Raised in a new body, is those who occupy the face of the earth, not suffering the lake of fire.
I have difficulty believing that souls will be damned to the Lake of Fire
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Raised in a new body, is those who occupy the face of the earth, not suffering the lake of fire.
Johann
Well-Known Member
Johann
Well-Known Member
1Co 15:35 But someone will say, How can the dead be raised? With what [kind of] body will they come forth?
1Co 15:36 You foolish man! Every time you plant seed, you sow something that does not come to life [germinating, springing up, and growing] unless it dies first.
1Co 15:37 Nor is the seed you sow then the body which it is going to have [later], but it is a naked kernel, perhaps of wheat or some of the rest of the grains.
1Co 15:38 But God gives to it the body that He plans and sees fit, and to each kind of seed a body of its own. [Gen_1:11]
1Co 15:39 For all flesh is not the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for beasts, another for birds, and another for fish.
1Co 15:40 There are heavenly bodies (sun, moon, and stars) and there are earthly bodies (men, animals, and plants), but the beauty and glory of the heavenly bodies is of one kind, while the beauty and glory of earthly bodies is a different kind.
1Co 15:41 The sun is glorious in one way, the moon is glorious in another way, and the stars are glorious in their own [distinctive] way; for one star differs from and surpasses another in its beauty and brilliance.
1Co 15:42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. [The body] that is sown is perishable and decays, but [the body] that is resurrected is imperishable (immune to decay, immortal). [Dan_12:3]
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonor and humiliation; it is raised in honor and glory. It is sown in infirmity and weakness; it is resurrected in strength and endued with power.
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural (physical) body; it is raised a supernatural (a spiritual) body. [As surely as] there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. [Gen_2:7]
1Co 15:46 But it is not the spiritual life which came first, but the physical and then the spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man [was] from out of earth, made of dust (earthly-minded); the second Man [is] the Lord from out of heaven. [Gen_2:7]
1Co 15:48 Now those who are made of the dust are like him who was first made of the dust (earthly-minded); and as is [the Man] from heaven, so also [are those] who are of heaven (heavenly-minded).
1Co 15:49 And just as we have borne the image [of the man] of dust, so shall we and so let us also bear the image [of the Man] of heaven.
AMP
Topic :
Regarding angels (Dying)
Regarding the Born Again :
Luke 20:
[36] Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Ezek 28:
[15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
[16] By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Man was Created and Made...very good...body’s of dust, with living souls.
Angels were Created and Made...very good...perfect spirits.
All God has created...never becomes Uncreated.
Destroyed simply means “Made” changed, the Form it WAS, appears Different.
* Dead...means...ceases to Have Life “in” the Void of life Thing.
* Dead...Also, Spiritually means...Separated From God, Having life in it or not.
Ezek. 28 is a recap in-particular regarding Lucifer, regarding the grandeur of him being created and purposed with a high status...
( and reviewing the hierarchy of angels, their particular purposes, Power / authority given them...Lucifer by my study...ranked very high )
The recap continues...regarding Lucifer “using” his status position for Evil rather than Good.
The how, is angels, as does manKIND...have FREEWILL.
The Future is revealed in Scriptural text,
Lucifer, Name...Description...Estate has been changed, because of His Freewill Choices....Against God.
Ezek 28 gives a condensed revealing of Satan’s demise.
[17] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
[18] Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
* Who is THEM UPON the Earth that can (behold) SEE Satan ?
Who is them? Human men? No, human men do not see spirits.
Who is them? Other Angels? No
Why not other Angels?
Because other...Holy Angels engage in battle with Satan and his band of demonic angels...above the Earth...not upon the Earth.
When?
A battle between holy and demonic angels occurs Before Christ’s 1,000 year reign.
Can them (humans) upon the earth SEE angels Warring? No.
The defeated demonic angels are cast into hell.
THAT ^ is not Satan’s demise,
THAT is Temporary...1,000 Years.
Then ... does Christ reign, WITH, His Holy Angels and “saints”...(Quickened Born again, having been raised in their new Body’s....)
THEM.....are upon the Earth....and can SEE spirits....
Them......are men with quickened spirits, able to SEE spirits.
After 1,000 yr reign...Satan, demons loosed....again Influence the Nations.
