WILL THE BODY OF CHRIST COME BACK WITH CHRIST AT HIS COMING?

[FaithWillDo]

Thanks for replying
I will look into this later

Dear Doug,
I know that I have overloaded you with information which I probably shouldn't have done.

Truth is learned line upon line and concept upon concept. Even with "eyes that can see", a person must start with the lower level truths and build their way up from there. When a person tries to understand the higher level truths without first learning the lower level truths, they are going to make mistakes.

I have presented a lot to you but you really haven't told me much of your beliefs. I assume you believe the common teachings of orthodox Christianity which includes a belief in free will, hell, the trinity, end-time prophecy, etc. - but I really don't know that.

If you don't believe that Christ is going to actually save all mankind, that is a good place to start. If you can't accept that truth about Christ, learning the many higher level truths are not going to be possible. A person's foundation of truth must be correct before they can more to higher level truths.

So what do you believe about whether or not Christ is going to save all mankind? If you don't believe that He will, why not?

Joe

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I was basing my saying our being gathered together (the "rapture") was at his coming on this verse..............[2Th 2:1 KJV] 1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and [by] our gathering together unto him,

Yes there is a coming to earth at the end of the tribulation to save Israel......but the verse above could be saying he will come to gather the body of Christ.........a separate mystery coming

We should avoid terming the rapture a "coming" for jesus does not return to earth. Many people who have had bad teaching have used many who call the rapture a "coming" to shred many sound doctrines. It may sound nit picky, but techinically and biblically it is correct to say the rapture is not a coming of Jesus to earth.

 

[Doug]

Dear Doug,
No voices, just scripture and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

When I have trouble understanding a verse, I pray about it and study scripture. The "light bulb" can come on at anytime; while I'm driving, showering, in bed, etc.

For example, last night when I answered your post #41, I was feeling unsettled by my response to you when I was lying in bed trying to go to sleep. Suddenly I realized why and went back down stairs and edited my post to you. The answer was simple; the child of the devil does not and cannot have faith in Christ so as to be covered by Christ's atonement. For that reason, he will perish. Only the child of God can have faith so only the child of God will be saved.

I will expand on my answer a little more below.

The child of the Devil (all mankind) is "condemned already" because he cannot believe.

John 3:18 He (the child of God) that believeth on him is not condemned: but he (the child of the Devil) that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

This verse also applies:

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

To make it possible for a person to have faith, Christ must come to them without their asking or permission and give them the Early Rain of the Spirit. This event symbolically creates the child of God within the person. When this child governs the mind of the person, the person themselves becomes a child of God who has faith. But when the child of the Devil governs their mind, the babe will become unfaithful (mix in works) because the truth of Christ is foolishness to the child of the Devil.

Christ said it this way:

Luke 5:39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

An unconverted babe will "taste" the New Wine and find that they prefer the Old Wine. This happens because a babe will remain carnally minded after being given the Early Rain. The ministers of Satan will re-enforce this preference by teaching them a false gospel that mixes works with faith. Since this false gospel is pleasing to the babe, the babe will quickly accept it as truth.

Paul said this about a babe who falls away after having tasted the heavenly gift. The Early Rain is a small amount and Paul refers to it has a "taste" of the Spirit:

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and age-enduring judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift (Early Rain), and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God (milk), and the powers of the world to come 6 if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance (from dead works): seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

In this fallen away condition, the believer cannot renew themselves to repentance. Their only hope is for Christ to come to them a second time. When Christ comes, He will pour out the Latter Rain upon them. The Latter Rain will heal their spiritual blindness. At that time, they will then see that they had been deceived and will repent of their works. After they do, their faithfulness will be restored.

Though Paul does not state this remedy for the restoration of a fallen away babe in the verses above, other scriptures do. The concept of "here a little, and there a little" applies.

2Tim 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Joe

The child of the Devil (all mankind) is "condemned already" because he cannot believe.

[Rom 2:4 KJV] 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
this verse says we can repent and believe

To make it possible for a person to have faith, Christ must come to them without their asking or permission and give them the Early Rain of the Spirit. This event symbolically creates the child of God within the person. When this child governs the mind of the person, the person themselves becomes a child of God who has faith. But when the child of the Devil governs their mind, the babe will become unfaithful (mix in works) because the truth of Christ is foolishness to the child of the Devil.

what verse says Christ compels a person to receive the Spirit?

