IF AMERICA IS NUKED AND YOU DIE, WHERE WILL YOU SPEND ETERNITY?

Ancient Israel in 732 BC was warned by GOD by a shaking, by the Assyrians, they became 

defiant, 21 years later the Assyrians scattered the northern kingdom, never to be again. 695 BC Babylon invades Judah, Judah does not repent and also become defiant, 19 years later Babylon burns the Temple and destroys Jerusalem, and takes the people captive.

Sept. 11, 2001 America has it's first warning, but in the past 13 years America, who started to turn back to GOD at first, withing months began to walk away, turned its back on GOD and become as defiant as those nations that worshiped idols. If America continues on the path of insubordination and opposition to GOD, her judgment will be one worse than could be imagined.

At the dedication of the Temple the LORD appeared to Solomon and said, "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, ¹⁴ if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:13,14). 

George Washington in his inaugural address on April 30, 1789 said, "We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained;. . ."  Even the Fathers of this nation knew to whom is owed for the greatness that this nation was going to achieve.  Sadly though, 225 years later, the opposite has occurred.

Rome and the Ottoman Empires lasted longer, over 400 years.

Whether the nation's judgment is sooner or later, are you ready?  Have you partaken of the bread of life, the living water? The most important issue is not where the nation is headed, but you! This seems like a redundant verse BUT IT IS THE GOSPEL, and that is that God so loved the world that He [took on flesh and became a man named Jesus the Christ], gave His one of a kind Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life...... (John 3:16).

ASSYRIANS, ISIS, ANY DIFFERENCE?

Are there any similarities between the Assyrians of the 7th century BC and prior and ISIS? Assyria encompassed the area which now comprises Syria, northern and central Iraq. This is the same area and peoples group of ISIS today. What does the acronym ISIS stand form? Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. I want share a brief view of the actions of the Assyrians against its enemies. Reliefs and inscriptions found by archaeologist of recordings by Ashurnasirpal II which were to record his actions and also to instill fear and terror on anyone who would resist:

"I flayed as many nobles as had rebelled against me, draped their skins over the pile [of corpses]; some I spread out within the pile, some I erected on stakes upon the pile. . . I flayed many right through my land, draped their skins over the walls..."

"I felled 50 of their fighting men with the sword, burnt 220 captives. . . I cut off the heads of their fighters. . . I burnt their adolescent boys and girls."  

On another account he records: 

"I cut off of others their noses, ears [and] extremities. I gouged out the eyes of many troops. I made a pile of the living, one of heads. I hung their heads on trees around the city."

The LORD GOD used the Assyrians against Israel, the northern kingdom, because Israel had turned its back on GOD, they had blasphemed GOD and refused to repent. Look at the brief description of the type of people were the Assyrians.  Look at the actions of what could be called the rise of a Neo-Assyrian group calling itself ISIS. As GOD called Israel to repentance, so GOD is calling America to repentance. If America continues to defy the LORD GOD, continue to blaspheme the LORD, He will unleash judgment against, not only America, but the world who has made the itself the enemy and hater of the Creator, the LORD GOD of hosts.

[The emphasis is mine]

Truly What Is Being Celebrated At Christmas

Scripture, the Bible, never states the time of year that Jesus was born but studying the Old Testament one can see that it is most likely that Jesus was born sometime in the spring of the year. But let’s not get caught up on the when, but let’s look on the why of the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of Jesus.

HIS birth was herald by an angel and celebrated by a multitude host of angels ^“And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11). Why a Savior? Because “GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten Son that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have everlasting life,” (John 3:16). Still though, why a savior? Because of Adam’s sin we inherit that sin nature and death has been passed on to us, (Romans 5:12), in the same manner that we inherit the characteristics of our parents. And because we all inherit the sin nature, all of us are born sinners and therefore all are sinners and fall short of the glory of GOD, (Romans 3:23). We then need a perfect sinless sacrifice to wash away this sin, but because we are sinners, it is impossible for us to wash away this sin. We are powerless to do anything. There is absolutely nothing we can do. But through Jesus, GOD in the flesh became a sacrifice for us by HIS death on the cross. GOD Himself, keeping HIS divine nature, became incarnate being born of a woman being both GOD and man at the same time for the sole purpose of paying the price for our sin so that we then can have eternal life. In HIM we have redemption through HIS blood, the forgiveness of sin, according to the riches of HIS grace,” (Ephesians 1:7).  

