Marriage, mutual submission or something else? I think it is something else. I think to say that, “you mutually submit to one another” misses the bigger picture. I think it is as the Bible says. The wife should submit to her husband, like the church submits to Christ’s authority. The husband should submit to God. Even if it means dying. This is like the submission of Jesus to the Father’s will. If we remember from scripture, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. Jesus, who is God incarnate, left the majesty of His estate to dwell among us in mortal flesh. He bore the punishment of the sins of those who would be saved. He submitted to death on a cross. Wouldn’t you rather have a husband love you like that, than one that simply, mutually submits to your imperfect human will?
Tag: Jesus
Jesus Christ saves us by His grace according to His will not by our works or favor earned through deeds.
Titus 3:4-7 NASB But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, (5) He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (6) whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, (7) so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Marriage Isn’t About Being Happy
Marriage Isn’t About Being Happy
If you aren’t happy in your marriage chances are it is because you have a wrong expectation. This is probably because you have put your hope in your spouse to satisfy you. He ordained marriage for one man, to one woman as a helpmate. It wasn’t good for man to be alone. Marriage is supposed to be two sinners, giving grace to one another, remembering Christ Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for their very own personal sins, and forgiving the smaller offense of a creature against a creature, because you understand the horrible consequences of your sin as a creature against the holy Creator. Marriage is an archetype of Christ and His bride the Church. Because of Jesus’ sacrificial love for us we have an example of how we are supposed to love our spouse. If you find your contentment and happiness in God’s will and providence, then you will look upon your spouse as a fellow sinner who needs selfless love and grace. When you are fulfilled by God, and He is enough for you, then you can truly appreciate the blessing of a spouse.
Near Death Experiences
Near Death Experiences
1) Do people really see things prior to death (NDE’s)? Yes and no.
Many of the people claiming to have near death experiences are like the people who claim to see Bigfoot or a spaceship. Many of them are just faking it for attention. Some of them are not faking it though. For the ones that are not faking it we can rule out what they are seeing as the effects of the dieing brain. Brain chemistry and electrical activity causes strange subconscious imaginings. Some people do experience spiritual visions near death. It is important to note that they are not dead as science would define death. If a person is clinically dead and then comes back to life with a miraculous story it doesn’t mean that it is from God. The Bible says, “…Hebrews 9:27 NASB And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,..” People truly die once as a rule. Pro-NDE people will ask, “What about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead?” “…John 11:11-15 NASB This He said, and after that He *said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”(12) The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” (13) Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking of literal sleep. (14) So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,(15)and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let us go to him.”..” So again as a rule people die once and then the judgment. So barring a miracle of Jesus when a person is truly dead they stay dead. Just because they have stopped breathing, pumping blood, and brain activity seems to have ceased doesn’t mean they are truly dead. Medical science says they are dead, but how many times have we heard of somebody waking up in the morgue or in a coffin? You are dead when God says you are dead. So people near death can have physiologically explainable visions.
2) Do some see angels while others see demons? Yes and no.
The Bible says nothing about NDE’s specifically. Some people abuse scripture and try to make Paul’s vision of the 3rd Heaven a NDE when it is obviously not. They are just so desperate to believe in NDE’s that they will pervert scripture to make it so. People can also experience demonic/satanic visions given to them to lead them astray and to misguide others. Anything a person claims about a NDE MUST NOT conflict with the Bible. If it does, it is from a lying spirit and should be discarded immediately as untrue. The person relaying the story must not be followed or believed.
3) Can this be scriptural? Yes and no.
The answer to this question depends heavily on context and claim. If the context is a vision or dream from God that someone experienced it must be accurate and consistent with the rest of the Bible. I don’t believe these types of things are happening right now in our time. Again, the Bible says nothing about NDE’s specifically. In the end times they are supposed to start back up. These are not NDE’s though. There is a big difference between an NDE and a prophetic dream or vision. You don’t have to be in a coma or nearly dead for a prophetic dream or vision. If God wants you to know something you are going to know it. Fortunately for us He reveals His will and word for us in the Bible and we don’t need to rely on dreams, and visions. Matter of fact the Bible is the primary way we hear from God.
To sum up I would say treat all NDE claims as nothing of consequence unless it meets the requirements of scripture. Here are some links to some very good articles from trusted ministries on the topic.
1. http://www.gty.org/blog/B121018
2. http://www.gotquestions.org/near-death-experiences.html
3. http://www.christianbook.com/heaven-randy-alcorn/9780842379427/pd/79422?event=AFF&p=1011693&
4. http://www.equip.org/articles/from-heaven-to-earth-with-a-story-that-sells/
Representations of the sinner, church, and gospel in the Old Testament.
The chosen people of God in the Old Testament are representative of the individual sinner, and the church. We see how some want to please God. How others seeking their own pleasures only after being judged repent. In 1 Samuel we see the Israelites rejecting God’s rule. They demand a king other than God. Samuel is to warn them but also he is to anoint the one who would be king. Are we mastered by God or sin? Who is your king? When judged and shown the sin in our lives do we repent, then follow God with our entire heart? Over and over we see God’s chosen people sinning, being punished, repenting, and worshiping. They would go on for a while and fall again. God would accept their repentance and worship after they were humbled. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It is His mercy to break the sinner. Only in humility can they experience God’s grace. Oh that I could always remember and be humble so as not to sin against my God. I fear the discipline even though I know it is for my good. Like a child I am in regards to it. As one that matures I see the love of the Father in it. Oh how I love Jesus! His grace is sufficient for even me! So as we see the chosen people of God so we should see ourselves the church. How many times have we sinned and in our self-righteousness punished ourselves in the sinful hope of appeasing God’s righteous and holy judgement? How dare we make less of His grace? Did He die on the cross so that we could be our own saviors? Repent of self-righteousness! I to must repent! Don’t let any sin be the churches King. Only Jesus be our king! Like Israel we are God’s people. We were purchased from sins great price by the redeeming blood of Jesus. The Old Testament books display for us the likeness of the individual sinner, the church, and God. We should see the Messiah in all of the word not just the New Testament.
Snyder's Soapbox 