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and age-enduring judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift (Early Rain), and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God (milk), and the powers of the world to come 6 if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance (from dead works): seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

In this fallen away condition, the believer cannot renew themselves to repentance. Their only hope is for Christ to come to them a second time. When Christ comes, He will pour out the Latter Rain upon them. The Latter Rain will heal their spiritual blindness. At that time, they will then see that they had been deceived and will repent of their works. After they do, their faithfulness will be restored.

What verse says Christ comes with latter rain for renewal?

Hebrews is talking about being unable to repent and receive a full inheritance just as Esau could find no place of repentance to reverse his loss...........[Heb 12:16-17 KJV] 16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears...............they fell away by reverting back to Levitical sacrifices and putting Christ to opem shame

 

[Doug]

Dear Doug,
The Kingdom of Heaven is where all converted believers spiritually dwell. When a person is converted, they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven at that time.

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven. When a person is converted, they are "in Christ" and are in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Other related terms: The "sea" is where unbelievers dwell and the "earth" is where unconverted babes dwell.

Isa 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the age (moment of conversion), Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

The reward of entering the Kingdom of Heaven and reigning with Christ for a "thousand years" first happens during the conversion process of an Elect believer. The symbol "thousand years" is like a "day" (the Day of the Lord) and it is "twice told" (Ecc 6:6).

The first time the Elect experience the "thousand years" is when they reign with Christ over their own judgment. This is presented in Rev 19:11-21 and Rev 20:1-6. The second time the Elect reign with Christ is in the final age when the balance of mankind is judged. The "thousand years" is not literal time. It is a spirit word which represents the two judgments in which the Elect reign with Christ.

Also, the parables that begin with the phrase "the Kingdom of Heaven is like" are teachings on certain aspects of the pathway to salvation (how to enter into it).

Joe

The Kingdom of Heaven is where all converted believers spiritually dwell. When a person is converted, they will enter the Kingdom of Heaven at that time.

The kingdom of heaven is the 1000 year reign on earth.....the believing remnant of Israel will reign as kings and priests.........true Israel will lead Gentiles in the kingdom to the Lord....Christ will rule from Jerusalem.

Christ is the Kingdom of Heaven. When a person is converted, they are "in Christ" and are in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Believers in the body of Christ dont inherit the kingdom on earth we will be in heavenly places

The "thousand years" is not literal time. It is a spirit word which represents the two judgments in which the Elect reign with Christ.

Both the believing remnant who were saved by Jesus and the twelve and the body of Christ who believed Paul's gospel are in Christ but only the remnant of Israel inherit the kingdom on earth

 

[Doug]

So what do you believe about whether or not Christ is going to save all mankind? If you don't believe that He will, why not?

Not all mankind will be saved but God would have all saved..............[1Ti 2:4 KJV] 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
If God is going to save all why send us to preach salvation?.........[2Co 5:20 KJV] 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

 

[Doug]

We should avoid terming the rapture a "coming" for jesus does not return to earth. Many people who have had bad teaching have used many who call the rapture a "coming" to shred many sound doctrines. It may sound nit picky, but techinically and biblically it is correct to say the rapture is not a coming of Jesus to earth.

I get your concern but again look at this verse.............[1Th 4:15 KJV] 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.......this verse is clearly about our gathering and Paul calls it the coming of the Lord
It is not coming to the earth but in the air

Technically the word rapture is not in scripture

 

[FaithWillDo]

[Rom 2:4 KJV] 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
this verse says we can repent and believe

what verse says Christ compels a person to receive the Spirit?

What verse says Christ comes with latter rain for renewal?

Hebrews is talking about being unable to repent and receive a full inheritance just as Esau could find no place of repentance to reverse his loss...........[Heb 12:16-17 KJV] 16 Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears...............they fell away by reverting back to Levitical sacrifices and putting Christ to opem shame

Dear Doug,
Yes, we can repent and believe. I have never said differently. But this verse is silent on how that is possible.

When a babe reads a verse like the one you quoted, they assume that they can believe and repent from a supposed free will ability to do so. But that assumption is in conflict with other scripture.

You must remember that Christ teaches "here a little and there a little. You can't make a doctrine from a single verse of scripture because mankind lives by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, it is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

When we look at other scripture, we find these verses:

Rom 3:10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

1Cor 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Considering what these verses state, how is it possible for a person to believe in Christ and repent of their works?

To know the answer to that question, we must look to more scripture.

