Brushing off the slights, Adam just smoothly shifts another gear keeping the Cummins engine running in its RPM sweet spot and says. “Well you are the one checking all my references from the Bible. We both agreed it is the only one true source for godly wisdom. If what I am saying is not supported correctly by the Bible, you haven't made much of a fuss so far.”
Isaac is defensive in his response. “I told you it would take a lot of time and energy to find all of your errors. I can't be expected to find them all on the fly at the first hearing of such wild ideas.”
Adam agrees. “That's fair, but you can believe the Bible. Have my wild ideas been far off the mark according to what the scriptures have to say?”
Isaac is quick to respond. “Well nothing painfully obvious so far. It's more the way you put scriptures together that is troubling. You don't follow any of the scripture flow that I am used to. You use verses I’ve never read, to contradict verses that I’ve studied and understand. Now those studied verses, don't seem to say, what I have been taught they say.”
“It's like I have said before. If the Bible appears to be contradicting itself, we do not understand the scriptures properly,” Adam assures him. “So, if I have not taken things out of context and the scriptures don't jive according to your teachings, where does the problem come from, my wacky ideas or yours?”
“Well maybe yours aren’t completely wacky,” Isaac begrudgingly admits. “But I know that I am saved through Jesus and I will never lose my salvation. I don’t have to keep accepting Jesus, or worry that I might sin so badly that I can’t be forgiven. The salvation Jesus brings is bigger than any sin I could ever commit. I can rest assured in my salvation through Jesus.”
“Amen. Again we agree,” Adam chimed with a smile. “There is one way you may lose your salvation though, if you, abandon Jesus. No one can snatch us out of the hand of God, but we might willingly jump. The last resurrection is for those jumpers, those who believed in Jesus but did not follow him whole heartedly. Those who in this life, may appear to be doing his bidding but are only following their own passions, rather than following Jesus as they should be. Willfully sinning, knowingly not following the Holy Spirit. The third resurrection is for them.”
“Some of that sounds familiar, the wicked going into eternal punishment I mean. I covered it in school. Let me look up some of the supportive scriptures for you,” Isaac said with renewed zeal. “I think we have already read some of them. There may be some repeats, but it might help with the context. Here is an entire chapter, but I think it's relevant, if it’s not too much for you to hear,” Isaac said derisively.”
“Sure. Go ahead and read it,” Adam was pleased with the interest Isaac was displaying for the topic.
Isaac clears his throat and swigs down the last of his Dr. Pepper.
“Matthew 25,” Isaac says in a flurry before wiping his mouth on his sleeve.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer
him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Then we have more in;
Matthew 5:11-13
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
I see what you mean, we can't be made salty, or Christian again if we abandon Jesus. Here are some more verses about those who were called and came to Jesus, but didn't take their salvation seriously.
Matthew 22:10-13 KJV.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Some Christians don't wear the Holy Spirit wedding cloths and are rejected,” Isaac provides a running commentary for the scriptures as he reads them.
“Again, only the good ones are chosen. I have found plenty of examples. Here are a few more.
Matthew 13:47-50
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 24:45-51
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
The Bible warns us to be focused on following Jesus all the time and not drift off into carelessness thinking he will never come for us. We can't take a holiday from being Christian.
Luke 14:33-35 King James Version
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
“There sure are a lot of verses supporting the topic, I get the picture,” Adam said scratching his head. “Do we need to read them all?”
Isaac looks shocked at Adam’s comment, when he replies, “It was you that said we couldn’t be too sure of what the Bible had to say. I wouldn’t want to be taking things for granted you know; besides I thought you liked reading the Bible.” Isaac continues with his scripture search.
“I guise we can't be content with just being in the presence of Jesus, we have to be doers of his work.
James 1:22-25 KJV.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Isaac sums up the last passage he read. “Hanging around with Jesus won't help us in the end. We have to be his servants, actively serving.”
“You are contextualizing the pertinent thoughts of those scriptures very well,” Adam agreed. “Is that all now, or have you found more?”
Isaac reads the next set of scriptures that he finds on the subject of, those who thought they were Christian only to be rejected in the end.
“Oh look, I’ve found some more golden nuggets of truth. Luke 13:22-28,” Isaac announces.
“And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
This one is a bit different,” Isaac says before he reads it.
“John 5:28-29
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
So this must be when all the weeping and gnashing of teeth takes place. Is this resurrection of damnation what you call the third resurrection?”
“Yes,” Adam loudly agrees so as to be clearly herd inside the old trucks raucous cab. “It’s the last resurrection for mankind. Everyone has now had their opportunity to accept Jesus. This last resurrection is the end for those who rejected Jesus during their first life, either by decision or by neglectful indifference. They put the things of the world before him, even after counting the cost of discipleship. They will be pruned off and cast into the fire. Can I get back to explaining the plan now?”
“Wait, I can find a reference for that too,” Isaac nods. “Here are some.
