Scripture in Context

[mailmandan]

I like that. Lots of these scriptures are speaking to not only those who have been born again but to those who have not and think they are.
Jesus gave us a general idea of this in his Parable of the Sower. The folks who have heard the WORD, and got excited for only a short time and fell away, really thought they believed. But the seed was planted in shallow soil. Yet they briefly identified with those who have been transformed.
This is why these verses have this conditional message, because it is going out to those whose roots are not deep. That is another reason why James pleads with Christians that "faith without works is dead", which is also another conditional type message made to those who may be self deceived. James puts them to the test. "Are you a true Christian, let's see your works/ fruit". The true Christian will have fruit.
The Bible challenges our thinking and beliefs. God tests us and threatens us with judgment, chastising those He loves but not unto death, as a loving parent would, to keep us in line.
These apparent conditional messages are good for us. We need to examine oursleves, our we really on board ... is our faith secure? Was our seed planted in fertile soil?

Amen! Even though this shallow ground hearer is said to have "believed," yet he is never said to have been "saved." How do we know that the shallow ground hearer was never actually "saved"? First, his heart condition is contrasted with that of the "good ground" hearer, who's heart was "good" and "honest." Thus, his heart was not "good," being like the soil to which it corresponds, being "shallow" or "rocky," lacking sufficient depth. Such soil represents a sinner not properly prepared in heart.

People who "believe" and "rejoice" at the preaching of the gospel without a prepared heart, a good and honest heart, and without having "root" in themselves, do not experience real salvation. Unlike saving faith, temporary shallow belief is not rooted in a regenerate heart. How can no depth of earth, no root, no moisture, no fruit, represent saving faith? It doesn't.

IN CONTRAST TO - Mark 4:8 - But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred. Luke 8:15 says, But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. As we can see the rocky soil to represents a person not properly prepared in heart, so the seed planted ends up with a lack of "root" (lack of being firmly planted or established) and good soil represents a person properly prepared in heart who having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keeps it and bears fruit with patience.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. KJV

"falling away" means "defection of truth"

Glad you pointed that out, it's like an epiphany to me, it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is the truth, and the truth when we receive it, is reality.
The world has been influenced and changed by Jesus. His love has spread to the far corners of the earth, and people live and share in His truth, His principles of how to live -- even if they don't believe that He
is their Savior. The goodness is experienced as well as evil. Part of our journey in life as humans is to realize what good and evil is, so we can know God and love one another.
What we see today is lawlessness, a defection from truth in the broad spectrum of civilization. We see people disconnected from reality, as if living in an alternate reality. They have defected from reality, fallen away.

Isaiah also warned us of these times.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

These people have fallen away from reality, from truth - they have lost it. We are now seeing this throughout the world, it's here.

 

[amigo de christo]

"falling away" means "defection of truth"

Glad you pointed that out, it's like an epiphany to me, it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is the truth, and the truth when we receive it, is reality.
The world has been influenced and changed by Jesus. His love has spread to the far corners of the earth, and people live and share in His truth, His principles of how to live -- even if they don't believe that He
is their Savior. The goodness is experienced as well as evil. Part of our journey in life as humans is to realize what good and evil is, so we can know God and love one another.
What we see today is lawlessness, a defection from truth in the broad spectrum of civilization. We see people disconnected from reality, as if living in an alternate reality. They have defected from reality, fallen away.

Isaiah also warned us of these times.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

These people have fallen away from reality, from truth - they have lost it. We are now seeing this throughout the world, it's here.