Christmas is not, the little drummer boy, frosty the snow man, or singing Jingle Bells. Christmas is celebrating the eternal, living GOD putting on flesh, to pay the price as sinless man for sinful man. “For unto to you is born a SAVIOR.” A savior saves. There is absolutely no other religion on the face of the earth that has a Savior. The best they can do is ‘hope’ that their works can win for them something. GOD said that without HIM, you can do absolutely nothing, (John15:5).

Think it through, if you died now, do you know for sure if you will be in the presence of GOD or will you be eternally separated from HIM awaiting being sent to the Lake of Fire? (Revelation 20:11-15).

¿SER BUENO, NEGAR DIOS, Y TODAVIA TENER VIDA ETERNA?

"No es necesario creer en Dios para ser una buena persona. En cierto modo la tradicional de Dios es obsoleta. Una lata espiritual pero no religioso. No es necesario ir a la iglesia y dar dinero - para muchos, la naturaleza puede ser una iglesia. Algunos de los mejores personajes de la historia no creían en Dios, mientras que algunos de los peores actos fueron realizados en su nombre. "El Papa Francisco.

    Bueno, vamos a ver lo que dice la Escritura en relación con esta declaración del Papa, "No es necesario creer en Dios para ser una buena persona" - Si eliminamos las Escrituras - ¿Cómo se define lo que significa ser "bueno" es? ¿Cuál es el motivo o razón de ser bueno?
     Desde un punto de vista podemos decir que ser bueno es hacer las cosas que son buenas para los demás. Desde ese punto de vista humano, uno puede ser bueno para otros seres humanos. Pero este es el Papa hablando por lo que debe indicar cómo Dios define "ser bueno". -
      En realidad, Dios llama a alguien que no cree en Él un tonto. "Dice el necio en su corazón: No hay Dios. Se han corrompido, hacen obras abominables; no hay quien haga lo bueno," (Salmo 14: 1).  Vamos a definir un tonto: "una persona carente de juicio o prudencia un retenedor anteriormente guardado, una persona inofensiva trastornado o uno carente de poderes comunes de entendimiento" -Así que uno puede ser un " tonto bueno".
       El Papa dice que "no hay que asistir a la iglesia y dar dinero, y que para muchos, la naturaleza puede ser una iglesia". Los creyentes, los nacidos de nuevo son el cuerpo de Cristo que es la Iglesia. Iglesia jamás a sido un edificio. Es sólo cuando la "iglesia" une en comunión. La palabra iglesia viene del griego,  'ekklesia'  que significa una asamblea. Romanos 16: 5 dice, "y saludar a la iglesia que está en su casa ..." No dice saludo a la casa o el edificio que está en la casa. Yo como él dice para muchos la naturaleza puede ser una iglesia, entonces la naturaleza misma es una persona.  La Escritura Sagrada dice en Hebreos 10:25 "No dejando de 'unnirse' juntos, como algunos tienen por costumbre, sino exhortándonos unos a otros, y tanto más, cuanto veis que aquel día se acerca." Sí, hubiera sido mejor dicho que usted no tiene que ir a un lugar establecido para el culto, pero uno se une para adorar al Señor. No estamos para decidir sí o no, no dirigimos nuestros propios caminos - "¡Oh Señor, yo sé que el camino del hombre no es en sí mismo, no es del hombre que camina es el ordenar sus pasos." (Jeremías 10:23).
   Continua el Papa, "Algunos de los mejores personajes de la historia que no creía en Dios, mientras que algunos de los peores actos fueron realizados en su nombre." En cuanto a la primera parte, es cierto, pero  que les vale el ser bueno cuando mueren? Jesús dijo: "Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida:. Nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí" (Juan 14: 6). Y, en Juan 3: 18-21, "El que en él cree, no es condenado: el que tiene no cree, ya es condenado, porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito Hijo de Dios, y esta es la condenación. , que la luz vino al mundo, y los hombres amaron más las tinieblas que la luz, porque sus obras eran malas Porque todo aquel que hace lo malo, aborrece la luz y no viene a la luz, porque sus obras no sean reprendidas.. Mas el que practica la verdad viene a la luz para que sus obras sean manifestadas que son hechas en Dios." Ahora no se olviden Juan 3: 5 donde Jesús dijo: "De cierto, de cierto te digo, que el que no naciere de agua y del Espíritu, no puede entrar en el reino de Dios!" Los mismos que hacen el mal en nombre del Dios de La Escritura Sagrada, conjunto con las "buenas" personas que no creen, o sólo con la boca dicen que creen, serán separados de Dios por toda la eternidad.  COMO ESTA ESCRITO; "Y vi un gran trono blanco y al que estaba sentado sobre él, de cuya cara la tierra y el cielo huyeron;. Y no se halló lugar para ellos Y vi a los muertos, grandes y pequeños, de pie ante el trono; se abrieron y libros: y otro libro fue abierto, el cual es el libro de la vida: y fueron juzgados los muertos por las cosas que estaban escritas en los libros, según sus obras y el mar entregó los muertos que. había en él; y la muerte y el Hades entregaron los muertos que había en ellos.. y fueron juzgados cada uno según sus obras y la muerte y el Hades fueron lanzados al lago de fuego Esta es la segunda muerte, y el lago de fuego. Y el que no fué hallado escrito en el libro de la vida fue arrojado al lago de fuego". Apocalipsis 20: 11-15-

