MaxinDHouse, see the curious case of Simon the Sorcerer;

Acts 8 v 9-24;

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

OkCornel:

So there were Christians on the planet when Jesus preached the sermon on the Mount?
By the way, do you recall what happened to Simon the sorcerer despite being baptised, believed the gospel and followed the Apostles around? He was scolded for trying to purchase the Holy Spirit with money, and told to repent because HIS HEART was not right with God.
Bible studies and baptism is pointless if one’s heart isn’t pure and right before God.

There were Christians (followers of Christ) but the group has not been established until God's Holy Spirit came down and baptized 120 disciples assembled together in one place with one accord. From that day onward anyone not connected to that group is on his or her own!

OkCornel:
MaxinDHouse, see the curious case of Simon the Sorcerer;

Acts 8 v 9-24;

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

There are many whose hearts are pure in all the religions of this earth but then they must come under the umbrella of God's organization otherwise they are doomed!

That's why God's word says:

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. Zephaniah 2:2-3

It's one thing to love righteousness but without meekness such individuals will loose out. WHY? Because it's meekness that will help them to humbly subjects themselves under imperfect humans chosen by God to do God's will along with millions of others!

OkCornel:

My God is Truth. How is this too hard for you to comprehend?
Does Truth (God) belong to a religion?
Is Truth (God) limited to what is written? Or is Truth (God) a Spirit?

Pls kindly explain better. Is Truth the name of your God?

cornelboy:

Pls kindly explain better. Is Truth the name of your God?

He is the Truth. It can’t get simpler than this.

MaxInDHouse:


There were Christians (followers of Christ) but the group has not been established until God's Holy Spirit came down and baptized 120 disciples assembled together in one place with one accord. From that day onward anyone not connected to that group is on his or her own!

Did Jesus mention the pure in heart will see God before the Pentecost? Or after the Pentecost?

Doesn’t the pure in heart matter also apply to those who lived before Christ?

It’s always about the state of the heart.

Guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life… (somewhere in Proverbs)

OkCornel:

Just like the 66 books and the Apocrypha right?
If they might have been inspired, then why do you regard the 66 books of the Bible as the complete word of God?
Sounds like mental conditioning to me…

The apocrypha books were not inspired. I have studied some and their history.

Everything God revealed might not have been recorded in a book but what we have in the 66 books is enough for our salvation.

MaxInDHouse:


There are many whose hearts are pure in all the religions of this earth but then they must come under the umbrella of God's organization otherwise they are doomed!

That's why God's word says:

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD'S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. Zephaniah 2:2-3

It's one thing to love righteousness but without meekness such individuals will loose out. WHY? Because it's meekness that will help them to humbly subjects themselves under imperfect humans chosen by God to do God's will along with millions of others!

How can one be pure in heart and yet be doomed?

Won’t they see God as Jesus mentioned in the beatitudes?

cornelboy:

The apocrypha books were not inspired. I have studied some and their history.

Everything God revealed might not have been recorded in a book but what we have in the 66 books is enough for our salvation.

The Apocrypha books were not inspired, yet they made their way into the 1611 King James Bible.
They’re also in the Ethiopian Bible which is one of the oldest Bibles in the world.

Who told you they were not inspired? What’s your basis for arriving at this conclusion?

What about the writings of the early church fathers (Polycarp, Origen, Ireneaus etc) who were disciples of the Apostles?

Their epistles was not inspired by the Holy Spirit too abi?

OkCornel:

Which religion did God give man to reach out to Him? Are you really listening to yourself?
Did Adam, Enoch or Abraham or Job have a religion?
Or was it more of a faith driven and personal relationship with the ALMIGHTY.

God spoke with Abraham one on one and made some covenants with him.

Here's a particular one:
Genesis 22:18
[18]And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

All those men of old you mentioned didn't have a particular way of worship but walked with God in faith.

What about the religion he gave to the descendants of Abraham? That's Moses and the Israelites?

What about the ransom he brought through Jesus Christ and the religion Jesus established?

Who is your God?

cornelboy:

God spoke with Abraham one on one and made some covenants with him.

Here's a particular one:
Genesis 22:18
[18]And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

All those men of old you mentioned didn't have a particular way of worship but walked with God in faith.

What about the religion he gave to the descendants of Abraham? That's Moses and the Israelites?

What about the ransom he brought through Jesus Christ and the religion Jesus established?

Who is your God?

Truth is my God, and my God is Truth. How is this too hard for you to comprehend?

Truth is authentic, religion is man made. Don’t mistake one for the other.

God spoke to Abraham, Adam, Job one on one, can He not also speak to you one on one?

cornelboy:

The apocrypha books were not inspired. I have studied some and their history.

Everything God revealed might not have been recorded in a book but what we have in the 66 books is enough for our salvation.

Who capped God’s words at 66 books?

Where exactly in the scriptures did the Apostles and prophets mention God’s words is in 66 books only?

I’m keen to know the book, chapter and verse that clearly shows all of God’s words will be in 66 books only.

OkCornel:

How can one be pure in heart and yet be doomed?
Won’t they see God as Jesus mentioned in the beatitudes?

Pure connotes purity and that doesn't mean the person have faith in God. It's one thing to have faith and faith makes one see God as the supreme being in control of faithful people. So to prove the pureness one must be willing to submit in the midst of other faithful ones {Zechariah 8:23} that's when God appreciates the purity and the pure in heart will see God.

But in the absence of that gathering then such pureness amounts to self righteousness!

