Reviving Biblical Christianity (The Way) Part 2

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
Their journey is an example to us to follow, just like the Israelites in the OT.

I believe the 2 covenants have been there from the start, and pictured in the two trees in paradise. As God is eternal, anything He does at a point of time, applies for all time thereafter which is why we find men who were said to be perfect before Christ.
Yes..... God, and His heavenly realm exists outside of time.........the Lamb of God was slain from the foundation of the world....but there is also the aspect of the "fullness of time"........Jesus didn't come until the fullness of time (as God appointed it)....I think it must be the same with Pentecost too. Hard to get my head around these things.

Also agree that the two Trees represent the two covenants (although I'm not sure if it is limited to one interpretation).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hepzibah

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
I am thinking it was the wait for it to be poured out on ALL flesh (per Peter's statement)

Ac 2:17
And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
All flesh meant both Jews and Gentiles..........and it does seem clear even from that verse that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not part of the old covenant.
 

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
All flesh meant both Jews and Gentiles..........and it does seem clear even from that verse that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was not part of the old covenant.
Exactly, that's what they were waiting for. However, it can't be denied that there were people under the old covenant that were filled with the Holy Spirit.
 

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Well, at least now I can see where you are at....I had wondered.
And this is your problem. You think you know where other people are at. Isn't it presumptuous to assume you know something that you really don't? Where is the humility , that you say you agree with, in that? Just let God be the judge and you will stay out of trouble.
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
Exactly, that's what they were waiting for. However, it can't be denied that there were people under the old covenant that were filled with the Holy Spirit.
True, but neither can it be denied that the Holy Spirit wasn't given until after the death and resurrection (and ascension) of Christ. We as believers are not on the same footing as those under the old covenant. The new covenant is "something better" than the old. That's not anyone boasting over the OT saints., God forbid..........it is simply the gospel and who am I to contradict it?
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
And this is your problem. You think you know where other people are at. Isn't is presumptuous to assume you know something that you really don't? Where is the humility , that you say you agree with, in that? Just let God be the judge and you will stay out of trouble.
Are we not to have discernment then? We dont' always discern everything, but in time often more things become clear. And I'm not your judge, just that I understand more clearly what you believe. I haven't seen you talk much, so I didn't know where you were on certain things. Now I understand you better....have a clearer picture.

The gospel offends and always will. If it doesn't, it isn't the gospel. Political correctness is the spirit of the world, not of God. And the bible says beware when all men speak well of you.
 

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
True, but neither can it be denied that the Holy Spirit wasn't given until after the death and resurrection (and ascension) of Christ. We as believers are not on the same footing as those under the old covenant. The new covenant is "something better" than the old. That's not anyone boasting over the OT saints., God forbid..........it is simply the gospel and who am I to contradict it?
Under the old covenant it was only given to certain people and had nothing to do with faith in Christ, as He was not yet revealed.

Jn 7:39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)


This verse is saying that the BELIEVERS in Christ had not yet been given the Holy Spirit. This is what they were waiting for at Pentecost.

We see the prophecy about John here:

Lk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

and we see Elizabeth filled here:

Lk 1:41
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:



So the Spirit was definitely given to them under the old covenant
 
  • Like
Reactions: Azim and Episkopos

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
This is hypocritical faux outrage disguised as much love. How can you expose yourself more clearly?
Once again around here those beautiful scriptures and the point the poster was making with them is being ignored, distracted and deflected from by the picking of a fight about something else.
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
Under the old covenant it was only given to certain people and had nothing to do with faith in Christ, as He was not yet revealed.

Jn 7:39
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)


This verse is saying that the BELIEVERS in Christ had not yet been given the Holy Spirit. This is what they were waiting for at Pentecost.

We see the prophecy about John here:

Lk 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

and we see Elizabeth filled here:

Lk 1:41
And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:



So the Spirit was definitely given to them under the old covenant
All I know is that we can't make the old covenant equal to the new covenant.....it wasn't. The new covenant brought a sea change, a new and better paradigm. Episkopos says believers who are not "perfected" are on the same footing as the Jews under the old covenant. That is just very wrong.