Nations are the mortal men having been living, outside Christ’s Kingdom, repopulating, Believing, Dying, getting along with other Nations....
And...here comes Satan with his cunning anti-trickery....and The mortal nations come against Christ’s Kingdom...all mortals participating Killed.
And who is Them Alive UPON the Earth TO See Satan’s Demise?
Immortals....
And what? Another Angelic War battle? No.
Fire sent down from Heaven.
Rev 20:
[9] And they (They Who? Mortal men) went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
Ezek 28: 18
I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
That is what “saints”, “holy angels” upon the face of the Earth shall SEE....
The Earths surface...burned (purified) ... Shall See ashes....of What?
Dead mortals...everything they have built...and what about demons?
Can they burn? Nothing says they can’t.
Can they DIE? No.
Can their Form be MADE “ash”? It’s God authority and Power, to MAKE His Creations be MADE whatever pleases Him.
[19] All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Be ANY MORE WHAT?
Alive? Doesn’t say they are Dead.
Reeking Havoc ON the Earth? No.
Influencing ANYONE ON the Earth? No.
Any more ON the Earth? No. No more ON the Earth Forever.
Rev 19:20
Cast ALIVE into the Lake of Fire.
Consider the Whole Truth in context and perspective.
Spirits do NOT Die.
Demonic spirits shall forever be separated from God, holy angels and quickened saints.
Adventageous
Active Member
Yes, they do. A 'spirit', in one definition (another is simply breath of life of God), is simply an intelligence, having a mind (rational) and heart (emotion).
Ecc_8:8 There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.
Psa_34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psa_51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Heb_4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Psa_146:4 His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Johann
Well-Known Member
The Bible teaches that humans are made up of both body and spirit. Life begins when the two are united, and life ends when the two are separated.
Death Of The Spirit?
What about the immaterial part of humans? Can this part, known as the spirit, or the soul, die? Does the soul become extinct? The Bible has much to say about this issue.
Testimony Of Scripture
From the first page of the Bible until the last, Scripture consistently teaches that humans have an immaterial part that will last forever. It is not possible for the soul, or spirit, to be destroyed. We will cite just a few examples of the biblical teaching on the subject.
Adam
When judgment was pronounced upon Adam for sinning against the Lord, it was his body that was judged to go back to its original elements.
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return (Genesis 3:19).
The spirit, however, was not judged to return to dust because it was breathed into Adam by the breath of God. The body became dust but the spirit went elsewhere. Never do we find the Bible teaching that the spirit can be annihilated or become extinct.
Made For Eternity
Scripture teaches that we have been made for eternity.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of humans; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
One part of us, our soul, has been made to live forever.
Implies Continual Life
The distinction that the Bible makes between the body and the spirit is taught in such a way as to imply continual life of the spirit after the body dies. The Bible says.
and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Existence Of A Place Of The Dead
The fact that the Scriptures speak of a place where the dead exist shows they have not been utterly annihilated. Isaiah the prophet said.
The grave below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you - all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones - all those who were kings over the nations (Isaiah 14:9).
Enoch And Elijah
Two Old Testament characters, Enoch and Elijah, did not die, but rather went to be with God.
Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24).
Of Elijah it was said.
As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11).
This certainly implies existence beyond the grave. Since they did not die, something must have happened to them and their bodies.
New Testament
Jesus promised eternal life to those who believe in Him.
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25,26).
Clearly this speaks of life after this life. Obviously He was not talking about physical death when He said those who believed in Him would never die.
Abraham, Isaac, And Jacob
In a dialogue with the Sadducees, Jesus spoke of the existence of those who had previously died.
But about the resurrection of the dead - have you not read what God said to you, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living (Matthew 22:31,32).
Though Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had been long since dead when God spoke to Moses, God said to him, "I am the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." He did not say "I was their God." According to Jesus, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were still living, though they had died physically.
Judgment
Jesus also spoke of the judgment of all humanity.
Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come out - those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned (John 5:28,29).
If the dead are going to be judged when the graves are opened, then obviously life does not end with physical death. There is some type of existence beyond the grave.
Soul Cannot Die
The Scripture says the spirit, or soul, cannot be annihilated. Though the body may die, the spirit will live on. Death, therefore is not the end of conscious life. It is the separation of the body and the spirit. The spirit, however, lives on in another realm. The body is only the temporary residence of humans. Jesus said.
Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).
Destroy has the idea of punish, not annihilate. The destruction of the soul means separation from the life of God. Though living, the soul of the unbeliever has no connection whatsoever to God.
Souls Under Altar
The Bible speaks of souls of the dead being under the altar.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained (Revelation 6:9).
They were still existing after their physical death.
Second Death
If death were the end of existence, then why does the Bible speak of the second death of unbelievers?
Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Whoever conquers will not be harmed by the second death (Revelation 2:11).
The idea of a second death for unbelievers is another indication that physical death is not the end of existence.
Transfiguration
At the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah appeared.
Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him (Matthew 17:3).
This gives further testimony to life after death. Moses had been dead for over a thousand years and Elijah had been taken up in a chariot of fire hundreds of years earlier.
Be With Christ
Paul wrote to the Philippians that He wanted to be with Christ.
I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better (Philippians 1:23).
This is another indication of continued existence after death.
Desire To Live Forever
The Bible also says that the great saints of Scripture were looking to a better existence beyond this life. The writer to the Hebrews said.
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Nothing Can Separate
Finally, the Bible says that nothing will separate the believer from the love of God - not even death.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38,39).
Summary
The Bible says that the body of a human will return to dust upon death but the spirit survives. Consequently the spiritual part of us can never die. Life and death are two states of existence, they are not existence and non-existence. This is the consistent teaching in both testaments. Believers in God's promises look forward to the day when they would be live in His presence. Death is not the end of existence.
Can the Spirit, or Soul, Be Destroyed?
The Bible teaches that humans are made up of both body and spirit. Life begins when the two are united, and life ends when the two are separated. Death Of The
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You have a right to differ in the opinions given by the author.
God IS Spirit...
A Human Body is Dust...it’s life Blood.
Blood is not Spiritual.
Again God IS Spirit...natural earthly...believer. Hater, Stupid, doesn’t matter...they all get a soul with Gods BREATH in it....
Again God is Sprit...The soul is Gods...the Life In the Soul is...Gods Breath.
What does that have to do with a “mans” “natural spirit” ?
Nothing!
What does that have to do with Gods Spirit?
Nothing!
In one instance soul is the Topic.
In another instance spirit is the Topic.
Two different things, For Two different purposes.
Spirits are not mortal.
Spirits do not die.
What makes you think they died for good? Humans are attached too much to our physical bodies.
atpollard
Well-Known Member
"What makes me think ..."?
God doesn't lie.
Matthew 25:41-46 [NASB95]
"Then He will also say to those on His left, 'Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me [nothing] to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.' "Then they themselves also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' "Then He will answer them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
In the original greek it uses the word aiōnion which means "for an age". So it's really just a translation error to think that the all-loving, all-forgiving God tortures people forever.
GRACE ambassador
Well-Known Member
So, then your theology is "an age" and then annihilation for the Christ-rejectors, but, not
"an age" and then annihilation for the righteous Christ accepters??? Quite a theology!
Who said anything about annihilation? What is annihilated is the body of sin.
I cor 15 outline it from various translations, it is addressed to believers like us, but includes all peoples as does Matthew 25:41-46 goats and sheep have similar DNA.
Ecclesiastes 8
Easy-to-Read Version
Wisdom and Power
8 No one can understand and explain things the way wise people can. Their wisdom makes them happy. It changes a sad face into a happy one.
2 I say you should always obey the king’s command. Do this because you made a promise to God. 3 Don’t be afraid to give suggestions to the king, and don’t support something that is wrong. But remember, the king gives the commands that please him. 4 He has the authority to give commands, and no one can tell him what to do. 5 People will be safe if they obey his command. But wise people know the right time to do this, and they also know when to do the right thing.
6 There is a right time and a right way to do everything. You must decide what you should do, even when it might cause problems 7 and you are not sure what will happen. No one can tell you what will happen in the future.
8 No one has the power to keep their spirit from leaving or to stop their death. During war, no soldier has the freedom to go wherever he wants. In the same way evil does not allow anyone who does wrong to go free.
9 I saw all this. I thought very hard about the things that happen in this world. I saw that people always struggle for the power to rule others, and this is bad for them.
10 I also saw great and beautiful funerals for evil people. While the people were going home after the funeral services, they said good things about the evil people who had died. This happened even in the same towns where the evil people had done many bad things. This is senseless.
