Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts

Friday, December 13, 2019

Jesus gave St. Peter the Keys


SS April 25, 2013 at 4:29 pm
Not so.
Isaiah 22:
20 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah. 21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 23 I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat of honor for the house of his father. 24 All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.
Rev 3:7 says:
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens , says this” 
Isaiah 22 and Eliakim point to Christ, not Peter.
Please explain why Isaiah 2 and Eliakim can not point to both Christ and St. Peter.

There’s only one key involved here (key not ‘keys’), the key to the House of David. And the one who holds that key is Christ, as the above in Revelation states clearly.

The metaphor is not about the number of keys in possession, but about the ability to bind and loose in the Kingdom of Heaven which is the same thing as the House of David because Christ rules there.

1.  These are the things which you neglect.  Christ is the King of Kings.  Therefore, He always has the Key.  Just because He gave a set to St. Peter doesn't mean that He would therefore be unable to open the doors of His own household.

2.  But St. Peter is the Prime minister, just as Eliakim, and he possesses the keys not by right of birth, but by the grace of God, just like Eliakim.

3.  As for the number of keys, it is the same metaphor.  The keys or key symbolize the power to bind and loose in the Kingdom of Heaven.  If anything, the fact that Jesus gave St. Peter a set of keys means that he has more power than did Eliakim of old.  Not less.  And it certainly doesn't mean that Jesus gave away His own set of keys.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Frequently asked questions, "what is the Kingdom of God?" "What is the Gospel?"

The questions are very closely related, as we can see in this verse:

Mark 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

So, what Gospel is Jesus talking about? And where is the Kingdom of God that He is announcing?

For that, we have to go back to the time of Daniel.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.

At this time, God will establish an everlasting Kingdom:

Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image
upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.35 Then was the iron, the clay,
the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together,
and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away,
that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

And then, the explanation:

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,
which shall never be destroyed:
 and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break
in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, 
and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God
hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain,
and the interpretation thereof sure.

So, when Jesus says:

The time is fulfilled  He is talking about the 70 weeks. Which is talking about 70 weeks of years and so
amounts to approximately 490 years.

And, we know that at the time that Jesus was born, the Jews were anticipating the arrival of the Messiah.

And when Jesus says:

the kingdom of God is at hand  He is talking about this everlasting Kingdom. Did you notice where the
prophecy speaks of a stone which would be cut out of the mountain without hands. Have you ever
read in Scripture:

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven:
and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

This is that Stone.

John 1:42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said,
Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

And that stone is the Church which has become a huge mountain:

and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

And this is the Gospel that Jesus Christ was revealing to the Jews at that time.

What say you?

Monday, December 15, 2014

All we do is imitate and obey Jesus.


Red:
In 1745...St. Alphonsus Delaguarie
Liquori.

wrote a book called The Glories of Mary.
Correct.

It is fully authorized by the Roman Catholic Church. Its latest edition is a smaller abridged version of it, published by the Catholic Book Publishing Company of New York and officially stamped by the Vicar General, the Archdiocese of New York.
Nothing in that book which can be construed to be against the faith.

Here is a small sample
: Wonderful!

In the Marion year, Pope Pius XII apparently reflected the Church's view of the Virgin Mary when the Pope stood up to give this following Pontifical prayer, and I quote: "Enraptured by the splendor of your heavenly beauty
Psalm 45:9-11

9 Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.  10 Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;  11 So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms, O immaculate mother of Jesus
Luke 1:
43 And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

and our mother,
Do you consider yourself one who keeps the Commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ?

Revelation 12:
17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Mary we adore
Have you ever heard a man say to his wife, "I adore you." Does he mean that she is a goddess? Or that he loves her?

We adore Mary in the sense that we love her as Jesus Himself loved her. With a supernatural love.

and praise the peerless richness of the sublime gifts with which God has filled you above every other mere creature from the moment of conception

Luke 1:
47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

until the day on which your assumption into heaven He crowned you Queen of the Universe.
Revelation 12:1
And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:

O crystal fountain of faith,
Luke 1:
46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,


bathe our hearts with your heavenly perfume. O conqueress of evil and death,

Genesis 3:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

inspire in us a deep horror of sin which makes the soul detestable to God and the slave of hell. O well-beloved of God,
Luke 1:
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

hear the ardent cries which rise up from every heart in this year dedicated to you. Then tenderly, O Mary, cover our aching womb, convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and the oppressed. Comfort the poor and humble. Quench hatred. Sweeten harshness. Safeguard the flower of purity. Protect the holy Church. In your name resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that all are brothers and that the nations are members of one family.
Rev 12:17, all who bear the testimony of Christ and keep the Commandments of God are her seed.

