Showing posts with label law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label law. Show all posts

Thursday 10 July 2014

Looking for something or for the Truth and what it might be and self-awareness

What can be the truth and what do we understand under ‘the truth’? Are we speaking of man made sets of concepts and beliefs, or the accumulation of scientific knowledge, or mathematical certainties?

How can we find the truth and do we need to examine only all the NT writings or do we have to look at the OT writings also?

How can we get the full story of early Christianity and how much interest do we have to have for theological writings or to church letters and books written after the gospels and epistles?

Are you not curious what those Christians in the Old Times believed and how believes changed and churches found ways to grow? But those growing churches did they keep to the Truth? Did they not bring in teachings to become more popular and to have more people who could find their traditional events integrated in the church?

With education, we are able to discern between right and wrong, good and evil, and make what we might term moral choices. The human being is privileged that it has a brain which can be used to get such an insight. We as human beings can have a level of awareness and with it an ability to come to a natural expression of our physical organisation or being, and that it is an innate capacity or potential that we are uniquely born with.

The 21st century has brought us to an age of increasing complexity and sophistication, which is being driven by scientific advancements on a scale never seen before. These advancements are coupled in a strange way with a veneer of rationality that is difficult to reconcile with the advances in science. As science seeks to explain and explore every detail of the material world, the media and entertainment industries bombard us with increasingly puerile levels of information, often delivered in oversimplified sound-bites backed by expertly crafted graphic imagery for easy acceptance. The outcome is a society which has generally lost the ability to think and reason critically on the deeper questions of life.
On the net you shall be able to find a new website which shall look at the way how we can look and interpret the Bible. There are numerous teachings in the Bible, but it can be good to now and then just to look at some basic elements which are not so hidden in that book that it would be to difficult to find.

In any case are there 5 teachings in the Bible which stand out and upon which all the others are based. Each of these are intimately connected, and none stands fully alone or independent. Other important teachings such as Law, sin, righteousness, faith, grace and salvation are all connected to these central themes and in some measure they are built upon them. These core teachings stand therefore in some measure as a foundation, and upon them and around them can be built a fuller understanding of the ways of God.

At the new website you may find core concepts for your investigation.

  1. God’s revealed purpose with both mankind and with the earth: God's Plan
  2. The revealed Creator of heaven and earth: the Elohim Allah God: Jehovah
  3. God His Revelation – God has spoken and revealed Himself and His ways. This is in His Word, in the book we commonly call the Bible.
  4. Human being, animals and plants, the elements in the universe.
  5. Jesus Christ – God’s son, whom God raised up to be a saviour. He is the completion of God’s purpose, the very image of the invisible God.  The Nazarene man whom was called Jeshua, but of whom people changed his name in Jesus 'Hail Zeus' and made him a god of a threesome.
  6. Self-Awareness – and the Choices this Awareness Brings?
 Most of us don’t really seek for answers but are somewhat satisfied by the consensus of opinions advanced by the experts and thought leaders we follow, whether consciously or subconsciously. The added complexity to the question of existence is the self-evident fact that total objectivity is rarely possible, since every one of us has prejudices that colour our reasoning and conclusions. This often works in ways that we are not even aware of. This is a peculiar quirk of the human condition. Our ability to be totally objective is often challenged by our education, culture, peer group or simply our preferred group’s prejudices. Most of us have an innate bias or need to conform to the consensus position of the particular group that we most closely identify with. This causes most people to rely upon the conclusions of those they respect and identify with, and who are often experts at articulating their positions. We rationalise, that if they cannot get it right and tell us the answers, who really can? 
Many may be looking for a long time in their life for true knowledge and wisdom. Do you have any idea where you or others can find it?
Where is the source of true meaning? Is it found in the world; in its philosophy, science, education, religions, or worldly wisdom?

While all of these fields are capable of helping us in our day to day struggles, they are not able to give us an answer to the larger question of purpose. They certainly may be treasured, but they are not that which really counts, which is more valuable than the sum total of all else. The Bible informs us many times that this treasure can only come from above, i.e. from God.  
 


Find more about it in:

  1. Chapter 1 - General Introduction to the Blog Basic Bible Teaching: The Core Teachings of the Bible.
  2. 1.The Core Teachings of the Bible 1.      TheCore Teachings of the Bible
  3. The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - Self-Awareness – and the Choices this Awareness Brings?
  4. The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
  5. The Core Teachings of the Bible Chapter 2 - The Common Human Experience: 1.      The Common Human Experience
  6. Is There a Greater Purpose to Life?
  7. Yes – Purpose and Wisdom can be found.