Justice, Rewards, and Punishment
11 Sometimes people are not immediately punished for the bad things they do. Their punishment is slow to come, and that makes other people want to do bad things too.
12 A sinner might do a hundred evil things and still live a long time. But I know that it is still better to obey and respect God. 13 Evil people don’t respect God, so they will not get good things or live long lives. Their lives will not be like the shadows that become longer and longer as the sun goes down.
14 There is something else that happens on earth that does not seem fair. Bad things should happen to bad people, and good things should happen to good people. But sometimes bad things happen to good people, and good things happen to bad people. This is not fair. 15 So I decided it was more important to enjoy life because the best thing people can do in this life[a] is to eat, drink, and enjoy life. At least that will help people enjoy the hard work God gave them to do during their life on earth.
We Cannot Understand All God Does
16 I carefully studied the things people do in this life. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night, and they almost never sleep. 17 I also saw that no one can understand all that God does. People can try and try to understand the things that happen here on earth, but they cannot. There may be wise people who claim to understand the meaning of these things, but they are wrong. No one can understand it all.
Footnotes
Ecclesiastes 8:15 in this life Literally, “under the sun.” Also in verse 16 and 9:3, 9, 11, 13.
Psalm 34
Easy-to-Read Version
[a] A song of David when he pretended to be crazy so that Abimelech would send him away, which he did.
34 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will never stop singing his praises.
2 Humble people, listen and be happy,
while I brag about the Lord.
3 Praise the Lord with me.
Let us honor his name.
4 I went to the Lord for help, and he listened.
He saved me from all that I fear.
5 If you look to him for help,
he will put a smile on your face.
You will have no need to be ashamed.
6 As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the Lord,
and he heard me.
He saved me from all my troubles.
7 The Lord’s angel builds a camp around his followers,
and he protects them.
8 Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is.
Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!
9 The Lord’s holy people should fear and respect him.
Those who respect him will always have what they need.
10 Even strong lions get weak and hungry,
but those who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing.
11 Children, come and listen to me;
I will teach you to respect the Lord.
12 Do you want to enjoy life?
Do you want to have many happy days?
13 Then avoid saying anything hurtful,
and never let a lie come out of your mouth.
14 Stop doing anything evil, and do good.
Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.
15 The Lord watches over those who do what is right,
and he hears their prayers.
16 But the Lord is against those who do evil,
so they are forgotten soon after they die.
17 Pray to the Lord, and he will hear you.
He will save you from all your troubles.
18 The Lord is close to those who have suffered disappointment.
He saves those who are discouraged.
19 Good people might have many problems,
but the Lord will take them all away.
20 He will protect them completely.
Not one of their bones will be broken.
21 But troubles will kill the wicked.
The enemies of those who live right will all be punished.
22 The Lord saves his servants.
All who go to him for protection will escape punishment.
Easy-to-Read Version
[a] A song of David when he pretended to be crazy so that Abimelech would send him away, which he did.
34 I will praise the Lord at all times.
I will never stop singing his praises.
2 Humble people, listen and be happy,
while I brag about the Lord.
3 Praise the Lord with me.
Let us honor his name.
4 I went to the Lord for help, and he listened.
He saved me from all that I fear.
5 If you look to him for help,
he will put a smile on your face.
You will have no need to be ashamed.
6 As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the Lord,
and he heard me.
He saved me from all my troubles.
7 The Lord’s angel builds a camp around his followers,
and he protects them.
8 Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is.
Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!
9 The Lord’s holy people should fear and respect him.
Those who respect him will always have what they need.
10 Even strong lions get weak and hungry,
but those who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing.
11 Children, come and listen to me;
I will teach you to respect the Lord.
12 Do you want to enjoy life?
Do you want to have many happy days?
13 Then avoid saying anything hurtful,
and never let a lie come out of your mouth.
14 Stop doing anything evil, and do good.
Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.
15 The Lord watches over those who do what is right,
and he hears their prayers.
16 But the Lord is against those who do evil,
so they are forgotten soon after they die.
17 Pray to the Lord, and he will hear you.
He will save you from all your troubles.
18 The Lord is close to those who have suffered disappointment.
He saves those who are discouraged.
19 Good people might have many problems,
but the Lord will take them all away.