People got so offended that I used the words "higher level" in my earlier post as if I meant it in a self righteous way, even though I had qualified it. Anyhow I went back and changed it to "another level" because I wasn't satisfied with the wording myself. I'm getting older and I can't always get hold of the words that I want.
 
Last edited:

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Are we not to have discernment then? We dont' always discern everything, but in time often more things become clear. And I'm not your judge, just that I understand more clearly what you believe. I haven't seen you talk much, so I didn't know where you were on certain things. Now I understand you better....have a clearer picture.
Discernment from the Spirit, yes. Superficial judgements from the natural mind, no.
The gospel offends and always will. If it doesn't, it isn't the gospel.
The gospel offends those who reject it. Those that receive it gladly are blessed with the grace (empowerment) to please the Lord. They take His yoke upon them.
Political correctness is the spirit of the world, not of God. And the bible says beware when all men speak well of you.
Not sure where this came from. I am not seeing anyone with a politically correct message that has all men speaking well of them here. Just the opposite.
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
Who is disagreeing with that?
That's good if you aren't. It seemed to me that is what people were objecting to. What is the point you are making then? Do you agree with Epi that not yet fully matured believers are on the same footing as Jews under the old covenant?
 

MostlyConfused

Well-Known Member
Jul 11, 2026
272
286
63
Florida
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Female
I see you are an early riser like me. :) A physical rest? I mainly need to take an afternoon nap at this stage. God wakes me up early to seek Him for the dew of the morning. My rest is in the Lord as I pray yours is too. :) <><
That sounds like with me. I took a nap at 6:30 A.M after being awake since 1 A.M. and just recently awoke again. And sometimes I’ll need another nap after another 4-6 hours awake. I still get enough sleep I just rarely do it unbroken as I used to. I thought that would end when I moved away from familial chaos, supposing that’s where the sudden exhaustions came from, but no, it continued afterwards too and even to this day.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Episkopos

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
That's good if you aren't. It seemed to me that is what people were objecting to. What is the point you are making then? Do you agree with Epi that not yet fully matured believers are on the same footing as Jews under the old covenant?
The conundrum of the law under the NEW covenant is this. We are not "under" the law when we are in the Spirit because we fulfill the law:

Ro 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Doesn't the scripture teach that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled by a walk in the Spirit. The new covenant is far superior to the old because it grants empowerment (grace) to walk in the Spirit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MostlyConfused

ProDeo

Well-Known Member
Nov 20, 2024
2,008
1,687
113
51
Deventer
Faith
Christian
Country
Netherlands
Yes, amen.........what does it mean and why did the early church have to wait for Pentecost?

I have no answer to your question.

But when did the early church started?

With Jesus ascension ?

or with Pentecost?

I think the latter.

The saints of old weren't filled....for them the fulfillment of their faith didn't come to them until after Jesus died and rose from the dead. The bible does say that "they without us would not be made perfect".

Only a few OT Jews (under the Law) were blessed with the Holy Spirit.

Then on Pentecost day Peter in his speech quotes from an old OT prophecy :

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Meaning, the Holy Spirit is not longer to a few, but all flesh.
 
  • Praying
Reactions: Lizbeth

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
Discernment from the Spirit, yes. Superficial judgements from the natural mind, no.
My post evoked a strong reaction from you. And the main body of it is being ignored.

The gospel offends those who reject it. Those that receive it gladly are blessed with the grace (empowerment) to please the Lord. They take His yoke upon them.
Many in the church are offended and reject it these days, in favour of world pleasing politically correct versions.