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Friday 14 October 2011

Set free from any form of mental torment or self-condemnation

James Mason
The words, “For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law” (Gal 3:21) should give every brother and sister in Christ tremendous comfort and set them free from any form of mental torment or self-condemnation since these words clearly show that not only Paul but God Himself knows not one of us will ever attain to the perfect standard of the law no matter how much we might desire to or how hard we try.

Both God and Christ know that any attempt we make to attain to
righteousness of holiness to make us worthy of eternal life by our own human self-effort is doomed to fail before we even start, thus the glory, the beauty, the wonder and splendour of God’s grace in Christ.
Helen Bliss We should NOT be trying to follow the Law, We should be following Jesus our savior, this is the way of salvation that leads to life. That is what his example is all about.

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2013 update:
 

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Monday 19 September 2011

Some Restored Name Versions

While the HalleluYah Scriptures is based on the 1993 version of Dr. Chris Kostner "The Scriptures", the IRS or Institute for Scripture Research in 2009 updated their 1998 version of the same basic work.They tried to have some Improvements to the text - seeking a yet closer equivalent to the literal meaning of the original language. Hebrew names of Book Titles they now placed on right hand pages with corresponding traditional English names on the left hand pages - making it easier for you to find the place, and easier to learn the Hebrew titles. (Hebrew names are also used where possible for annual festival days, as well as being used, minimally, for ambiguous words).
The books in the Tanakh are arranged according to the original order of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings.Words and names, as far as possible, have been corrected in order to eliminate any names of idolatrous origin.

The Hebraic Roots Version Scriptures HRV => The HRV Scriptures formerly known as the Hebraic Roots Version Complete Messianic Study Bible is published by the Institute for Scripture Research.

The new Messianic Bible

"The Ketuvim Netzarim" ("Writings of the Nazarenes") => a Messianic Sacred Name Edition  translated from the original Aramaic and Hebrew.

The Word of Yahweh <= The basic text of the Word of Yahweh is based upon standard English language versions of the scriptures, which in turn are built upon the oldest available Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. This version has retained much of the old English grammatical structure used by many English translations.
The personal name of the Heavenly Father, Yahweh, was inspired into the Hebrew and Aramaic texts of the Old Testament nearly 7000 times. This includes 134 instances where the Masoretic scribes admittedly changed Yahweh to the more common Hebrew adonai. In all instances where Lord, or God was substituted for the Sacred Name in the English text they have properly inserted Yahweh. In addition to the many times the Father’s name is rendered as Lord or God, there are many more instances where these terms were used as translations of the Hebrew words elohim and adonai. Because there is no accurate translation of elohim they have transliterated that title into the English. As for adonai, sovereign or master serves as an adequate translation in most cases.

The Scriptures is by some presented as an exciting new literal translation of the Bible in English. This translation differs significantly from most common English translations in that it has restored the original book order of the Tanakh (Old Testament) and arranged them according to the original order of the Hebrew Scriptures, the Torah, the Prophets and the Writings.
The traditional rendering of the word "Law" has been restored with "Torah" throughout the translation, retaining the richness and full meaning of this word in the Hebrew language.
Words and names, as far as possible, have been corrected in order to eliminate any names of idolatrous origin.
The Names of all the books in the Tanakh and the Messianic Scriptures are now restored to the original Hebrew names, including the books of the Torah: Bereshith (Genesis), Shemoth (Exodus), Wayiqra (Leviticus); the books of the Nevi'im: Yeshayahu (Isaiah), Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah), Zakaryah (Zachariah); the books of the Kethuvim: Tehillim (Psalms), and Mishle (Proverbs); and last but not least the books of the Messianic Scriptures: Mattithyahu (Matthew), Yohannan (John), Kepha (Peter), and many more.
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In the article I go deeper in on the difficulties of using the Hebrew signs and wonder how far we do have to go in a Bible translation to stay true to the original.

Do you think we have to use all the Hebrew names everywhere for all the persons and book-names? Do we also have to go so far to take out all the heathen or describing words when there is the one Hebrew word? To use Ruah for Spirit looks all right but Shabbatoth for weeks?


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2016 linkupdate 

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Were allowed to willfully break the Law of Moses

Stephen Schwer has a very good question, which we are also been asked often.
Where in the Bible were people allowed to willfully break the Law of Moses to suit a higher purpose?
For example, Joseph in Matt 1:19 is 'just' for not obeying Deut 2: 23 and Num 5: 12-22. David was allowed to eat from table of shewbread in 1 Sam 21: 4-6. The disciples picked and ate grain on the Sabbath in Luke 6: 1 etc. Others?