Receive, O sweet mother, our humble supplications and above all, obtain for us on that day, happy with you that we may repeat before your throne that hymn which is sung today around your altars, you are beautiful, O Mary, you are glory, O Mary, you are the joy, you are the honor of our people," end quote.
Amen! She is the Mother of Jesus Christ. No one can bestow upon Mary a greater honor than God already has.

No, there is no Mary worship going on here.
Absolutely none. All we do is imitate and obey Jesus. He gave Himself to Mary. And then He gave us to her as well:

John 19:
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Are you a disciple whom Jesus loves? I know I am. Therefore, in obedience to the command of Jesus Christ, I behold my mother when I behold Mary and I take her into my heart.

You can change the word worship to whatever you'd like, but this is straight up idolatry.

What is this that Joshua, one of God's chosen, did before St. Michael, the Archangel?

Joshua 5:14

King James Version (KJV)
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant?

Sincerely,

De Maria

Saturday, September 20, 2014

It is the Catholic Church which tells the faithful to eat of the Tree of Life



Lutero:
I vote that De Maria is quoting Scripture out of context and definitely reading into Scripture things that either don’t apply or do not exist. Let’s look at the first verse he posted.
Ok.


We read in Genesis 2:9 that the “tree of life” is a literal tree.

”And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.”

In Revelation 22:2, The “tree of life” appears again.

”In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ”

Even if Revelation 22 was a vision and was to be read metaphorically, there is no indication that the “tree of life” mentioned in Chapter 22 is Christ or Christ in the eucharist. There are no commentaries in either the New American, Douay-Rheims or the New Jerusalem Bibles that identify the “tree of life” in Revelation 22 is Christ nor Christ in the eucharist.

De Maria, is this the official teaching of the Roman Catholic Church and if so, where does it get it’s assertion that the “tree of life” in Revelation 22 is the eucharist?
The reason you don't understand the Scripture is explained by the Word of God:

1 Corinthians 2:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Now, lets add to the verses which you provided, these which I offered previously:


Genesis 3:22

King James Version (KJV)

22 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

God has taken man from the Garden in order to prevent man from eating of the Tree of Life and living for ever.

Then Jesus comes and reverses that which Adam has done:


Romans 5:12

King James Version (KJV)

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

And given us again, the food which will give us eternal life:

John 6:51

King James Version (KJV)

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

And that is exactly what we do at the Eucharist. We "put forth our hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever".


And so it is confirmed in Rev 22:13
Revelation 22:14

King James Version (KJV)

14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

We who keep the Commandments of God have the right to the Eucharist, the Tree of Life, whereof if we eat, God grants us eternal life.



Let’s look at the next verse De Maria presents as a proof text.
Ok.


We see that in Genesis 3:22, the “tree of life” is in reference to a literal tree and not Christ or Christ in the eucharist.
You see that. Or should I say, "YOU don't see Christ there." I was sure that Protestants also believed the adage, "in the Old Testament we find Christ concealed. In the New Testament, Christ is revealed."

The Tree of Life is a reference to Christ. It is a foreshadowing, a type, a symbol of Christ.


There are some who claim that the story Adam and Eve is to be understood in metaphor however, I believe that the Roman Catholic Church does not hold this view.
The Church teaches that Adam and Eve exists and that many elements of the story are metaphorical.


Finally, the third.

John 6:51
King James Version (KJV)
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

The “tree of life” isn’t mentioned in John 6:51. I fail to see how John 6:51 is related to Genesis 3:22 and Revelation 22:14 in any way, shape or form. Jesus never said that He was the “tree of life”. He said he was the “bread of life.”
It takes spiritual discernment to see the connection. Eating of the Tree of Life results in eternal life. Eating of the Eucharistic Bread results in eternal life.


I do see one parallel between the devil told Eve about the tree of life and what Rome tells its faithful about the eucharist. In both accounts, a devil deceives mankind into believing a lie.
You are confused. It is the Protestants who, like the Serpent, tell the faithful to reject the Tree of Life and eat of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is the Catholic Church which tells the faithful to eat of the Tree of Life, in obedience to Christ.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Friday, August 29, 2014

RISK JESUS: TAKE THE FIRST STEP. BRING A FRIEND.


