1 Cor gets into much more detail of the same errors practiced today by Charismatics and WOF that Revelations does about Laodicea.Actually the WOF doctrine is closer to the church of Laodicea. Yes, I have read 1 and 2 Corinthians.
1 Cor gets into much more detail of the same errors practiced today by Charismatics and WOF that Revelations does about Laodicea.Actually the WOF doctrine is closer to the church of Laodicea. Yes, I have read 1 and 2 Corinthians.
I think we should get some facts straight, which you sir, continue to ignore.
You ignored my post showing Jesus used faith to do EVERY miracle, which you demanded I answer because you were so confident you had something against my understanding of faith, of which I did, with quotes from scripture, of which you claim I twisted.
And BECAUSE you ignored THAT post, I wrote another post to goad you into responding, only for you to ignore the faith post and carry on about the silence post, as though that was my whole argument.
Have you ever played dodge ball when you were little?
Well, you're doing the grownup version of that game now.
What happened to your side of the argument showing Jesus doing miracles without faith?
Show me scripture please.
The thread is about faith, so let's discuss the subject with scripture.
And for the record, you can't pervert scripture if you are copying and pasting straight from the bible.
That does not constitute perverting of scripture, nor does it suffice as a legitimate argument.
Jesus killing the fig tree was an act of faith because Jesus said,
Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
If Jesus said it takes faith for us to do the same to the fig tree as He had done, why would it be any different for Him?
His faith killed the tree, and He was saying we could do the same with the same kind of faith, for there is only one kind of faith.
You can do one of a few things.
You can either show me another verse proving Jesus didn't use faith to do miracles, or you could try to prove me wrong on this one, or you could just admit you don't know what faith is or how it works.
I know Devo already dealt with this, but I thought I would add my objections to this.
First, Jesus was God. He did not NEED faith in God, to do miracles, because he WAS God. As for you and your WoF friends, you are NOT god. Any kind of god, ever. For example, if you were a god, you would be immortal. When the Bible clearly says we are mortal.
“20 Terrify them, Lord!
Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)” Psalm 9:20
“But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.” Acts 10:26
So many other verses that use “mortal” clearly, or point to our fragility as humans, because we are NOT gods!
So, that is the first place you have messed up. Jesus was God, we are not!
Second, in your verse above, you seem to have forgotten who Jesus is talking to, when he says “you.” Even your KJV is very clear, using YE to mean 2nd person plural - You all
”ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν καὶ μὴ διακριθῆτε, οὐ μόνον τὸ τῆς συκῆς ποιήσετε, ἀλλὰ κἂν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ εἴπητε· Ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, γενήσεται·” Matt 21:21 Greek.
ὑμῖν - you, 2nd person plural dative
ποιήσετε - 2nd person plural Future Indicative Active “you will do.”
So, is Jesus saying “I” need faith to do it? No, he is not talking first person singular. And as already noted, no disciple curses a fig tree and it died, or cast a mountain into the sea. So, clearly, Jesus had an object lesson of killing the fig tree, and then showing them how it was so important for them to have faith. Why did he say this at this time? Because it was the week of the Passover, Jesus just had his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem in chapter 21, and he was on his way to die on the cross by Friday. He wanted the disciples to have faith in him, not faith in faith, or faith to do miracles, but rather faith to believe he would rise again.
And did the disciples have faith? Well, no, they didn’t believe Jesus was who he said he was. And they didn’t do miracles or signs and wonders that are recorded in any of the gospels or Acts, until the day of Pentecost, the birth of the church.
So - Jesus is God, you are not! He was talking to the disciples to have faith about what was to come, not saying he had faith, so they should too.
Just poor exegetics - every post you make!
This question is beside the point, but why do you NAR or WOF leave out the "THE" articles with THE Father and THE Holy Spirit? I have seen and heard this omission in several of your movement's books, sermons, and blogs.There is such a thing as revelation truth. That which Holy Spirit teaches. Usually with symbols. There are several trees important to Israel. The fig tree is the third tree spoken of in the OT. So Adam and Eve covered themselves with fig leaves. Represents works of men that believe they must do something to come to Father.