John 15:1-6
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is wi
thered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Hebrews 6:4-8
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.
7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
And there is still more. Here in;
2 Peter 2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Wow that was a strong chapter; I have normally read it only in small sections. Reading it all at once gives me a much deeper impression of what God thinks about Christians that don't take their salvation seriously. Their end is to be worse than their beginning when they knew nothing of Jesus. Why do you think they will be worse off?
“Well probably because their fate will be sealed,” Adam speculates. “They will have had eternal life all but theirs, only to trade it in favour of the sins of the world that will not last. They will only have the judgement of God to look forward to. So their end will be worse than their beginning. I’m glad that these scriptures are meaningful to you, but are all these scriptures new to you?”
“No, I have known these since I was little. That’s why I can find them so fast.” Isaac mused as he shrugged his shoulders. “I just figured that I better check out their context in case I had them wrong all along. I can’t just take things for granted. Here are some more scriptures on the topic.
Jude 3-13
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
Teachers have a big responsibility to teach as God instructs, not going off with their own ideas. They will be twice dead if they do. You better be careful with all your conspiracy ideas. You may end up in a bad, bad, place,” Isaac said staring at Adam.
“If what I was saying came from myself, I would be afraid of the second death. If I don't stay true to scripture, read in context, or if I was following my own agenda, I could miss out. I do my best to formulate my beliefs and understandings within the context of the scriptures. If you see where I have made an error please don't be shy about bringing it to my attention,” Adam says, explaining his motives.
“Oh, I'm sure you do follow the scriptures, to the best of, your abilities,” sneered Isaac. “Here is more scripture about those who are rejected by Jesus.”
Staring at the lap
top screen Isaac resumes reading.
“Revelation 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 21:6-8
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Hey, you said that people who live and die during the second resurrection, not accepting Jesus, would stay dead, that would be their second death. This verse tells us the sinners and those who reject Jesus will be thrown into the lake of fire, which is the second death. Your understanding seems to be at odds with this verse. So who doesn’t understand things properly after all?”
For a moment, Adam thinks about how to start his explanation. Taking in a deep breath he starts to talk.
“I believe this verse is talking about all who reject Jesus and are willfully sinning, even when they know better, during the first physical life they go through. Those who reject their calling during this life are resurrected back to physical life in the third resurrection, the resurrection of damnation. They will be judged and then cast into the lake of fire. Being mortal they will die in the flames, this will be the second and final time they will die. They had their opportunity to follow Jesus and rejected it. It will be their second death.
Those who reject Jesus from the second resurrection had their opportunity to follow Jesus without the influence of Satan. If they came back in this final resurrection of damnation, then it would be their third life and dying in the lake of fire would be their third death. Not the second death, as the scriptures refer to.
I haven't read anything in the Bible that tells us mankind will have more than two deaths and one opportunity at having their eyes opened and called to accept Jesus. I believe those who don't accept Jesus, after living a hundred years during the second resurrection, their death will be final, as that will have been their second death. But I could be wrong; do you have a better explanation?”
Surprised by Adams answer, Isaac side steps the question and goes on with his reading and synopses.
“No, I wouldn't want to speculate on the topic, I would need to do more research in order to give an informed opinion on the subject. These next verses are interesting though. They are the scriptures where Paul talks about the possibility of losing out on his own salvation after having shared the saving gospel with others. It sounds like we have to stay faithful to the end of our lives and not turn from our faith after we decide to follow Jesus.
1 Corinthians 9:16-27
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
“Yes. Jesus told us to count the cost of following him before we decide to commit,” Adam explains. “We can't be double minded and try to serve two masters. We must give Jesus our all. Nothing can be allowed to side track us or be more important than following Jesus, for we willingly give up our lives to him, when we join with him through baptism.
You do know that I am aware of these verses that you’re reading, right. I totally agree with them.”
“Ya I thought so. But I told you I would be checking all of your references and I will, even if it kills you,” Isaac flashes Adam a big fake smile. “Can’t be too careful about our faith can we? Now those double minded verses sound familiar,” Isaac nods knowingly. Remembering his parent’s admonishment from when he was little. “Let me look them up. Here are a couple different ones that reflect your thoughts.”
“Suit yourself,” Adam said with a frown. “I was only trying to save your time and effort.”
“Matthew 6:22-24,” Isaac continued undaunted.
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:13-15
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
You’re counting the cost scriptural references are quite long as they have several teaching points contained in them. I will read the long versions so we can be sure of the contextual accuracy.”
“Sounds good to me,” Adam agreed, rolling his eyes. “I don't want to be misrepresenting the scriptures, or refer to them out of their contextual meaning.”
“OK I will start with Luke 14:25-34 King James Version,” Said Isaac.
25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all
that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
These next verses tell us we are servants of the master we obey, do we serve sin and death, or do we have life and serve Jesus?
Romans 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Chapter 16
Family Time
The Eden Conspiracy Page 15