Tim Brumby ‎2Kgs5:18-19 Naaman (a Syrian - so not sure if this is consistent with other examples you might have) and the temple of Rimmon
Where in the Bible were people allowed to knowingly and willfully break the Law of Moses to suit a higher purpose? For example, Joseph in Matt 1:19 is 'just' for not obeying Deut 2: 23 and Num 5: 12-22. David was allowed to eat from table of shewbread in 1 Sam 21: 4-6. The disciples picked and ate grain on the Sabbath in Luke 6: 1 and were defended by Jesus. Any other examples please?
Phil Poggo There were the 7 daughters who challenged Moses that they would not get an inheritence - God actually chaged the law to accomodate them!Madeleine Schwer Maybe 2 other examples are when Jesus touched lepers & dead bodies, and "cursed was he that hung on a tree" Gal.3 v 13 & Deut.21 v 22-23 . xo:)Mike Szabo I don't know if this qualifies, but Moabites were not allowed into the household of faith until the 10th generation and Ruth was taken in immediately based on her faith.Phil Poggo Jesus 'made out' that he was going to walk further on the road to Emmaus - did the means justify the end?

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2014 January update:

 
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Monday 24 May 2010

God loving people justified


“Hear, O, Israel. Jehovah our God [is] one Jehovah. And you shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. And you shall carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” (De 6:4-8 MKJV)

 “If you fulfill the royal Law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well. But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin and are convicted by the Law as transgressors. For whoever shall keep the whole Law and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.” (Jas 2:8-10 MKJV)

 “You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment. You shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; [but] you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.” (Le 19:15 MKJV)

 “For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Ga 5:14 MKJV)

 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the Law of Christ.” (Ga 6:2 MKJV)

 “Master, which [is] the great commandment in the Law? Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mt 22:36-40 MKJV)

 “And coming up one of the scribes heard them reasoning, knowing that He had answered them well, he asked Him, Which is [the] first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments [is], "Hear, O Israel, [the] Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love [the] Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This [is] the first commandment. And [the] second [is] like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mr 12:28-31 MKJV)

 “Therefore be it known to you, men, brothers, that through this One the forgiveness of sins is announced to you. And by Him all who believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the Law of Moses.” (Ac 13:38-39 MKJV)

 “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Ro 7:14 MKJV)

 “[Is it] not to break your bread to the hungry, and that you should bring home the wandering poor? When will you see the naked and cover him; and you will not hide yourself from your own flesh?” (Isa 58:7 MKJV)

 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,” (1Co 6:19 MKJV)

 “This [is] My rest forever; here I will dwell; for I have desired it.” (Ps 132:14 MKJV)


Dutch speaking readers can read the article and reactions on justification: Zo maar gerechtvaardigd?
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2013 update:
 
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Friday 27 November 2009

The Law of Christ: Law of Love

The Exhortation to the Apostles
The Exhortation to the Apostles (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"... we find that the law of love is the basis of all the instruction given by Christ and his Apostles. They often mentioned details which would not have occurred to us, but the details are all strictly related to the fundamental principle presented in the law through Moses and stated by Christ to be the foundation of his teaching: the whole-hearted love of God, and the self-sacrificing love of man.

The Lord Jesus gave a new impetus and even a new significance to the old command. Some disciples have been puzzled by his saying: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another" (John 13:34). In view of the fact that this law was so old and Christ had emphasized its fundamental character, why did he call it new? It is easy to find the answer to this question, and when found it becomes perhaps the most moving and searching of all thoughts for disciples.

The Mosaic law commanded that a man should love the Lord his God with all the heart, soul and strength, and that he should love his neighbour as himself; but these were not, and could not be, the laws by which a man could be judged before any merely human tribunal. The feelings and thoughts of a man's mind cannot be assessed correctly by a human judge. The law courts of mortal men can only judge in a negative manner. That was inevitably true in the old dispensation, and so a man who in no way injured his neighbours was legally correct in his social behaviour, even though wrong feelings were in his heart and wrong thoughts in his mind. Human judges were guided by the sight of their eyes and the hearing of their ears. Christ is under no such limitations. Even in the days of his flesh he knew what was in man, and needed not that any should tell him. When he comes as the ruler of mankind, he will not judge after the sight of his eyes or the hearing of his ears. With an all-penetrating knowledge, he will look into the heart of a man, and judge him by what he really is, and not what he appears to be. For us to be acceptable disciples this law of love must be in our hearts. There must be not merely an outward show of piety, but the reality of love for God, not merely a formal show of solicitude for a neighbour's welfare, or conventional acts of charity, but a real love of man. The Lord will look into our inmost being, and require that the reality of love shall be there."

- Islip Collyer
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The Law of Love
What it Means to be a Christian

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2013 update:

 
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