Am sure you can see where im going concerning Jesus cursing this tree.
Now, Jesus only did and said what He heard and saw from Father. He was in union with Him. So in this He had to put faith out in Father that He would do what He's trusting Him to do. Without Jesus acting as who He is. God.
He did all these things in order to show men the pattern of righteousness found only in being one with Him.
Anything we do, we do by the faith of Jesus.
This question is beside the point, but why do you NAR or WOF leave out the "THE" articles with THE Father and THE Holy Spirit? I have seen and heard this omission in several of your movement's books, sermons, and blogs.
Am not NAR, nor word of faith. Faith in the Word. So can't answer your question. Those I read from are not NAR either.
What do you mean the question is beside the point?
By the way, I do my own studies, and post out of them.
Are you not aware that you are parroting their omission of thd article?
The KJV is a literal translation, and it reads a little differently than the NLT.What you have to discuss are all fallacious. You WOF people think you are some kind of little god rulers who have authority to be rich and work miracles. You are people of such "faith and power". Read this, it is as if Paul were addressing a WOF church:
"You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment."
1 Corinthians 4:8*-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1co.4.8-13.NLT
I know Devo already dealt with this, but I thought I would add my objections to this.
First, Jesus was God. He did not NEED faith in God, to do miracles, because he WAS God. As for you and your WoF friends, you are NOT god. Any kind of god, ever. For example, if you were a god, you would be immortal. When the Bible clearly says we are mortal.
“20 Terrify them, Lord!
Let the nations know they are mere mortals! (Selah)” Psalm 9:20
“But Peter helped him up, saying, “Stand up. I too am a mere mortal.” Acts 10:26
So many other verses that use “mortal” clearly, or point to our fragility as humans, because we are NOT gods!
So, that is the first place you have messed up. Jesus was God, we are not!
As you have stated in another post, I am no Greek scholar, nor do I know any Greek or Hebrew. But I am intelligent enough to read and understand the definitions of the Greek scholars who wrote the dictionaries and commentaries.
Second, in your verse above, you seem to have forgotten who Jesus is talking to, when he says “you.” Even your KJV is very clear, using YE to mean 2nd person plural - You all
”ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ἐὰν ἔχητε πίστιν καὶ μὴ διακριθῆτε, οὐ μόνον τὸ τῆς συκῆς ποιήσετε, ἀλλὰ κἂν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ εἴπητε· Ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, γενήσεται·” Matt 21:21 Greek.
ὑμῖν - you, 2nd person plural dative
ποιήσετε - 2nd person plural Future Indicative Active “you will do.”
So, is Jesus saying “I” need faith to do it? No, he is not talking first person singular. And as already noted, no disciple curses a fig tree and it died, or cast a mountain into the sea. So, clearly, Jesus had an object lesson of killing the fig tree, and then showing them how it was so important for them to have faith. Why did he say this at this time? Because it was the week of the Passover, Jesus just had his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem in chapter 21, and he was on his way to die on the cross by Friday. He wanted the disciples to have faith in him, not faith in faith, or faith to do miracles, but rather faith to believe he would rise again.
And did the disciples have faith? Well, no, they didn’t believe Jesus was who he said he was. And they didn’t do miracles or signs and wonders that are recorded in any of the gospels or Acts, until the day of Pentecost, the birth of the church.
So - Jesus is God, you are not! He was talking to the disciples to have faith about what was to come, not saying he had faith, so they should too.
Just poor exegetics - every post you make!
Well, I can't fault you for not using scripture to back up what you say.
Only, I never claimed to be God. Nor have I claimed to be the Son of God.
But unlike you, I believe what is written, AS IT IS WRITTEN.
If Jesus said we, who are sons and daughters of the Father, are gods, NOT GODS, but little gods, then we are.
We are gods in one sense that we are made partakers of His divine nature. That is, to those who have receive the spirit of power.