Much good , many prayers , muchgiving of alms to the poor did a man named cornelious once do in a land anda time
long , long ago . SO why did i bring this up . CAUSE if even cornelious had to hear the gospel and believe to be saved
WELL the false religoins nor any other gonna get a pass .
We better watch out . I see another love getting spread throughout christendom and the world and its false religions .
This love cometh not of GOD but is wordly and shall save none .
It brings the universal lie with it . The lie of anti christ . WHO is anti christ
but he who denies JESUS is the CHRIST . so any lovey do which says its not necessary for them to believe JESUS is the CHRIST
YOU GOT IT , cometh of ANTI CHRIST . The devil worketh hard through many to bring this world as one unto the beast .
My advice . WE BESS be preaching the upmost dire need to BELEIVE ON JESUS CHRIST
and to remind the BELIEVERS to do good . But to preach a love that even begins to take off from the dire need
to BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST , its the ol anti up to no good to decieve the church . LETS NOT HEED that voice .

 

[amigo de christo]

 

[amigo de christo]

"falling away" means "defection of truth"

Glad you pointed that out, it's like an epiphany to me, it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is the truth, and the truth when we receive it, is reality.
The world has been influenced and changed by Jesus. His love has spread to the far corners of the earth, and people live and share in His truth, His principles of how to live -- even if they don't believe that He
is their Savior. The goodness is experienced as well as evil. Part of our journey in life as humans is to realize what good and evil is, so we can know God and love one another.
What we see today is lawlessness, a defection from truth in the broad spectrum of civilization. We see people disconnected from reality, as if living in an alternate reality. They have defected from reality, fallen away.

Isaiah also warned us of these times.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

These people have fallen away from reality, from truth - they have lost it. We are now seeing this throughout the world, it's here.

Yeah i would for sure and for certain say we see a GREAT and MASSIVE falling away .
For when the devil can convince christendom itself to preach another love
that omits the dire necessity to believe on JESUS CHRIST , YOU GOTTA KNOW THAT IS A MASSIVE falling away occuring .
When even the one true gospel of JESUS CHRIST has been uprooted and another all inclusive social one put in its place .
YOU GOTTA KNOW that is a mega fallingaway . YET many think and see it as love and the love of GOD
on this great big sin accepting many path highway of lovey do to GOD . THAT TRAIN ENDS IN PERDITION .
yet many see this as love and the love of GOD . oh its love alll right , but wordly love and it cometh of he who desires
to be AS GOD . aka the DEVIL . yeah i say we got us very strong delusion to believe a lie upon this world .
Upon those who rejected the TRUE GOSPEL , the love of the truth whereby they might be saved
and had pleasure in unrighteousness . OH YEAH its on the move and as i wrote above , MOST THINK ITS THE LOVE of GOD .
OH , but it aint at all .

 

[amigo de christo]

"falling away" means "defection of truth"

Glad you pointed that out, it's like an epiphany to me, it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is the truth, and the truth when we receive it, is reality.
The world has been influenced and changed by Jesus. His love has spread to the far corners of the earth, and people live and share in His truth, His principles of how to live -- even if they don't believe that He
is their Savior. The goodness is experienced as well as evil. Part of our journey in life as humans is to realize what good and evil is, so we can know God and love one another.
What we see today is lawlessness, a defection from truth in the broad spectrum of civilization. We see people disconnected from reality, as if living in an alternate reality. They have defected from reality, fallen away.

Isaiah also warned us of these times.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

These people have fallen away from reality, from truth - they have lost it. We are now seeing this throughout the world, it's here.

Let us remember this the next time we see churches calling certain sins GOOD and those who would dare to correct such sins EVIL .
WHEN THE CHURCH embraces everyones religoin as fine and then calls those who say NO , they must repent and believe on JESUS CHRIST
as evil , as judgers . THEN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND we got us a calling evil good and good evil occuring .
WHEN a man brings the very words of God in that bible into the churches
and those who sang love the loudest as they embrace certain sins and many paths , HOLLER JUDGERS , HATE SPEECH , HATE SPEECH
you dont love . THEN KNOW and understand , OH They do love all right , But its the worlds ways of men they love.
AND do notice what they now hate . GODS OWN WORDS . OOPS that means they hate HE WHO INSPIRED that truth .
WE DO got big time problems . and as i wrote earlier , MOST embrace this lovey do unity common ground junk
BUT LOOK where it led them . OH sure they are the most tolerant the most accepting and appear to be so loving .
ONLY WAIT till biblical truth , reminders which expose their sins and the sins of their beloved rainbow and etc
AND believe me , ALL of a sudden you dont seem to experience love or tolerance at all from them .
Just a friendly reminder to as where this finding common ground all inclusive poop doctrine has LED THEM TOO .