Not sure where this came from. I am not seeing anyone with a politically correct message that has all men speaking well of them here. Just the opposite.
I will try to explain. Your post seems to be leaving the door too wide open.......implying that we must be humble because can't know the ways of God and giving examples to try and show that, when actually the examples you gave do teach us His ways. Being too 'loosey goosey' (can't think of another word) leaves the door open for being politically correct....it IS politically correct.......and it leads down the path of a "new agey" mindset. That is what I was discerning with it and responded accordingly. Discernment is by faith. It's not an exact science and there is a way in which when we hold onto something in spirit we can be sure of it and standing upon it but also at the same time being available for the Lord to tweek or correct or grow our understanding if need be. Faith: blessed are you who have not seen yet believe....we stand on faith not "proof". And what I mean is that humility doesn't mean we cannot be certain and not able to stand upon anything....there is a kind of balance if that is the right word.
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
The conundrum of the law under the NEW covenant is this. We are not "under" the law when we are in the Spirit because we fulfill the law:

Ro 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Doesn't the scripture teach that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled by a walk in the Spirit. The new covenant is far superior to the old because it grants empowerment (grace) to walk in the Spirit.
Agree, but scripture ALSO also says we ARE in the Spirit if we HAVE the Spirit. That is the part that is being denied. All who believe (genuine faith not of our own) have the Spirit and therefore are in the Spirit to some degree.....and many do have spiritual experiences at various times if it isn't being quenched by false teachings, lack of growth, etc.. We are not under the Law if we have received Christ...we are in the new covenant. We are not on the same footing as unbelieving Jews under the Law.
 

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
My post evoked a strong reaction from you. And the main body of it is being ignored.
I am just pointing out that you don't have true discerment...just carnal judgments
Many in the church are offended and reject it these days, in favour of world pleasing politically correct versions.
I am not sure you really understand the gospel.
I will try to explain. Your post seems to be leaving the door too wide open.......implying that we must be humble because can't know the ways of God and giving examples to try and show that, when actually the examples you gave do teach us His ways. Being too 'loosey goosey' (can't think of another word) leaves the door open for being politically correct....it IS politically correct.......and it leads down the path of a "new agey" mindset.
Obviously, you have no idea what I believe. To declare me as "loosey goosey" or of a "new agey mindset" shows your ignorance of that. (I find that amusing) You present a contractionary position. You claim to laud humility but your errant and unlearned judgements fail to demonstrate it.

That is what I was discerning with it and responded accordingly. Discernment is by faith. It's not an exact science and there is a way in which when we hold onto something in spirit we can be sure of it and standing upon it but also at the same time being available for the Lord to tweek or correct or grow our understanding if need be.
True discernment from the Spirit IS exact. The problem is that you confuse your carnal superficial judgements as "discernment". You are correct when you say that is not exact.
Faith: blessed are you who have not seen yet believe....we stand on faith not "proof". And what I mean is that humility doesn't mean we cannot be certain and not able to stand upon anything....there is a kind of balance if that is the right word.
Humility admits it's lack of full knowledge and leaves the judgement to the Lord. We can stand on this hope (if you will hear it)

Heb 6:19
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
 
Last edited:

shepherdsword

Encounter Team - Eagle
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 12, 2009
2,190
1,820
113
Millington
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Agree, but scripture ALSO also says we ARE in the Spirit if we HAVE the Spirit. That is the part that is being denied. All who believe (genuine faith not of our own) have the Spirit and therefore are in the Spirit to some degree.....and many do have spiritual experiences at various times if it isn't being quenched by false teachings, lack of growth, etc.. We are not under the Law if we have received Christ...we are in the new covenant. We are not on the same footing as unbelieving Jews under the Law.
Do you claim to be always walking in the Spirit and fulfilling the righteousness of the law?
 

Lizbeth

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2022
6,442
7,970
113
68
Ontario, Canada
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Female
I have no answer to your question.

But when did the early church started?

With Jesus ascension ?

or with Pentecost?

I think the latter.



Only a few OT Jews (under the Law) were blessed with the Holy Spirit.

Then on Pentecost day Peter in his speech quotes from an old OT prophecy :

Joel 2:28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.

Meaning, the Holy Spirit is not longer to a few, but all flesh.
I'm going to need to spend some quiet time with Lord on this. And I thought the "all flesh" had to do with meaning upon the Gentiles and not just the Jews....they were very sort of aware that the Lord had up to then been revealed to them and not the Gentiles. There is the also aspect of an early rain and latter rain....the glory of the latter house being greater than the former house etc. Speaking of the old and new covenants in that respect.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ProDeo