If it is written or if Jesus said we are, then that word He spoke is truth.
It has nothing to do with being immortal.
No one is saying we will live forever in this mortal body.
As you have stated in another post, I am no Greek scholar, nor do I know any Greek or Hebrew. But I am intelligent enough to read and understand the definitions of the Greek scholars who wrote the dictionaries and commentaries.
I have to admit, I enjoy reading individual words from bible verses that others have expounded upon, but I'm pretty sure you didn't say anything I didn't already know. Not unless I missed something.
As far as I can tell, Matthew 21:21 is the same as Mark 11:23.
So as for the "you" or "ye" whom Jesus was addressing, I would say it is to the same "whosoever that shall say unto..." He was speaking to in Mk.
And this has nothing to do with us having faith in ourselves or faith is faith, whatever that means, it has to do with having faith in God or having the faith of God, as Jesus stated in verse 22 in the book of Mk.
Since you're so good at understanding Greek, would you mind interpreting some key words in Mark 11:23 and 24?
Things like, verily, whosoever, no doubt in heart, believe it shall come to pass, whatsoever he says, things soever you desire, believe you have them, and you shall have them.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
So “but little gods,” which I bolded above. You say “we are gods.” And above that, you say there is God. Now, by my lights you have:
God - that’s one God
little gods - a multitude of gods.
So 1 God + many gods = polytheism.
You have elevated yourself to some kind of godlike status, which is completely the opposite of Biblical Christianity. It is the opposite of the whole Bible! Jesus himself had the entire Jewish establishment after him for saying he was God. They crucified him for saying he was God, because the entire OT is about people who were supposed to worship YHWH, and instead, they worshiped other gods.
Have you ever even read the OT? Because it is all about the unfaithful Israelites, who chased after foreign gods, when God said, “You shall have no other gods before me!” Have you ever read the prophets? They are all about false gods, and false prophets. So, the WoF manages to be both! A bunch of false prophets telling people they are gods, turning from the living God, to call themselves gods. What blasphemy!
As far as being partakers of the divine nature, probably best to look at the whole passage. These kinds of gross errors always coming from ripping verses out of context.
”I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. 9 But concerning the one who lacks such things—he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.” 2 Peter 1:3-11 NET
So, God saves us and gives us a new nature! I agree totally. As born again believers, the Holy Spirit does dwell within us. BUT, that does not make US divine. This is the WoF lie. Look above at the verses I posted in modern English, because I do not understand KJV. We escape worldly corruption produced by evil desire, by being “in Christ.” Absolutely.
Then, it adds qualities the Holy Spirit is developing in us. Peter is admonishing believers to use the gifts God has given us, to be changed into different people. Read verses 5-7 for this.
Then, it says these things (which are the qualities, not some kind of divine godhead!) and continually increasing. Do you know anything about God? He is perfect and complete. We are not! That alone makes us not gods. And we need to be “continually increasing” so we are not ineffective and unproductive. In what? In knowing our Lord Jesus Christ better.
Peter ends with a startling comment in verses 10-11. He tells us to be sure of our calling, so we do not stumble, into sin. If we were gods, would that possibility be there? Gods don’t generally stumble and sin. Well, I guess the Roman, Greek and probably Egyptian and Babylonian gods did sin. The stories are rife with gods who lose their powers, get tied up, demoted, because they came against higher gods who defeated them.
But in fact, those panopolies of gods are not really gods, are they? They are the false gods Isaiah talks about.
"Their land is full of worthless idols;
they worship the product of their own hands,
what their own fingers have fashioned.
9 Men bow down to them in homage,
they lie flat on the ground in worship.
Don’t spare them!
10 Go up into the rocky cliffs,
hide in the ground.
Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord,
from his royal splendor!
11 Proud men will be brought low,
arrogant men will be humiliated;
the Lord alone will be exalted
in that day." Isa. 2:8-11
They worship worthless idols. You have made yourself a worthless idol, by claiming you are a god. Word of Faith believers are proud men and they will be brought low, arrogant men who will be humiliated.