Consider this exchange between Christ and Peter:

Mat 16:15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

For a person to know that Jesus is the Christ, it must be revealed to them from heaven.

So the question now is "what does God do to reveal that truth to a person"?

Here is that answer:

Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man (by the Early Rain of the Spirit), and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

1Cor 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Spirit.

You asked:
What verse says Christ compels a person to receive the Spirit?

Why do you believe that a person must "receive" the Spirit? Scripture says that the Spirit is freely given to us. The person has no say in the matter.

When Peter said that Jesus was the Christ, did Peter even know that He had been given the Early Rain of the Spirit beforehand? No, he did not. Why was this the case? Here is the answer:

Ecc 3:11 He has made everything fitting in its season; However, He has put obscurity (the world/man's carnality) in their heart so that the man may NOT find out His work, that which God does, that which God does from the beginning to the end.

When Peter was given the Early Rain of the Spirit, Peter did not know that it happened. But the evidence that it did happen was Peter's confession because Peter could not have made that confession without the Spirit indwelling him.

Paul's conversion experience is the "type" (pattern, 1Tim 1:16) that all the Elect will follow to their salvation. When Christ came to Paul on the Damascus Road, Christ gave Paul the Early Rain of the Spirit. How do I know this? Because Paul fell to the earth and made this statement:

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

Paul's statement is the evidence that he was given the Early Rain of the Spirit.

Also, did Christ ask Paul if he wanted to receive the Spirit? No.

Christ gave Paul the Spirit because Christ chose to give it to Him. Paul had no say in the matter.

Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of the heavens, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

And in this same way, Christ is calling "many" other people to be saints. But only a "few" of them have been chosen to become saints. For the Elect, Christ will return to them after their time of waiting is complete and give them the baptisms of the Holy Spirit and Fire.

Look at what Paul said to the Corinthians believers:

1Cor 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end (end of the ages and by the Latter Rain), that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the baptism of Fire).

Paul knew that the Corinthians had been given the Early Rain of the Spirit because of their testimony and because of their spiritual gifts. Only by that visible evidence can a person can know that someone has been given the Early Rain of the Spirit. Paul then tells them that they are waiting for the Lord to come to them again and confirm their inheritance by the Latter Rain. It is the Latter Rain that will make them blameless during their time of judgment.

Psa 68:9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful Rain (Latter Rain), whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary (in an apostate condition).

You asked:
What verse says Christ comes with latter rain for renewal?

Psa 68:9 above plus these:

1Sam 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? (day of salvation/conversion) I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder (voice of Christ) and Rain (Latter Rain); that ye may perceive and see (spiritual blindness healed) that your wickedness is great (have become apostate/man of sin), which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.

Jer 3:3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no Latter Rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Psa 72:6 He shall come down like Rain (Latter Rain) upon the mown grass (a fallen away babe): as showers that water the earth.

Paul's conversion testimony, the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the parable of the Ten Virgins, the prophecy of the Two Witnesses and many other portions of scripture all teach that an Elect babe will fall away as they wait for the Latter Rain and conversion.

Joe

 

[FaithWillDo]

Not all mankind will be saved but God would have all saved..............[1Ti 2:4 KJV] 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
If God is going to save all why send us to preach salvation?.........[2Co 5:20 KJV] 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Dear Doug,
You asked:
If God is going to save all why send us to preach salvation?

Because faith comes by hearing the Word. However, all the preaching in the world will do no good unless Christ has given the person the Early Rain of the Spirit beforehand.

God's overall purpose for this creation is to make new children for Himself.

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

It is not some experiment where God hopes some will make the right decision to accept Him. It is a carefully laid out plan that will accomplish everything that God desires.

Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

But since God wants His children to trust Him and to have a knowledge of good & evil, his children begin life as sinful evil creatures who reject Him.

To change man's condition, God the Father sent His Son Jesus into the world (1John 4:14). The salvation of mankind is solely Christ's responsibility to accomplish. Mankind has no works to perform because salvation is a free gift.

During the process of saving a person, Christ will do all the necessary spiritual things that will teach the person to fully trust and depend upon God for all their needs, to love Him with all their hearts and be willing to die rather than to disobey Him. In other words, Christ will do all the necessary things to make us just like Him. A person gets to this point after they have been converted and have matured into a perfect man of full age.

If you can't believe that Christ cannot accomplish this great work of saving all mankind, then you have to believe that mankind is required to add their own works to the works of Christ. Usually this belief comes from a belief in the Doctrine of Free Will. However, scripture strongly and clearly states that mankind has no free will ability. Only God the Father has a free will.