20 He will protect them completely.
Not one of their bones will be broken.
21 But troubles will kill the wicked.
The enemies of those who live right will all be punished.
22 The Lord saves his servants.
All who go to him for protection will escape punishment.
Psalm 51
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David written when Nathan the prophet came to him after David’s sin with Bathsheba.
51 God, be merciful to me
because of your faithful love.
Because of your great compassion,
erase all the wrongs I have done.
2 Scrub away my guilt.
Wash me clean from my sin.
3 I know I have done wrong.
I remember that sin all the time.
4 I did what you said is wrong.
You are the one I have sinned against.
I say this so that people will know
that I am wrong and you are right.
What you decided is fair.
5 I was born to do wrong,
a sinner before I left my mother’s womb.
6 You want me to be completely loyal,
so put true wisdom deep inside of me.
7 Remove my sin and make me pure.[a]
Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
8 Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
Let the bones you crushed be happy again.
9 Don’t look at my sins.
Erase them all.
10 God, create a pure heart in me,
and make my spirit strong again.
11 Don’t push me away
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Your help made me so happy.
Give me that joy again.
Make my spirit strong and ready to obey you.
13 I will teach the guilty how you want them to live,
and the sinners will come back to you.
14 God, spare me from the punishment of death.
My God, you are the one who saves me!
Let me sing about all the good things you do for me!
15 My Lord, I will open my mouth and sing your praises!
16 You don’t really want sacrifices,
or I would give them to you.
17 The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit.
God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you.[c]
18 God, please be good to Zion.
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you can enjoy the kind of sacrifices you want.[d]
You will receive whole burnt offerings,
and people will again offer bulls on your altar.
Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David written when Nathan the prophet came to him after David’s sin with Bathsheba.
51 God, be merciful to me
because of your faithful love.
Because of your great compassion,
erase all the wrongs I have done.
2 Scrub away my guilt.
Wash me clean from my sin.
3 I know I have done wrong.
I remember that sin all the time.
4 I did what you said is wrong.
You are the one I have sinned against.
I say this so that people will know
that I am wrong and you are right.
What you decided is fair.
5 I was born to do wrong,
a sinner before I left my mother’s womb.
6 You want me to be completely loyal,
so put true wisdom deep inside of me.
7 Remove my sin and make me pure.[a]
Wash me until I am whiter than snow!
8 Let me hear sounds of joy and happiness again.
Let the bones you crushed be happy again.
9 Don’t look at my sins.
Erase them all.
10 God, create a pure heart in me,
and make my spirit strong again.
11 Don’t push me away
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Your help made me so happy.
Give me that joy again.
Make my spirit strong and ready to obey you.
13 I will teach the guilty how you want them to live,
and the sinners will come back to you.
14 God, spare me from the punishment of death.
My God, you are the one who saves me!
Let me sing about all the good things you do for me!
15 My Lord, I will open my mouth and sing your praises!
16 You don’t really want sacrifices,
or I would give them to you.
17 The sacrifice that God wants is a humble spirit.
God, you will not turn away someone who comes with a humble heart and is willing to obey you.[c]
18 God, please be good to Zion.
Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you can enjoy the kind of sacrifices you want.[d]
You will receive whole burnt offerings,
and people will again offer bulls on your altar.
Hebrews 4
Easy-to-Read Version
4 And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise. 2 Yes, the good news about it was told to us just as it was to them. But the message they heard did not help them. They heard it but did not accept it with faith. 3 Only we who believe it are able to enter God’s place of rest. As God said,
“I was angry and made a promise:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world. 4 Yes, somewhere in the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week. He said, “So on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”[a] 5 But in the Scripture above God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”
6 So the opportunity is still there for some to enter and enjoy God’s rest. But those who first heard the good news about it did not enter, because they did not obey. 7 So God planned another special day. It is called “today.” He spoke about that day through David a long time later using the words we quoted before:
“If you hear God’s voice today,
don’t be stubborn.”
8 We know that Joshua did not lead the people into the place of rest that God promised. We know this because God spoke later about another day for rest. 9 This shows that the seventh-day rest for God’s people is still to come. 10 God rested after he finished his work. So everyone who enters God’s place of rest will also have rest from their own work just as God did. 11 So let us try as hard as we can to enter God’s place of rest. We must try hard so that none of us will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey God.