It really doesn't get more arrogant and proud than for a mere mortal to claim he is a god, based on a verse pulled out of context.
This is the foundational lie of the WoF movement. Because if we are gods, of course we should be able to command things with our mouths, and speak things into existence that were not, as God does.
BUT, we are NOT GODS! Not lower case, or upper case! We are mortals, and God has graciously saved us, and made us new "creatures" in Christ. Or a new creation.
even the very word "creatures" tells us we had someone else do the creating, because we are not gods. So, does that mean we suddenly became gods? No, it means we mortals have the power of God dwelling in our lives, to change and grow in character, and to do the works he prepared for us. And those works are NOT commanding things into existence, which only a real God can do.
No, those works are helping the poor, those in prison, those who are hungry, thirsty, and naked. (see Matt 25:31-40) But where is that in the WoF doctrine? I have never heard a WoF person talk about Matt 25. Or the entire book of Isaiah, Jeremiah, in that they were written to return a rebellious and evil generation back to God. Those works are spreading the gospel. Those works are being transformed by the Holy Spirit, finding your gifts and then doing them.
Then there is this, you write, which is a complete twisting and distortion of a simple verse, whether KJV or a totally modern version.
"having the faith of God, as Jesus stated in verse 22 in the book of Mk."
Are you kidding me? Did you not read the verse you have posted? Mark 11:22? The fact is, this is what the verse says.
"[FONT="]Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God." Mark 11:22 NET[/FONT]
"[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22 KJV[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]The entire incident of Jesus in verses 22:12-14 & 20-21 is very interesting. First, it is not known whether verses 22-25 are even connected to the fig tree incident. Bibles often put them together.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Helvetica Neue, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Second, and please think on this, cursing the fig tree is a destructive act. Throwing a mountain into the sea is a destructive act, and obviously proverbial. I cannot believe that Jesus meant these things literally, although he certainly curses and killed the fig tree. But why?
Jesus was offering an "acted" parable showing God's judgement on "unfruitful" Israel. Mark's structuring of this section suggests such an interpretation, and it is supported by the prophetic use of fig trees and their fruit, (especially early or first ripe fruit, which would have been what the fig tree would have on it around Passover, when this takes place), to symbolize the people of God and their obedience.
See:
[/FONT]"I will take away their harvests, says the Lord.
There will be no grapes on their vines.
There will be no figs on their fig trees.
Even the leaves on their trees will wither.
The crops that I gave them will be taken away.’”Jeremiah 8:13 NET[FONT="]
"[/FONT]The Lord showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim’s son, King Jeconiah of Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah, along with the craftsmen and metal workers, and took them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be eaten. 3 The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”[FONT="]4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I, the Lord, the God of Israel, say: ‘The exiles whom I sent away from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to be good. 6 I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. 7 I will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the Lord. I will be their God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to me.’[/FONT]
[FONT="]8 “I, the Lord, also solemnly assert: ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 9 I will bring such disaster on them that all the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered wherever I banish them. 10 I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.’” Jer. 24:1-10
Other verses include: Hosea 9:10, 16-17; Micah 7:1 and in the NT Luke 13:6-9.
The evidence suggests that Mark and his readers would have had no difficulty in recognizing the symbolism of the unsuccessful search for fruit.
So, think prophet destruction when you read these verses, and that the answer is to have faith in God!
Much more to comment on, but it is very late, and I've written enough!
[/FONT]
Word of Faith people always jump to the "that's not what I am saying" defense. Well if it is not what you are saying then why are you saying it?I've been checking out some of the things being said about Word of Faith and the false accusations made. I found a guy on line named Rod Saunders from Jew and Greek. Excellent info that should be listened to by any and all who have questions about us who lean towards the proper word of faith issues. Mr. Saunders clearly touches on each subject being discussed here and does it eloquently.