When: Saturday, September 27, 2014 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: Hylton Memorial Chapel, Woodbridge, VA
Description:
Risk Jesus
“The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step toward Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 3).
“The beginning of fall provides us with an opportunity for a fresh start,” writes Bishop Loverde.  “While you prepare for this new season, will you renew and rediscover your faith?”
Join Bishop Paul S. Loverde for this unique opportunity to renew and rediscover your faith and to bring a friend or family member. A great opportunity for all Catholics, Risk Jesus ’14will emphasize witness and testimonials from keynote speakers: the “before” and “after” of their encounter with Christ and His Church, and how this encounter has transformed their lives on a daily basis.
“Following Jesus today means risk,” writes Bishop Loverde.  This September 27th, take the risk of drawing closer to Christ and His Church.  And as you do, take a step out of your comfort zone, and bring a friend!  In addition to the talks and music, attendees will have the opportunity to encounter Christ through a Holy Hour, Confessions and prayer, as well as speak with ministry leaders at the exhibit tables.
Speakers:
Jennifer Fulwiler
A committed atheist and skeptic from childhood, Jennifer Fulwiler became Catholic along with her husband Joe in 2007, a journey recounted in her new book, Something Other Than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It (Ignatius Press, 2014). She has appeared on Fox and Friends, Huffington Post Live, The Journey Home, Life On the Rock, andThe Choices We Face.  She and her husband starred in a reality show called Minor Revisions, and in September she will launch “The Jennifer Fulwiler Show” on SiriusXM. A sixth-generation Texan, Jennifer was previously a web developer for a high tech company and now homeschools her six young children in Austin. She blogs at Conversion Diary.

Fr. Dwight LongeneckerBrought up in an evangelical home in Pennsylvania, Fr. Longeneckerstudied theology at Oxford University and was ordained an Anglican minister, serving in Cambridge and on the Isle of Wight.  Realizing that he and the Anglican church were on divergent paths, he and his family were received into the Catholic Church in 1995.  He spent the next decade working as a freelance Catholic writer, contributing to more than twenty-five publications in Britain, Ireland, and the US .  In 2006, he was permitted to receive ordination as a Catholic priest under the special provision for married former Anglican clergy.  A best-selling author of more than a dozen books, including his most recent The Romance of Religion: Fighting for Goodness, Truth, and Beauty (Thomas Nelson, 2014), Fr. Longenecker is currently Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Greenville, South Carolina, and blogs atStanding On My Head.

Fr. Juan Puigbo
Originally from Venezuela, Fr. Juan Puigbó was ordained a priest in 2001 and serves as a priest for the Diocese of Arlington.  He has coordinated many youth and young adult camps and retreats and has directed conferences, workshops and talks about lay leadership and youth ministry.  He also has experience in spiritual direction and vocational discernment.  Fr. Puigbó is a former Director of Hispanic Pastoral Affairs for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.  He currently serves as Parochial Vicar at All Saints Catholic Church in Manassas, Virginia, a parish with over 16,000 members.

Marie MillerAcclaimed 23-year-old Catholic singer, songwriter and instrumentalistMarie Miller is a rising star from Front Royal, Virginia, whose music crosses stylistic boundaries.  The third of ten children, she began singing at the age of 7 and joined her family band, the Miller Sisters, when she was 12.  Signed to Curb Records in 2005, she has released two EP’s, Marie Miller(2006) and You’re Not Alone (2013).  Her 2013 single “You’re Not Alone” reached #1 on Billboard’s Christian charts, the music video appearing on VH1 and CMT.  Another single, “6’2”,” was featured on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars, and “Unconscious” was part of the soundtrack to the movie Gimme Shelter.
Registration is $25 and includes the option to bring one friend or family member for free, and to register additional individuals for $10 each until September 12th (at which point additional tickets will be $20). If you select more than one ticket, we will be in touch to ask the name and dietary requirements of your guest(s). The Diocese of Arlington does not wish to turn away individuals for whom the cost of Risk Jesus ‘14 may present an obstacle.  Should you have need of scholarship assistance, please contact the diocese.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
9:00am – 4:00pm
Hylton Memorial Chapel
14640 Potomac Mills Road
Woodbridge, VA

Register Now
Download (iCal)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Hail Full of Grace!


Gospel According to Saint Luke

Chapter 1

[26] And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth,[27] To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. [28] And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. [29] Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. [30] And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

[31] Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. [33] And of his kingdom there shall be no end. [34] And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? [35] And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

[36] And behold thy cousin Elizabeth, she also hath conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her that is called barren: [37] Because no word shall be impossible with God. [38] And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. [39] And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.[40] And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

[41] And it came to pass, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: [42] And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. [43] And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? [44] For behold as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. [45] And blessed art thou that hast believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were spoken to thee by the Lord.

[46] And Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord. [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [48] Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid; for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. [49] Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. [50] And his mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear him.

[48] Shall call me blessed: These words are a prediction of that honour which the church in all ages should pay to the Blessed Virgin. Let Protestants examine whether they are any way concerned in this prophecy.

[51] He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart. [52] He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble. [53] He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. [54] He hath received Israel his servant, being mindful of his mercy: [55] As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

[56] And Mary abode with her about three months; and she returned to her own house.




Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Jesus, Priest and Victim




Hi Lutero, 
We can never rely on the church fathers for consistency and fully on church history. The safest and secure bet is to only stick to sola scriptura.
What does Scripture say?
Follow those who have received the promise-Heb 6:12
Hear the Church-Matt 18:17;
Church teaches the wisdom of God-Eph 3:10;
Church is the pillar of truth-1 Tim 3:15
About Jesus being a victim its meaning?
Christ is our Passover Sacrifice-1 Cor 5:7
Scripture records Jesus as being in control. He came to be a sacrifice according to God’s sovereign plan. One might argue that Jesus was a victim of sinful men who acted against the law persecuting an innocent man. Even at this level God was in control.
Did Jesus kill Himself? Or was He killed by others?
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:  This is contrary to a victim taken by some religious group to make a human sacrifice.
Have you not read in Scripture:
John 11:50
Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
The Church taught me that this verse was in Scripture. Obviously, you didn’t know that the Jews sacrificed one man, Jesus Christ, for the sake of the nation. In other words, they “sacrificed” Jesus.
Or someone who is assaulted against their will.
Sacrifice has nothing to do with the victim’s will. Again have you not read in Scripture:
Judges 11:34-36
King James Version (KJV)
34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.  35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.  36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.
Jeptha’s daughter was not unwilling. Can you say she was not a victim?
After having Jesus flogged and declaring Him innocent Pilate was told he had no authority over Jesus. John 19:9-11.  This simple interaction shows that Jesus was not a victim. His answer to Pilate’s veiled offer of potential release was to put Pilate in his place. Jesus in essence took away what authority Pilate thought he had. Pilate had no bargaining chips to offer Jesus who did not look for a way out of the false imprisonment as a victim would.
That is the most obvious example of READING INTO Scripture I have ever seen in my life. Where does Scripture say any of that? I don’t see it. You are simply reading into it that which you think unwilling victims would do.
Jesus most explicit statement of authority showing He is not a victim comes from the Gospel of John. John 10:17-18
That just explains that Jesus was a willing victim.
As being a Passover sacrifice in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and lamb of God in John 1:36 that was to be a one time sacrifice as the lamb of God
The Passover Lamb must be consumed (Exodus 12:8-10); that is why Jesus gave us the Bread which is His Flesh for the life of the world (John 6:51). So that we might participate in His Sacrifice and be saved (John 6:54).

Sincerely,

De Maria

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Continuing to handle the Query- IV

subscription_1.jpg

This is continued from here.

Quote:
Answer C) is:
If you say "It's a mystery" or "With God all things are possible" you are basically saying you have no answer and give up. You recognize the inherent contradiction but choose to pull the wool over your own eyes, and hope your brain never rejects the obvious, glaring logical incompatibility.
If you say "It's a mystery" or "With God all things are possible" you are basically saying you have no answer and give up.

Not so. It is a mystery of love. Why did God do something He didn't need to do. Why did He become incarnated and join the human race? Why did He enter Creation?

It is a mystery which is beyond human comprehension. But Scripture is clear that God did just that:

Philippians 2 5 For let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. 8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross. 9 For which cause God also hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names: 10 That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:
Quote:
You recognize the inherent contradiction but choose to pull the wool over your own eyes, and hope your brain never rejects the obvious, glaring logical incompatibility.

What illogical incompatibility? Are you saying that it isn't possible for God to become man?

Well that is simply a statement made against the evidence.

1. That God would enter Creation and take the form of a man is prophecied in the Old Testament as previously shown.

2. That the Godman would be tortured and sacrificed for the sins of humanity is also prophecied in the Old Testament.

3. That Jesus fulfilled those prophecies is also documented by eyewitness testimony.

4. That Jesus produced many miracles to prove His Divine nature is also documented by eyewitness testimony.

So, your statement is simply an opinion against the evidence. Evidence which would hold up in court.

to conclude the query series, go here

Sincerely,

De Maria

Friday, April 20, 2012

What were they thinking?

File:McVey wide skyscraper.jpg

Many times I've heard people say that the Ancient Jews were so well versed in Scripture. Yet, from reading the Gospels, I think they were probably asking  themselves, "What?  Where?"  when Jesus said:
John 5:
39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Unless Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, as He did the Apostles, they could not make the connections between the Old Testament Suffering Servant and the Messiah.

So, in a way, I feel sorry for them. Not all, but many, probably most of them, were sincerely following their faith. Then this guy shows up, performing miracles, doing signs and claiming He is God. But what does Scripture say to do with guys like that?

Deuteronomy 13

1If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,
2And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, ....
5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death;....

And that is what they did. They put Him to death on the Cross.

Sincerely,

De Maria