washed the feet of "My Lord" and the two who came with him.

Jesus said "if you were the seed of Abraham you would do the works of Abraham"John 8:39. Jesus expressed this to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were real big on ritual washing in order to perform the Temple service among other reasons. One of whom he had dinner with did not wash his feet. A woman who was(past tense*) a sinner washed his feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. And she anointed his feet with ointment(myrrh-smells nice to it would have filled the room). The thrower of the party did not like this but did not speak it (important because only God knows the thoughts and hearts of men). Jesus told him the answer to his unspoken, unuttered question. Needless to say the pharisees did not invite him to many more parties. They did not like the true questions of their heart being expressed in public.
Especially, in front of their friends and family.

*she was Forgiven and Blessed for her offering

You are commanded to "love thy fellow man as thy self" .
Be as a servant willing to go that extra mile to Love those around you.
It is written that God is Love and an all consuming fire.

JCN

Monday, October 1, 2007

Four



Ephesians 1:22 and he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 1:23 which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

in red: There is no word for things in Greek the language that almost all of the New Testament is written. It should be italicized if there at all. Also, I believe "All" includes everything spiritual and physical. Another words the whole pie, not just a slice here or there.

in Green: Church: Which your are taught is a building. To bad the Greek word doesn't agree with this.

G1577
ἐκκλησία
ekklēsia
ek-klay-see'-ah
From a compound of G1537 and a derivative of G2564; a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

G1537
ἐκ, ἐξ
ek ex
ek, ex
A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote): - after, among, X are, at betwixt (-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for (-th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, . . . ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with (-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.


G2564
καλέω
kaleō
kal-eh'-o
Akin to the base of G2753; to “call” (properly aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise): - bid, call (forth), (whose, whose sur-) name (was [called]).

Not a building but a group of people strange, is it not.


Now let's look at body:

G4983
σῶμα
sōma
so'-mah
From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively: - bodily, body, slave.

Doesn't seem divided at all; kind of a real Wholeness kinda ring to it.
Maybe this helps:

Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
Galatians 5:21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This is in a chapter that defines the way you are to walk in Jesus' foot steps and very specifically. For a different look, All Israel were to do things together as a whole, not a piece or a few, but all. When they were divided, they were attacked from all sides. When they kept Gods commandments as a whole they were Blessed Greatly beyond all Nations.

Mathew 12:25 And knowing their thoughts he said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

JCN