Consider what Paul said here:

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

So what's Paul's answer?

Rom 9:16 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

God made mankind unable to resist God's "will".

So what is God's "will" for mankind?

Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

Paul restated this truth here:

Phi 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Notice that the confession of faith gives glory to the Father. It is not a forced confession or one that is done out of fear. It is a confession made out of love for Christ. This type of confession can only come from a person who has been converted and has the Holy Spirit governing them.

Consider these scriptures:

Rom 5:18 so then as it was by one offence towards all men to condemnation, so by one righteousness towards all men for justification of life. 19 For as indeed by the disobedience of the one man the many have been constituted sinners, so also by the obedience of the one the many will be constituted righteous.

1Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Since all who have died in Adam will be made alive in Christ, who can that possibly leave out?

Consider this scripture again:

1Tim 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

Some scholars believe this verse should be translated as "desires to have all men be saved”, but that translation makes no sense. The verse needs to say "will have" to support the event that will later be "testified" to have happened. The word "desires" does not require anything to be accomplished. It is an emotion. And if Christ only desires to save mankind, why would it need to be proven to be true at some future date? An emotion can be proven in the present. The translation of "desires" (or any other word) in verse 4 makes no sense in light of the phrase "to be testified in due time". The only reasonable conclusion is that the verse should be translated as “who will have all men to be saved”.

Also, even if the verse is translated as "desires", it doesn't change the meaning of the verse since God ALWAYS accomplishes His desires.

Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, that will he do.

Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Christ’s work of saving mankind is now “spiritual" work under the New Covenant. Spiritual work is done "within" mankind. In this world, Christ accomplishes His "will" by changing a person’s heart to agree with His "will".

Prov 16:1 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

Jer 10:23 I know, Jehovah, that the way of man is not his own; it is not in a man that walketh to direct his steps.

A person's salvation happens solely by the spiritual work that Christ does within them. And since Christ has sworn by the prophets that He will do His work within all mankind, how can anyone remain lost?

Joe

 

[FaithWillDo]

The kingdom of heaven is the 1000 year reign on earth.....the believing remnant of Israel will reign as kings and priests.........true Israel will lead Gentiles in the kingdom to the Lord....Christ will rule from Jerusalem.

Believers in the body of Christ dont inherit the kingdom on earth we will be in heavenly places

Both the believing remnant who were saved by Jesus and the twelve and the body of Christ who believed Paul's gospel are in Christ but only the remnant of Israel inherit the kingdom on earth

Dear Doug,
Your understanding of the scriptures is carnal and not spiritual. I'm not going to be able to help you understand the thousand years reign until Christ changes the way you see Him. You are still seeing Him (the Word of God) in the flesh.
Joe

 

[Webers_Home]

.
Well; I don't know about him right now but Jesus' glorified body will be
capable of dining upon ordinary foods and beverages when he returns to
take the reins.

● Matt 26:29 . . I tell you: I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now
on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom.

● Luke 22:15-16 . . I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you
before I suffer. For I tell you: I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in
the kingdom of God.

● Luke 22:28-30 . .You are the ones that have stuck with me in my trials;
and I make a covenant with you, just as my Father has made a covenant
with me, for a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my
kingdom.
_

 

[Doug]

Dear Doug,
Your understanding of the scriptures is carnal and not spiritual. I'm not going to be able to help you understand the thousand years reign until Christ changes the way you see Him. You are still seeing Him (the Word of God) in the flesh.
Joe

sorry but your responses are too convoluted for me but I do thank you for your courtesy

 

[Ronald Nolette]

I get your concern but again look at this verse.............[1Th 4:15 KJV] 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.......this verse is clearly about our gathering and Paul calls it the coming of the Lord
It is not coming to the earth but in the air

Technically the word rapture is not in scripture

Correct- it is the greek word harpagzo. Rapture comes into english from the Vulgate. Technically it is the snatching away.

 

[FaithWillDo]

sorry but your responses are too convoluted for me but I do thank you for your courtesy

Doug,
The spiritual teachings of the New Covenant are written in such a way that the carnal mind of man cannot make proper sense of them and purposefully so:

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. 10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 11 For with stammering lips and another language (spiritual language) will he speak to this people. 12 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they (babes who draw milk) might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

Mat 13:10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you (the Elect) to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

For a person to understand the spiritual teachings of Christ, they MUST have the mind of Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit.

Joe