 

[MatthewG]

I know personally, when I was eleven and went to church, my soil must have been rocky. It meant nothing. It went in one ear and out the other and did not stick. I wasn't ready until I was 35 years old. So yes the gospel can be scattered like seed your way many times in your life and not take root until God has prepared your heart to receive it.

Good stuff.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

Let us remember this the next time we see churches calling certain sins GOOD and those who would dare to correct such sins EVIL .
WHEN THE CHURCH embraces everyones religoin as fine and then calls those who say NO , they must repent and believe on JESUS CHRIST
as evil , as judgers . THEN KNOW AND UNDERSTAND we got us a calling evil good and good evil occuring .
WHEN a man brings the very words of God in that bible into the churches
and those who sang love the loudest as they embrace certain sins and many paths , HOLLER JUDGERS , HATE SPEECH , HATE SPEECH
you dont love . THEN KNOW and understand , OH They do love all right , But its the worlds ways of men they love.
AND do notice what they now hate . GODS OWN WORDS . OOPS that means they hate HE WHO INSPIRED that truth .
WE DO got big time problems . and as i wrote earlier , MOST embrace this lovey do unity common ground junk
BUT LOOK where it led them . OH sure they are the most tolerant the most accepting and appear to be so loving .
ONLY WAIT till biblical truth , reminders which expose their sins and the sins of their beloved rainbow and etc
AND believe me , ALL of a sudden you dont seem to experience love or tolerance at all from them .
Just a friendly reminder to as where this finding common ground all inclusive poop doctrine has LED THEM TOO .

All civilization has become aware of good and evil, as this knowledge/ reality was released in the Garden, so the two will soon be separated by Christ when He returns.
It is time for all to chose from the Tree of Life or forfeit their souls.

 

[Augustin56]

2 Peter 1:19-21 KJV
19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:19-21 LITV
19) and we have the more established prophetic Word, in which you do well to take heed, as to a lamp shining in a murky place, until day dawns and the Light-bearing One rises in your hearts;
20) knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture did not come into being of its own interpretation;
21) for prophecy was not at any time borne by the will of man, but being borne along by the Holy Spirit, holy men of God spoke.

2 Peter 1:19-21 YLT
19) And we have more firm the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise—in your hearts;
20) this first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition,
21) for not by will of man did ever prophecy come, but by the Holy Spirit borne on holy men of God spake.

This is a passage concerning the origin of Biblical prophecy, as is shown in the grammar of vs. 20, and the simple statement of vs. 21.

"come into being" is the thought here, the origin, not by private explanation (that is, the prophet's own ideas), not by the choice of a man, the the Holy Spirit carried the holy men who spoke His Word.

Much love!

Keep in mind that the word "prophecy" in this sense doesn't mean predicting the future. Prophets of the Old Testament were those who spoke for God to give His message.

It's important, also, to remember that translations of the Bible are not guaranteed to be completely accurate. Due to the problems with translating between languages, there are some things, for example, in the ancient Greek, that do no translatte well into English, so the best that can be done is an approximation. Add to that the problem that we usually make the mistake of reading the faulty English translation through the lens of our modern culture vs the lens of the culture of the times in which it was written.

 

[Peterlag]

Over the years I've been interested in reviewing anyone's list of Scriptures which they give to show that "salvation can be lost". What that idea really means is that while Jesus begins your salvation, you must complete it in some way.

I never stop learning, and this is such a great way to review and study Scripture. I've seldom found that those who post such lists actually know the meanings of the passages in context. I've always found that putting the verse back into context tells us what we need to know.