I'm constantly blessed by those who are being lead of the Spirit because they have no anger or need to use straw man tactics when they share their faith. Their conversation is always seasoned with salt and they always show grace. Here is one video that should be listened to. I'll post #1 in a while. I listened to it some time last week and this #2 today. I'll post more as I go along. Blessings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8WmtQh_Ns
Well, I can't fault you for not using scripture to back up what you say.
Only, I never claimed to be God. Nor have I claimed to be the Son of God.
But unlike you, I believe what is written, AS IT IS WRITTEN.
If Jesus said we, who are sons and daughters of the Father, are gods, NOT GODS, but little gods, then we are.
We are gods in one sense that we are made partakers of His divine nature. That is, to those who have receive the spirit of power.
If it is written or if Jesus said we are, then that word He spoke is truth.
It has nothing to do with being immortal.
No one is saying we will live forever in this mortal body.
As you have stated in another post, I am no Greek scholar, nor do I know any Greek or Hebrew. But I am intelligent enough to read and understand the definitions of the Greek scholars who wrote the dictionaries and commentaries.
I have to admit, I enjoy reading individual words from bible verses that others have expounded upon, but I'm pretty sure you didn't say anything I didn't already know. Not unless I missed something.
As far as I can tell, Matthew 21:21 is the same as Mark 11:23.
So as for the "you" or "ye" whom Jesus was addressing, I would say it is to the same "whosoever that shall say unto..." He was speaking to in Mk.
And this has nothing to do with us having faith in ourselves or faith is faith, whatever that means, it has to do with having faith in God or having the faith of God, as Jesus stated in verse 22 in the book of Mk.
Since you're so good at understanding Greek, would you mind interpreting some key words in Mark 11:23 and 24?
Things like, verily, whosoever, no doubt in heart, believe it shall come to pass, whatsoever he says, things soever you desire, believe you have them, and you shall have them.
Mar 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Mar 11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
So “but little gods,” which I bolded above. You say “we are gods.” And above that, you say there is God. Now, by my lights you have:
God - that’s one God
little gods - a multitude of gods.
So 1 God + many gods = polytheism.
You have elevated yourself to some kind of godlike status, which is completely the opposite of Biblical Christianity. It is the opposite of the whole Bible! Jesus himself had the entire Jewish establishment after him for saying he was God. They crucified him for saying he was God, because the entire OT is about people who were supposed to worship YHWH, and instead, they worshiped other gods.
Have you ever even read the OT? Because it is all about the unfaithful Israelites, who chased after foreign gods, when God said, “You shall have no other gods before me!” Have you ever read the prophets? They are all about false gods, and false prophets. So, the WoF manages to be both! A bunch of false prophets telling people they are gods, turning from the living God, to call themselves gods. What blasphemy!
As far as being partakers of the divine nature, probably best to look at the whole passage. These kinds of gross errors always coming from ripping verses out of context.
”I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence. 4 Through these things he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised you may become partakers of the divine nature, after escaping the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to excellence, knowledge; 6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to brotherly affection, unselfish love. 8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing, they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately. 9 But concerning the one who lacks such things—he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 11 For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.” 2 Peter 1:3-11 NET
So, God saves us and gives us a new nature! I agree totally. As born again believers, the Holy Spirit does dwell within us. BUT, that does not make US divine. This is the WoF lie. Look above at the verses I posted in modern English, because I do not understand KJV. We escape worldly corruption produced by evil desire, by being “in Christ.” Absolutely.
Then, it adds qualities the Holy Spirit is developing in us. Peter is admonishing believers to use the gifts God has given us, to be changed into different people. Read verses 5-7 for this.
Then, it says these things (which are the qualities, not some kind of divine godhead!) and continually increasing. Do you know anything about God? He is perfect and complete. We are not! That alone makes us not gods. And we need to be “continually increasing” so we are not ineffective and unproductive. In what? In knowing our Lord Jesus Christ better.