STILL BE GOOD, DENY GOD, AND HAVE ETERNAL LIFE?

“It is not necessary to believe in God to be a good person. In a way the traditional of God is outdated. One can spiritual but not religious. It is not necessary to go to church and give money – for many, nature can be a church. Some of the best people in history did not believe in God, while some of the worst deeds were done in His name.” Pope Francis.

   Well, let's see what the Scripture says concerning this statement  by Pope Francis, "It's not necessary to believe in God to be a good person" - If we remove Scripture – how do we define what being “good” is? What is the motive or reason for being good?

    From a human point of view we can say that being good is doing things which are good for others so, from that point of view, one can be good to other humans. But this is the Pope speaking so he must state how God defines “being good”. -

     Actually, GOD calls anyone who doesn't believe in Him a Fool. “The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good“, (Psalm 14:1).  Let's define a fool: "a person lacking in judgment or prudence  a retainer formerly kept in great households to provide casual entertainment and commonly dressed in motley with cap, bells, and bauble, a harmlessly deranged person or one lacking in common powers of understanding" -  So one can then be a "good fool".

      The Pope says it's "not necessary to go to church and give money- for many, nature can be a church". The believers, those born again are the body of Christ which is the church. Church is not nor has it ever been a building. That is only where the "church" unites in fellowship. The word church is from the Greek 'ekklesia' meaning an assembly. Romans 16:5 says,  "and salute the church that is in their house... " It doesn't say salute the house or the building that is in the house. I as he says for mant nature can be a church, then nature itself is a person. Scripture says in Hebrews 10:25  "not forsaking our own 'assembling' together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh." Yes it would have been better said that you don't have to go to an established place to worship, but one is to worship the Lord GOD. We are not to decide yes or no, we do not direct our own paths - "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." (Jeremiah 10:23).

   "Some of the best people in history did not believe in GOD, while some of the worst deeds were done in His name."  As for the first part, true, but what did it profit for them when they died? Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6).  And, in John 3:18-21, "He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. For every one that doeth evil hates the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God." Now don't forget John 3:5 where Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God!"  Just the same as those who do evil in the name of the God of Scripture, along with the 'good' people that don't believe, or with their mouths only say they believe, will be separated from GOD for eternity.  AS IT IS WRITTEN; "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And the sea gave up the dead that were in it; and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.  And if any was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the LAKE OF FIRE." Revelation 20:11-15-