OkCornel:

The Apocrypha books were not inspired, yet they made their way into the 1611 King James Bible.
They’re also in the Ethiopian Bible which is one of the oldest Bibles in the world.
Who told you they were not inspired? What’s your basis for arriving at this conclusion?
What about the writings of the early church fathers (Polycarp, Origen, Ireneaus etc) who were disciples of the Apostles?
Their epistles was not inspired by the Holy Spirit too abi?

Why were they removed?

OkCornel:

He is the Truth. It can’t get simpler than this.

The truth about what?

OkCornel:

Who capped God’s words at 66 books?
Where exactly in the scriptures did the Apostles and prophets mention God’s words is in 66 books only?
I’m keen to know the book, chapter and verse that clearly shows all of God’s words will be in 66 books only.

How many books should it be?

OkCornel:

Truth is my God, and my God is Truth. How is this too hard for you to comprehend?
Truth is authentic, religion is man made. Don’t mistake one for the other.
God spoke to Abraham, Adam, Job one on one, can He not also speak to you one on one?

Did God give Moses a religion or not?

cornelboy:

Did God give Moses a religion or not?

Did God give Adam, Abraham, Enoch or Job a religion or not?

cornelboy:

How many books should it be?

You cannot capture the entire truth in writing. It is too vast to be captured in writing.

For example, if all the acts and sayings of Jesus were written, all the books in the world would not contain it.

John 21 v 25;
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.


Your focus should be the spirit of truth, for that is the source of all truth be it written or unwritten.

OkCornel:

Did God give Adam, Abraham, Enoch or Job a religion or not?

He hadn't given any religion then but he later did.
Did God give Moses and his people religion or not?

cornelboy:

The truth about what?

Is the word "Truth" no longer self explanatory?

You're beginning to sound like Pilate here;

John 18 v 37-38

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him

OkCornel:

You cannot capture the entire truth in writing. It is too vast to be captured in writing.
For example, if all the acts and sayings of Jesus were written, all the books in the world would not contain it.
John 21 v 25;
Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Your focus should be the spirit of truth, for that is the source of all truth be it written or unwritten.

If you have the spirit of truth in you and it's revealing more truth to you, good for you.
You can share them here, perhaps we might benefit from it.

cornelboy:

He hadn't given any religion then but he later did.
Did God give Moses and his people religion or not?

Tell us where God gave Moses a religion, and the name of that religion. Show me the name of the religion from the scriptures.

Not what man called it, but what God called it.

Book, Chapter and verse.

I keep laughing at those who see the Truth (God) from a religious lense.

Please show me the name God called this religion he handed over to Moses. You people keep trying to make a religion from the truth, rather than obey the truth.

OkCornel:

Is the word "Truth" no longer self explanatory?
You're beginning to sound like Pilate here;
John 18 v 37-38
37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him

The name of your own God is Truth Abi?

cornelboy:

God spoke with Abraham one on one and made some covenants with him.

Here's a particular one:
Genesis 22:18
[18]And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

All those men of old you mentioned didn't have a particular way of worship but walked with God in faith.

What about the religion he gave to the descendants of Abraham? That's Moses and the Israelites?

What about the ransom he brought through Jesus Christ and the religion Jesus established?

Who is your God?

What religion did Jesus establish? The last time I checked...Jesus lived and died for the TRUTH.

Infact, He became one with the Spirit of Truth and also became the TRUTH. Guess what, it was religious people that beefed him and killed him.

Jesus brought the TRUTH to enlighten men, not religion.

cornelboy:


The name of your own God is Truth Abi?

Yes. Any problem with that?

cornelboy:

He hadn't given any religion then but he later did.
Did God give Moses and his people religion or not?

For the umpteenth time. God never gave any religion.

He is TRUTH and He revealed TRUTH to men for them to obey and follow.

But unscrupulous elements make a religion from the TRUTH to mentally enslave and control many.

Wake up.

TRUTH and religion are not the same thing. Religion is a fraudulent imitation of the TRUTH.

OkCornel:

Tell us where God gave Moses a religion, and the name of that religion. Show me the name of the religion from the scriptures.
Not what man called it, but what God called it.
Book, Chapter and verse.
I keep laughing at those who see the Truth (God) from a religious lense.
Please show me the name God called this religion he handed over to Moses. You people keep trying to make a religion from the truth, rather than obey the truth.

Baba go and sleep.
All the ten commandments, burnt offerings, sin offering, Sabbath worship etc is not religion right?

cornelboy:

If you have the spirit of truth in you and it's revealing more truth to you, good for you.
You can share them here, perhaps we might benefit from it.

Until you are mentally reborn, you will struggle with deeper realms of TRUTH.

One who is still mentally stuck with written TRUTH (66 books and counting) wants to wade into deeper realms of TRUTH (unwritten)?

Unless the Spirit of TRUTH is your compass, sharing these with you might be an exercise in futility.

OkCornel:

Yes. Any problem with that?

Where did your God claim that his name his Truth?

cornelboy:

Baba go and sleep.
All the ten commandments, burnt offerings, sin offering, Sabbath worship etc is not religion right?

Can you give me the name God called this religion?

Book, chapter and verse.

OkCornel:

What religion did Jesus establish? The last time I checked...Jesus lived and died for the TRUTH.
Infact, He became one with the Spirit of Truth and also became the TRUTH. Guess what, it was religious people that beefed him and killed him.
Jesus brought the TRUTH to enlighten men, not religion.

What about the people practising Jesus' teachings and commandments? Is their way of worship not a religion?

Be like say you don't know what a religion is.