So here is a recent list posted to show we can become "unsaved" after being "saved". I'm putting these words in quotes, because the Bible doesn't really talk that way. It talks of being born again, and it talks of being "in Christ".

With no further ado . . .

As I have time, I plan to take each of these, put it into it's context, and show the actual meaning.

Much love!

My thoughts on the first verse you listed...

“but I treat my body harshly and make it my slave.” The Greek word hupopiazō ὑπωπιάζω), like almost every word, has several meanings. BDAG’s Lexicona lists three primary meanings: 1) To blacken an eye; give a black eye, strike in the face. 2) To bring someone to submission by constant annoyance, wear down. A more appropriate rendering for a figurative sense would be “browbeat.” “Blacken my face” means to slander, besmirch. 3) To put under strict discipline, punish, treat roughly, torment (1 Corinthians 9:27) of the apostle’s self-imposed discipline. But the expression is obviously taken from the language of prize-fighting in 1 Corinthians 9:26). Of these three, number 3 is the most preferable given the context of 1 Corinthians 9:27 and what we have to do to control our bodies. “disqualified.” An adjective in Greek, thus we added the object in italics: “for the prize.”

 

[Peterlag]

1 Corinthians 9:16 - For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.

*Notice that verse 24 says, "Do you not know that those who run in a race ALL run, but ONLY ONE receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." In an Olympic race, all runners run but only one receives the gold medal.

So what happens to the runners that receive the silver medal or bronze medal or finish the race with no medal? Are they disqualified from the Olympics or from the prize, receiving the gold medal? In context, Paul is talking about being disqualified for the prize and a prize is something that you work for and earn where a gift is something that you freely accept without merit.

Prize (brabeion) - the prize awarded to a victor, the reward (recognition) that follows triumph. That doesn't sound like a free gift (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8). 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 mentions - If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, (of reward) though he himself will be saved.

Well, Good Lord... we agree on something. Good Post.

 

[amigo de christo]

All civilization has become aware of good and evil, as this knowledge/ reality was released in the Garden, so the two will soon be separated by Christ when He returns.
It is time for all to chose from the Tree of Life or forfeit their souls.

There be only one way , one right to eat of that tree of life . And budda cannot lead them to it
muhammed cannot lead them to it
the mind of man and all his works cannot lead him to it , nor give him RIGHT TO that TREE .
BUT I DO KNOW WHO CAN . and it is about TIME and HIGH TIME the churches got back to preaching THAT NAME
and doing all to persaude men TO BELIEVE ON THAT NAME . JESUS THE CHRIST OF GOD . THE ONLY CHRIST OF GOD .
I shun the all inclusive harlot led lie to hades . Though folks see me as a hater
for the JESUS i preach AINT NO MINSTIR O SIN EITHER . and the gospel i preach SAYS YE MUST ACTUALLY BELIEVE IN HIM .
SO BE IT . the cost will be the cost . But i aint in the business of trying to feed folks false hope of a false love
WE FEED THEM THE TRUTH , or prepare to be held accounatble for their blood .
I BET most folks dont realize that latter part . But held accountable for the blood of all we allowed to believe a lie
we will be . SO lets not be as the fake love dead end hope false unity common ground poo folks are .
DONT LET A muslim die in his sin by offering him false that we all serve the same GOD
DONT let a jew do so , dont let anyone do so . PREACH JESUS , but never false hope .

 

[amigo de christo]

All civilization has become aware of good and evil, as this knowledge/ reality was released in the Garden, so the two will soon be separated by Christ when He returns.
It is time for all to chose from the Tree of Life or forfeit their souls.