LO QUE EL SEÑOR REQUIERE DE UN LÍDER DE UNA NACION

Es un dicho universal que con gran poder existe una gran responsabilidad. Así también el Señor ha dicho que a quien mucho se da, mucho se le requiere. Los líderes de esta nación, en particular el Presidente, tienen una gran responsabilidad y, ya que es el Señor quien establece y derrumba reyes y reinos, y porque el Señor, que vive y reina hoy es el mismo Señor de ayer y la eternidad pasada y inmutable, lo que Jeremías transmitió al rey de Judá es para el líder y los oficiales de esta nación hoy en día que una vez fue dedicada al misma Jehová en 1789.
"Oíd la palabra de Jehová, a ti, rey de Judá. . . usted, sus funcionarios y tu pueblo que entran por estas puertas. Esto es lo que dice el Señor: "Haced lo que es justo y recto. Rescate de la mano del opresor, el que ha sido robado. No maltraten o violencia al extranjero, al huérfano ya la viuda, y no derramar sangre inocente en este lugar. . . si no obedeces estos comandos, dice Jehová, por mí he jurado que este palacio se convertirá en una ruina. Esto es lo que dice el Señor en el palacio del rey de Judá: "Aunque usted es como Gilead para mí,
como la cumbre del Líbano, seguramente pondré como un desierto, al igual que las ciudades no habitadas. Yo enviaré contra ti destructores, cada uno con sus armas, y cortarán tus cedros finos y los echarán en el fuego. "La gente de muchas naciones pasan por esta ciudad y le preguntarán unos a otros, Y la respuesta será '¿Por qué ha Jehová hecho una cosa así a esta gran ciudad?': 'Por cuanto dejaron el pacto de Jehová su Dios, y han adorado y servido a otros dioses '"no lloréis por el rey muerto o llorar su pérdida. más bien, llorad amargamente por el exiliado,
porque jamás volverá ni verá su tierra natal de nuevo.
[El énfasis es mío]

 

Referencias:
Lucas 12:48; Daniel 02:21; 5: 8; Salmo 75: 7; Malaquías 3: 6; Hebreos 13; 8; Jeremías 22: 3-10

WHAT THE LORD REQUIRES OF A NATIONS LEADER

It is a universal saying that with great power there is great responsibility. So also the LORD has said that to whom much is given, much will be required.[i] The leaders of this nation, in particular the President, have great responsibility and as it is the LORD who sets up and takes down kings and kingdoms,[ii] and in that the LORD who lives and reigns today is the same LORD of yesterday and eternity past and immutable,[iii] what Jeremiah relayed to the king of Judah holds to the leader and the officials of this nation today that was once dedicated to the same LORD in 1789.

“Hear the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah . . . you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.  This is what the Lord says: ‘Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed INNOCENT blood in this place . . . if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I SWEAR BY MYSELF that this palace will become a ruin. This is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah:  “Though you are like Gilead to me,
like the summit of Lebanon, I will surely make you like a wasteland, like towns not inhabited. I will send destroyers against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut up your fine cedar beams and throw them into the fire.  “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’ And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.’” Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss; rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return nor see his native land again.[iv]

[Emphasis is mine]

---

[i] Luke 12:48

[ii] Daniel 2:21; 5:8; Psalm 75:7

[iii] Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13;8

[iv] Jeremiah 22:3-10

ACCION DE GRACIAS

"Estad siempre alegres; orar sin cesar; Dad gracias en todo; porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para con vosotros en Cristo Jesús "1 Tesalonicenses 5: 16-18..

La tradición de Acción de Gracias en Norteamérica es para dar gracias por las bendiciones de la cosecha del año anterior. Tiene sus raíces en las tradiciones inglesas que se remontan a la Reforma Protestante. Aquí en los EE.UU. el día de Gracias recibió estatus oficial en 1863 por la Proclamación Presidencial por Abraham Lincoln dejando de lado el último jueves de noviembre como el día para dar gracias por las bendiciones de los Estados Unidos. El 26 de diciembre de 1941 Franklin Roosevelt por la Proclamación Presidencial cambió la fecha para el cuarto jueves de noviembre. Este día es "célebre" tanto por las comunidades religiosas y seculares. Pero echemos un vistazo a la "religiosa", si puedo decirlo en esta forma, los aspectos de este día de Acción de Gracias, en particular como la forma en que es celebrado por la comunidad Cristiana.