12 God’s word[c] is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. 13 Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived.
Jesus Christ Is Our High Priest
14 We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.
Footnotes
Hebrews 4:4 Quote from Gen. 2:2.
Hebrews 4:9 seventh-day rest Literally, “Sabbath rest,” meaning a sharing in the rest God began after he created the world.
Hebrews 4:12 God’s word God’s teachings and commands.
Easy-to-Read Version
4 And we still have the promise that God gave those people. That promise is that we can enter his place of rest. So we should be very careful that none of you fails to get that promise. 2 Yes, the good news about it was told to us just as it was to them. But the message they heard did not help them. They heard it but did not accept it with faith. 3 Only we who believe it are able to enter God’s place of rest. As God said,
“I was angry and made a promise:
‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”
But God’s work was finished from the time he made the world. 4 Yes, somewhere in the Scriptures he talked about the seventh day of the week. He said, “So on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”[a] 5 But in the Scripture above God said, “They will never enter my place of rest.”
6 So the opportunity is still there for some to enter and enjoy God’s rest. But those who first heard the good news about it did not enter, because they did not obey. 7 So God planned another special day. It is called “today.” He spoke about that day through David a long time later using the words we quoted before:
“If you hear God’s voice today,
don’t be stubborn.”
8 We know that Joshua did not lead the people into the place of rest that God promised. We know this because God spoke later about another day for rest. 9 This shows that the seventh-day rest for God’s people is still to come. 10 God rested after he finished his work. So everyone who enters God’s place of rest will also have rest from their own work just as God did. 11 So let us try as hard as we can to enter God’s place of rest. We must try hard so that none of us will be lost by following the example of those who refused to obey God.
12 God’s word[c] is alive and working. It is sharper than the sharpest sword and cuts all the way into us. It cuts deep to the place where the soul and the spirit are joined. God’s word cuts to the center of our joints and our bones. It judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. 13 Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God. He can clearly see all things. Everything is open before him. And to him we must explain the way we have lived.
Jesus Christ Is Our High Priest
14 We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue to express our faith in him. 15 Jesus, our high priest, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways we are tempted, but he never sinned. 16 With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.
Footnotes
Hebrews 4:4 Quote from Gen. 2:2.
Hebrews 4:9 seventh-day rest Literally, “Sabbath rest,” meaning a sharing in the rest God began after he created the world.
Hebrews 4:12 God’s word God’s teachings and commands.
James 2:26
Easy-to-Read Version
26 A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith—faith that does nothing is dead!
Easy-to-Read Version
26 A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith—faith that does nothing is dead!
Psalm 146
Easy-to-Read Version
146 Praise the Lord!
My soul, praise the Lord!
2 I will praise the Lord all my life.
I will sing praises to him as long as I live.
3 Don’t depend on your leaders for help.
Don’t depend on people, because they cannot save you.
4 People die and are buried.
Then all their plans to help are gone.
5 It is a great blessing for people to have the God of Jacob to help them.
They depend on the Lord their God.
6 He made heaven and earth.
He made the sea and everything in it.
He can be trusted to do what he says.
7 He does what is right for those who have been hurt.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord frees people locked up in prison.
8 The Lord makes the blind see again.
The Lord helps those who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
9 The Lord protects strangers in our country.
He cares for widows and orphans,
but he destroys the wicked.
10 The Lord will rule forever!
Zion, your God will rule forever and ever!
Praise the Lord!
Easy-to-Read Version
146 Praise the Lord!
My soul, praise the Lord!
2 I will praise the Lord all my life.
I will sing praises to him as long as I live.
3 Don’t depend on your leaders for help.
Don’t depend on people, because they cannot save you.
4 People die and are buried.
Then all their plans to help are gone.
5 It is a great blessing for people to have the God of Jacob to help them.
They depend on the Lord their God.
6 He made heaven and earth.
He made the sea and everything in it.
He can be trusted to do what he says.
7 He does what is right for those who have been hurt.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord frees people locked up in prison.
8 The Lord makes the blind see again.
The Lord helps those who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
9 The Lord protects strangers in our country.
He cares for widows and orphans,
but he destroys the wicked.
10 The Lord will rule forever!
Zion, your God will rule forever and ever!
Praise the Lord!
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