Oh the Sheep will be on HIS right hand and the unbelieving goats on HIS left . NO man , woman wants to be a goat on that day
is all i can say . TIME to PREACH the absolute DIRE NECESSITY TO HAVE BELIEVED ON JESUS CHRIST .
Knowing the TERROR of GOD we PERSAUDE MEN TO BELIEVE ON JESUS CHRIST . SO as they are spared the wrath of GOD .
Time for grade a lambs chow . i am wore out with this Grace C wambs chow so many churches now feed the people with .
THE STINK of it alone makes me gag and that by grace . FOR YOU SEE were it not for the Grace of GOD
i would be just as lost and loving that doo doo dung crap stink bait that most churches now feed on .
Sorry for all the words , BUT I HATE FALSE DOCTRINE BIG TIME . but bible doctrine now that is pure and lovely
and the smell of it is as a life giving fragrance .

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

SO lets not be as the fake love dead end hope false unity common ground poo folks are .

Never really met any one of those. Sounds like the Hamas?

i would be just as lost and loving that doo doo dung crap stink bait that most churches now feed on

Never really experienced a Christian church that I would describe that way. I've been to legalistic churches that don't grow much and make you feel like you are not worthy to take communion ... where the Pastor is pointing his holy fingers at the sinful congregation. Didn't return to that one. Do you attend a church like that?

 

[amigo de christo]

Never really met any one of those. Sounds like the Hamas?

Never really experienced a Christian church that I would describe that way. I've been to legalistic churches that don't grow much and make you feel like you are not worthy to take communion ... where the Pastor is pointing his holy fingers at the sinful congregation. Didn't return to that one. Do you attend a church like that?

Here is a litmus test for any church .
Truth is its a challenge for all . I challenge all to walk into the most inclusive church that hollers non stop love love love
Here is how you gonna know what spirit it is truly of .
BRING IN BIBLICAL SCRIPTURES that expose sins , SPECIALLY certain PC sins , THEN WATCH and behold
how they treat GODS own holy words and yourself as well for even daring to read them in the church .
Folks aint figured it out yet . THUS i am gonna let us in on a lil secrete , WHICH really aint no secrete .
IF OUR LOVE is rejecting biblical truth in favor of what it thinks is love , ITS DOOMED . PEROID .
See this inclusive unity common ground love junk has led
to a dire hatred of GOD and great love of evil . ONLY they aint figured it out yet .
SO , the litmus test is , HOW about we learn the biblical pattern for ALL things , APPLY the biblcal pattern in all things .
Cause that I DO KNOW keeps a church safe and thriving . As for this monkey no see , monkey no correct SIN stuff
THAT IS HOW THE CHURCHES GOT SO LEAVENED up . Just a friendly reminder . ITS not a sin for leaders to be grave
but it is sin for them to be gravy cool trying to act as though they everyones best friend and sure seems to overlook
the sins within the church . That be a recipe for total disaster .
So allow me some parting words. IF your church was or is influenced by the purpose driven life , ITS IN TROUBLE
if it has set its model after the seeker friendly , ITS IN TROUBLE
if its doing a lot of talking about bridge builders , finding common ground , ITS IN DIRE TROUBLE .
ITS BEEN INFECTED . Get it back into the BIBLE .

 

[Truthnightmare]

"falling away" means "defection of truth"

Glad you pointed that out, it's like an epiphany to me, it's a sign of the times.
Jesus is the truth, and the truth when we receive it, is reality.
The world has been influenced and changed by Jesus. His love has spread to the far corners of the earth, and people live and share in His truth, His principles of how to live -- even if they don't believe that He
is their Savior. The goodness is experienced as well as evil. Part of our journey in life as humans is to realize what good and evil is, so we can know God and love one another.
What we see today is lawlessness, a defection from truth in the broad spectrum of civilization. We see people disconnected from reality, as if living in an alternate reality. They have defected from reality, fallen away.

Isaiah also warned us of these times.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

These people have fallen away from reality, from truth - they have lost it. We are now seeing this throughout the world, it's here.

Indeed, it’s a sad state of affairs because they are not falling away by accident, people want to fall away, they do not want the truth.