En su primera carta a los Tesalonicenses el apóstol Pablo escribió ". . . Dad gracias en todo."  Pero, ¿de qué realmente dan gracias los cristianos? Usted sabe bien que las gracias se dan sólo para aquellas cosas que han recibido y por lo general se refiere a las cosas materiales. ¿Es eso lo que tenemos que hacer? ¡No! El cristiano ha de dar al Señor gracias por todas las cosas; ". . . Dad gracias en todo."  No hay excusas. No hay excepciones, "Dad gracias en todo." Eso es todo. En la persecución, en la tragedia, no importa cuáles sean las circunstancias; en las luchas, en el juicio, en las pruebas, sea agradecido. De las gracias a Él directamente. Todo esto con la obvia excepción del pecado personal y eso se explica por sí.

La esencia de la actitud cristiana y la esencia de vida es acción de gracias. Siendo ingratos es la esencia del corazón no regenerado. Esto se explica en Romanos 1:21, "Pues habiendo conocido a Dios, no le glorificaron como a Dios ni le dieron gracias, sino que se envanecieron en sus razonamientos, y su necio corazón fue entenebrecido." La acusación aquí es contra  el no cristiano, el no creyente, que se niega a hacer lo más básico, dar gracias a Dios por todo. El carácter del hombre no regenerado, es no dar gracias a Dios.

¿Dónde te encuentras en esto? ¿Das gracias al Señor en todas las cosas?

¿O eres como los no regenerados?

 

THANKSGIVING

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18.

The Thanksgiving tradition in North America is for giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest of the previous year. It is rooted in the English traditions going back to the Protestant Reformation. Here in the U.S. Thanksgiving received official status in 1863 by the Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln setting aside the last Thursday of November as the day in which to set aside to give thanks for America’s blessings. On December 26, 1941 Franklin Roosevelt by Presidential Proclamation changed the date to the fourth Thursday of November. This day is “celebrated” by both the religious and secular communities.  But let’s look at the ‘religious’, if I can state it in this form, aspect of this day of Thanksgiving, in particular as how it may be celebrated by the Christian community.

In his first letter to the Thessalonians the Apostle Paul states “. . . in everything give thanks.” But what are Christians really giving thanks for? You know well that thanks are given only for those things that they have received and usually it concerns material things. Is that what we are to do? No! The Christian is to give The LORD thanks for all things; “. . . in everything give thanks.” There are no excuses. There are no exceptions, “in everything give thanks.” That is everything, in persecution, in tragedy, no matter what the circumstances; in struggles, in trial, in testing, be thankful, give thanks directly to HIM.  All this with the obvious exception of personal sin and that is self-explanatory.

The essence of the Christian attitude and living essence is thanksgiving.  Being unthankful is the essence of the unregenerate heart.  This is explained in Romans 1:21, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  The indictment here is against the non-Christian, the unbeliever, who refuses to do the very basic, give thanks to GOD for everything.  The character of the unregenerate, unsaved man is he will not give thanks to GOD.

Where are you found in this? Do you give thanks to the LORD in all things? Or are you like the unregenerate?

 

 

 

 

 

EL LLAMADO DE LEVI

El siguiente argumento es en defensa de una posición que sostengo viene en su mayoría de la escritura de Alfred Edersheim de "La vida y los Tiempos de Jesús el Mesías". Hendrickson Publishing, 200, pp.345-362. Publicado originalmente en 1883. Alfred Edersheim (7 marzo 1825 a 16 marzo 1889) fue un judío converso al cristianismo y un estudioso de la Biblia. Sus otros trabajos incluyen la historia de la nación judía después de la destrucción de Jerusalén por Tito (Edimburgo, 1856); El Templo (Londres, 1874); Historia de la Biblia (7 vols, 1876-1887.); Usos y costumbres de los judíos en los tiempos de Cristo (1876); La vida y los tiempos de Jesús el Mesías (2 vols, 1883;. La condensación en un solo volumen, de 1890); Profecía e Historia en relación con el Mesías (Conferencias Warburton para 1880-1884, 1885); Tohu va Bohu, "desordenada y vacía". Una colección de pensamientos fragmentarios y críticas. Ed. con una memoria, por Ella Edersheim (1890); Jesús el Mesías por Alfred Edersheim (Londres, 1898); Desarrollo histórico de la filosofía especulativa, de Kant a Hegel 1854 traducción de un libro filosófico por Heinrich Moritz Chalybäus.