Peter ends with a startling comment in verses 10-11. He tells us to be sure of our calling, so we do not stumble, into sin. If we were gods, would that possibility be there? Gods don’t generally stumble and sin. Well, I guess the Roman, Greek and probably Egyptian and Babylonian gods did sin. The stories are rife with gods who lose their powers, get tied up, demoted, because they came against higher gods who defeated them.
But in fact, those panopolies of gods are not really gods, are they? They are the false gods Isaiah talks about.
"Their land is full of worthless idols;
they worship the product of their own hands,
what their own fingers have fashioned.
9 Men bow down to them in homage,
they lie flat on the ground in worship.
Don’t spare them!
10 Go up into the rocky cliffs,
hide in the ground.
Get away from the dreadful judgment of the Lord,
from his royal splendor!
11 Proud men will be brought low,
arrogant men will be humiliated;
the Lord alone will be exalted
in that day." Isa. 2:8-11
They worship worthless idols. You have made yourself a worthless idol, by claiming you are a god. Word of Faith believers are proud men and they will be brought low, arrogant men who will be humiliated.
It really doesn't get more arrogant and proud than for a mere mortal to claim he is a god, based on a verse pulled out of context.
This is the foundational lie of the WoF movement. Because if we are gods, of course we should be able to command things with our mouths, and speak things into existence that were not, as God does.
BUT, we are NOT GODS! Not lower case, or upper case! We are mortals, and God has graciously saved us, and made us new "creatures" in Christ. Or a new creation.
even the very word "creatures" tells us we had someone else do the creating, because we are not gods. So, does that mean we suddenly became gods? No, it means we mortals have the power of God dwelling in our lives, to change and grow in character, and to do the works he prepared for us. And those works are NOT commanding things into existence, which only a real God can do.
No, those works are helping the poor, those in prison, those who are hungry, thirsty, and naked. (see Matt 25:31-40) But where is that in the WoF doctrine? I have never heard a WoF person talk about Matt 25. Or the entire book of Isaiah, Jeremiah, in that they were written to return a rebellious and evil generation back to God. Those works are spreading the gospel. Those works are being transformed by the Holy Spirit, finding your gifts and then doing them.
Then there is this, you write, which is a complete twisting and distortion of a simple verse, whether KJV or a totally modern version.
"having the faith of God, as Jesus stated in verse 22 in the book of Mk."
Are you kidding me? Did you not read the verse you have posted? Mark 11:22? The fact is, this is what the verse says.
"Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God." Mark 11:22 NET
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22 KJV
The entire incident of Jesus in verses 22:12-14 & 20-21 is very interesting. First, it is not known whether verses 22-25 are even connected to the fig tree incident. Bibles often put them together.
Second, and please think on this, cursing the fig tree is a destructive act. Throwing a mountain into the sea is a destructive act, and obviously proverbial. I cannot believe that Jesus meant these things literally, although he certainly curses and killed the fig tree. But why?
Jesus was offering an "acted" parable showing God's judgement on "unfruitful" Israel. Mark's structuring of this section suggests such an interpretation, and it is supported by the prophetic use of fig trees and their fruit, (especially early or first ripe fruit, which would have been what the fig tree would have on it around Passover, when this takes place), to symbolize the people of God and their obedience.
See:
"I will take away their harvests, says the Lord.
There will be no grapes on their vines.
There will be no figs on their fig trees.
Even the leaves on their trees will wither.
The crops that I gave them will be taken away.’”Jeremiah 8:13 NET
"The Lord showed me two baskets of figs sitting before his temple. This happened after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deported Jehoiakim’s son, King Jeconiah of Judah. He deported him and the leaders of Judah, along with the craftsmen and metal workers, and took them to Babylon. 2 One basket had very good-looking figs in it. They looked like those that had ripened early. The other basket had very bad-looking figs in it, so bad they could not be eaten. 3 The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten.”4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I, the Lord, the God of Israel, say: ‘The exiles whom I sent away from here to the land of Babylon are like those good figs. I consider them to be good. 6 I will look after their welfare and will restore them to this land. There I will build them up and will not tear them down. I will plant them firmly in the land and will not uproot them. 7 I will give them the desire to acknowledge that I am the Lord. I will be their God and they will be my people. For they will wholeheartedly return to me.’