Romans 1
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 

[Ronald David Bruno]

IF OUR LOVE is rejecting biblical truth ...

I absolutely agree in Biblical truth - all of it. Snd btw, our whole concept of agape comes only with the TRUTH, the WAY AND THE LIFE.
I was taught in a wonderful Bible based church, filled with love and truth. My Pastor was brilliant, highly educated and spirit filled. A well balanced church covers both good and evil. The motto of our church was WIN, EQUIP AND SEND. The Christian really needs to know what sin is, look in the mirror, be honest with himself and fess up to God and others in humility. We should know why we needed forgiveness. We need to know the consequences of sin and the healing power of God. And we are thankful in all good things everyday and forever.
The other facet of believing in Christ is how His compassion, mercy and forgiveness has changed us. When we begin to absorb that to a level at which we can reflect it towards others, well then we are getting it.
We have to spread the gospel with an attitude of compassion, mercy, and forgiveness -- not with judgment and hostility. Leave the judgments up to God. And I say that because I have been judgmental at times, critical of others; but it is not the way to win friends and influence people.

 

[marks]

Keep in mind that the word "prophecy" in this sense doesn't mean predicting the future. Prophets of the Old Testament were those who spoke for God to give His message.

It's important, also, to remember that translations of the Bible are not guaranteed to be completely accurate. Due to the problems with translating between languages, there are some things, for example, in the ancient Greek, that do no translatte well into English, so the best that can be done is an approximation. Add to that the problem that we usually make the mistake of reading the faulty English translation through the lens of our modern culture vs the lens of the culture of the times in which it was written.

All these things can affect our readings, yes. And some people use this fact as a means to misdirect from the real discussion.

I never hesitate to compare translations, and - at least the NT - to look at the original language. In this case the questions over "private interpretation" are answered right there within the context in using genea, indicating that we're talking about the prophecy's origin.

2 Peter 1:16-21
(16) For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
(17) For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
(18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
(19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
(20) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
(21) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Peter is giving his bona fides, that he saw Jesus transfigured, and he heard God speak from the cloud. And he gives a greater attestation to the prophetic word.

I agree, the prophets did much more than foretell the future, but I think in this instance, the "more sure word of prophecy" is what serves to show that Jesus is the Christ. That Peter saw, and heard, but greater than that, the prophets foretold His coming, and Jesus fulfilled their prophecies. At least that's what I think.

Much love!

 

[marks]

My thoughts on the first verse you listed...

“but I treat my body harshly and make it my slave.” The Greek word hupopiazō ὑπωπιάζω), like almost every word, has several meanings. BDAG’s Lexicona lists three primary meanings: 1) To blacken an eye; give a black eye, strike in the face. 2) To bring someone to submission by constant annoyance, wear down. A more appropriate rendering for a figurative sense would be “browbeat.” “Blacken my face” means to slander, besmirch. 3) To put under strict discipline, punish, treat roughly, torment (1 Corinthians 9:27) of the apostle’s self-imposed discipline. But the expression is obviously taken from the language of prize-fighting in 1 Corinthians 9:26). Of these three, number 3 is the most preferable given the context of 1 Corinthians 9:27 and what we have to do to control our bodies. “disqualified.” An adjective in Greek, thus we added the object in italics: “for the prize.”

Well said, I agree!

Much love!

 

[marks]

Does that not prove my point?
What is the Church?
The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is the head of that body.

So what you are saying is that the body will be removed and if the body is removed then the head of the body would also be removed.

The head is your salvation.

The head of the believer is Christ, and that remains true regardless of whom your pastor is. In this instance, the pastor had lost his first love, and that if he didn't repent, and do what he did at the beginning, Jesus would remove his candlestick from his place, that is, remove his church.

I don't imaging that Jesus removing the church from the pastor means He's abandoning the church, He'd doing it to care for the church. "Church" in this case referring to the church of Ephesus, his congregation. As I see it.

Much love!