Como prólogo, durante la clase de Apologética el 16 de noviembre, la discusión fue sobre el "Costo del Discipulado" y la cuestión se señaló que uno de los "costos" implica la necesidad de dejar todo de la antigua forma de vida y seguir a Jesús Cristo. Un ejemplo que fue la vocación de Mateo según consta en el Evangelio escrito por Marcos, capítulo dos versículo catorce: "y al pasar, vio a Leví, hijo de Alfeo, sentado en el banco de los tributos, y le dijo: él, "Sígueme!" y él se levantó y le siguió.

Se dijo que Mateo se levantó, dejó todo en ese momento y se convirtió en discípulo de Jesús. Entonces hice la pregunta que Mateo debe haber oído y conocido de Jesús antes de su ser llamado por Jesús. Mi pregunta fue refutada de que no, de que el Espíritu Santo le dio a Mateo en ese momento el conocimiento, (a falta de una palabra mejor), que Jesús era el verdadero Mesías. Mi réplica fue que a pesar de que el Espíritu Santo en Su manera dio a conocer a Mateo para que sigue a Jesús en ese momento, que Mateo todavía habría oído hablar de e incluso había escuchado a Jesús desde que Jesús estaba predicando en Cafarnaúm, donde Mateo tenía su lugar de trabajo.
En el segundo capítulo de Marcos, versículos 1-13, usted va a leer de la curación del hombre paralítico que tuvo lugar en Cafarnaum. Después de esto, Jesús se sale de Cafarnaúm y paseos a la orilla del Mar de Galilea y tenía al parecer un lugar gran multitud de personas siguiéndolo. El Evangelio no dice nada sobre el tiempo transcurrido entre el incidente del paralítico y el ir a la orilla del mar, pero se sabe que Marcos escribió en lo que algunos consideran como salto críptico de un lugar a otro sin dar una indicación de tiempo entre eventos.
Edersheim escribe:

"No hay necesidad de suponer que [llamando de Mateo] se llevó a cabo inmediatamente después de la curación del paralítico. Por el contrario, la cuenta más circunstancial de Marcos indica, que en algún momento había intervenido (Marcos 2:13). Si nuestra sugerencia es correcta, que era invierno cuando el paralítico fue sanado en Capernaum, podemos suponer que tenga el tiempo de comienzo de la primavera de ese distrito favorecido, cuando Jesús salió otra vez junto al mar. "Y con esto,. . . mejor conviene en la sucesión de los acontecimientos después. Pocos, si alguno, podrían haber disfrutado de mejores oportunidades para la audiencia, y en silencio pensando en la enseñanza de la Prohet de Nazaret, que Levi-Mateo. "[Alfred Edersheim," La vida y los tiempos de Jesús el Mesías "Hendrickson, 2001, P355 ].

Por supuesto que todos los que vienen a Jesús son llamados por Él, el Espíritu Santo da a los que llama los conocimientos necesarios para conocer la verdad de Jesucristo, y que, "Nadie puede venir a mí, si el Padre que me envió no le trajere; . . . " (Juan 6:44). Había otros en esa época que afirman ser el Mesías, pero su objetivo era la liberación inmediata del yugo de Roma. ¿Cuál fue el mensaje que Jesús estaba extendiendo el cual El Espíritu Santo habría convencido a Mateo era verdad? ¿Cuál era la diferencia entre su mensaje y el de los demás; el perdón.

Levi-Mateo estaba en una profesión que fue considerado por el "religioso" como siendo el más bajo de lo bajo. En sus ojos no había perdón, perdón gratuito e incondicional. ¿Qué había hecho antes Jesús al paralítico?