8 “I, the Lord, also solemnly assert: ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people who remain in Jerusalem or who have gone to live in Egypt are like those bad figs. I consider them to be just like those bad figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 9 I will bring such disaster on them that all the kingdoms of the earth will be horrified. I will make them an object of reproach, a proverbial example of disaster. I will make them an object of ridicule, an example to be used in curses. That is how they will be remembered wherever I banish them. 10 I will bring war, starvation, and disease on them until they are completely destroyed from the land I gave them and their ancestors.’” Jer. 24:1-10
Other verses include: Hosea 9:10, 16-17; Micah 7:1 and in the NT Luke 13:6-9.
The evidence suggests that Mark and his readers would have had no difficulty in recognizing the symbolism of the unsuccessful search for fruit.
So, think prophet destruction when you read these verses, and that the answer is to have faith in God!
Much more to comment on, but it is very late, and I've written enough!
Tell me sir, I know God's ways are not our way, nor His thoughts, ours, but have you ever beat one of your children to death to teach them a lesson or to humble them?Everything you say, and this movement in general, is Scriptural and true, BUT you seem to be completely blinded to the GIGANTIC chasm of truth, that is right in front of you.
ALL this moving mountains, bountiful living, healings, speaking in tongues, raising people from the dead, etc...! IS CONTINGENT ON THE WILL OF GOD!
So if it serves the Will of God to give you faith enough to cast a mountain into the sea for HIS purposes, then by golly you can cast that mountain into the sea.
Jesus' Will would have been to turn stones into bread. He was starving. He had the ability and faith to do it, but by the WHOLE counsel of God, through the Word, He knew it wasn't the Father's Will.
Jesus wasn't going to ascent to the temptations to do magic tricks like jumping off the Temple or perform some miracle for Herod. Not for freedom, not for glory, not to avoid persecution. ONLY BY THE FATHER'S WILL.
Jesus was tempted all through the Gospels to gain the kingdom WITHOUT going to the cross.
Satan showing, and offering Him ALL the Empires throughout time.
Peter saying he would never allow Jesus to be killed.
The criminal on the cross telling Him if He were the Christ to get them all off their crosses.
The point is Jesus NEVER did anything that went against the Will of God. And he KNEW Always what that perfect Will was.
That is what is so terribly wrong with this doctrine. You DON'T know the perfect Will of God, and how He can and does use afflictions and hardships to bring about That perfect Will.
Everything you say, and this movement in general, is Scriptural and true, BUT you seem to be completely blinded to the GIGANTIC chasm of truth, that is right in front of you.
ALL this moving mountains, bountiful living, healings, speaking in tongues, raising people from the dead, etc...! IS CONTINGENT ON THE WILL OF GOD!
So if it serves the Will of God to give you faith enough to cast a mountain into the sea for HIS purposes, then by golly you can cast that mountain into the sea.
Jesus' Will would have been to turn stones into bread. He was starving. He had the ability and faith to do it, but by the WHOLE counsel of God, through the Word, He knew it wasn't the Father's Will.
Jesus wasn't going to ascent to the temptations to do magic tricks like jumping off the Temple or perform some miracle for Herod. Not for freedom, not for glory, not to avoid persecution. ONLY BY THE FATHER'S WILL.
Jesus was tempted all through the Gospels to gain the kingdom WITHOUT going to the cross.
Satan showing, and offering Him ALL the Empires throughout time.
Peter saying he would never allow Jesus to be killed.
The criminal on the cross telling Him if He were the Christ to get them all off their crosses.
The point is Jesus NEVER did anything that went against the Will of God. And he KNEW Always what that perfect Will was.
That is what is so terribly wrong with this doctrine. You DON'T know the perfect Will of God, and how He can and does use afflictions and hardships to bring about That perfect Will.