"Al ver su fe, Jesús le dijo al paralítico:" Hijo, tus pecados te son perdonados. "Pero algunos de los maestros de la ley que estaban sentados allí pensado a sí mismos," ¿Qué está diciendo? Esto es una blasfemia! Sólo Dios puede perdonar los pecados "(Marcos 2: 5-7)!.

Así que Mateo sentado en su cabina de colectores de impuestos como sería su costumbre, debe de haber oído a Jesús como Él predicó por la orilla del mar, que al parecer también era su costumbre, y se sabe que Cafarnaúm era Su sede en el inicio de su ministerio . Al escuchar a Jesús predicar la Buena Nueva del perdón, el arrepentimiento, y la vida eterna, sí Mateo sabía que lo que había oído era la verdad y el Espíritu Santo fue la chispa, esa explosión en el cerebro de Mateo que dijo he aquí el Mesías. Los convictos Espíritu Santo, sí que es una perogrullada; pero recuerda;

  ". . . ¿cómo invocarán a aquel en el cual no han creído? ¿Y cómo creerán en aquel de quien no han oído hablar de él? Y cómo oirán sin haber quien les predique? "(Romanos 10:14).

Sólo Mateo escuchó el mensaje directo de Él.

THE CALL OF LEVI

The following rebuttal is drawn mostly from the writing of Alfred Edersheim’s “The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah”.  Hendrickson Publishing, 200,  pp.345-362. Originally published in 1883. Alfred Edersheim (March 7, 1825 – March 16, 1889) was a Jewish convert to Christianity and a Biblical Scholar. His other works include History of the Jewish Nation after the Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus (Edinburgh, 1856); The Temple and Its Ministry and Services at the Time of Jesus Christ (London, 1874); Bible History (7 vols., 1876–87); Sketches of Jewish Social Life in the Days of Christ (1876); The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah (2 vols.,1883; condensation in one volume, 1890); Prophecy and History in Relation to the Messiah (Warburton Lectures for 1880-1884, 1885);  Tohu va Bohu, "Without form and Void." A Collection of fragmentary Thoughts and Criticisms. Ed. with a Memoir, by Ella Edersheim (1890);  Jesus the Messiah by Alfred Edersheim (London, 1898);  Historical development of speculative philosophy, from Kant to Hegel 1854 translation of a philosophical book by Heinrich Moritz Chalybäus.

As prologue, during the Apologetics class on November 16^th, the discussion being the “Cost of Discipleship” the question was made that one of the “costs” entails the need of one leaving/dropping everything of the former life style and following Jesus Christ. One Scriptural incident was brought up which was the calling of Matthew as recorded in the Gospel written by Mark, chapter two verse fourteen: “As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.”  It was said that Matthew immediately got up, left everything at that moment and became a disciple of Jesus. I made the question that Matthew must have heard and known of Jesus prior to his being called by Jesus. My question was rebutted that no, that the Holy Spirit gave Matthew at that moment the knowledge, (for lack of a better word), that Jesus was the true Messiah. My rebuttal was that even though the Holy Spirit would in His way make it known to Matthew to follow Jesus at that moment, that Matthew still would have heard of and even listened to Jesus since Jesus had been preaching in Capernaum where Matthew had his place of business.

In the Mark, 2:1–13, you will read of the healing of the paralytic man which also took place in Capernaum. Following that, Jesus then goes out of Capernaum and walks to the shore of the Sea of Galilee and had apparently a rather large crowd of people following Him. The Gospel is silent on the time span between the incident of the paralytic and the going to the seashore but it is known that Mark wrote in what some consider cryptic jumping from one place to another without giving an indication of time between events.

Edersheim writes, “There is no need to suppose that it [calling of Matthew] took place immediately on the cure of the paralytic. On the contrary, the more circumstantial account of Mark implies, that some time had intervened (Mark 2:13). If our suggestion be correct, that it was winter when the paralytic was healed in Capernaum, we may suppose it to have the early spring-time of that favoured district, when Jesus ‘went forth again by the seaside.’ And with this, . . . best agrees the succession of after events.  Few, if any, could have enjoyed better opportunities for hearing, and quietly thinking over the teaching of the Prohet of Nazareth, than Levi-matthew.” [Alfred Edersheim, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” Hendrickson, 2001, p355].

Granted that all who come to Jesus are called by Him, the Holy Spirit gives those called the knowledge to know the truth of Jesus Christ, and that,  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; . . .” (John 6:44). There were others at that time claiming to be the Messiah but their goal was the immediate release from the yoke of Rome. But what was the message that Jesus was spreading that the Holy Spirit would have convinced Matthew was true? What was the difference between His message and that of others?  It was forgiveness.

Levi-Matthew was in a profession that was looked upon by the “religious” as being the lowest of the low. In their eyes there was no forgiveness, free and unconditional forgiveness. What had Jesus done earlier to the paralytic? 

“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,  “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” (Mark 2: 5-7).

So Matthew sitting in his tax collectors booth as would be his custom, must have heard Jesus and seen Jesus as He preached by the seashore, which apparently was also His custom and it is known that Capernaum was His early headquarters at the start of His ministry. On hearing Jesus preach the Good News of forgiveness, repentance, and eternal life, yes Matthew knew that what he heard was the truth and the Holy Spirit was the spark, that explosion in Matthew’s brain that said behold the Messiah. The Holy Spirit convicts,  but:

 “. . . how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14).

Only Matthew heard the message direct from Him.

 

 

THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS?

LOS NIÑOS Y BEBES QUE FALLECEN IRAN AL CIELO?

No se produce la muerte aparte del propósito de Dios, no hay vida no se realiza con el propósito de Dios.

En la creación original no existía la muerte - la intención era que Adán y Eva serían "creced y multiplicaos", y que produciría, literalmente, la vida en un mundo sin muerte - ni una sola vida que se hubiera concebido jamás morirá. Increíble ¿no? Pero cuando Adán y Eva pecaron, desobedecido a Dios -  la muerte  llega a todos y para muchos, en la infancia y la niñez.
Se ha dicho en conjetura que tal vez la mitad de las personas concebidos mueren antes de llegar a cualquier nivel de madurez. La pregunta entonces es cómo Dios se ocupa de estos bebés y niños. Ojalá la respuesta ¿Sería animar? ¿Sería dar esperanza? ¿Sería desalentar? - ¿Van al instante al cielo? La respuesta es definitivamente sí! La Sagrada Escritura, la Palabra de Dios, afirma la salvación de todos los pequeños que fallecen.

 

Vemos el Salmo 139 versículo 17: "¡Cuán preciosos son tus pensamientos a mí, oh Dios! ¡Cuán grande es la suma de ellos!" David ha escrito algunos pensamientos preciosos, algunas verdades divinas que él atesora. ¿Qué son? El salmista afirma que Dios lo sabe todo acerca de él, incluso antes de que pudiera hablar. Comenzando con el versículo 1: "Oh Jehová, tú me has examinado y conocido. Tú has conocido mi sentarme y mi levantarme, has entendido desde lejos mis pensamientos..   Mi andar y mi reposo has ceñido, y todos mis caminos has aparejado. Pues aún no está la palabra en mi lengua, Y he aquí, oh Jehová, tú la supiste toda.

 

Dios participa activamente en todos los aspectos de su vida: "Tú me has acosado detrás y por delante, y pusiste tu mano sobre mí. Tal conocimiento es demasiado maravilloso para mí; alto es, no lo puedo comprender. ¿A dónde me iré de tu Espíritu? ¿Y a dónde huiré de tu presencia? Si subiere a los cielos, allí estás tú. Si hiciere mi estrado en el infierno, he aquí, hete allí. El punto es lo siguiente, que estos preciosos pensamientos de David nos dice que Dios conoce cada pequeño detalle de nuestra vida de principio a fin, a partir de antes de que pudiéramos decir una palabra. ¿Cómo puede Dios tener un conocimiento íntimo tan personal de nosotros? La respuesta es que Dios es nuestro creador personal. Vea el versículo 13: "Porque Tú has creado mis entrañas tú me hiciste en el vientre de mi madre.". Dios pone los cromosomas masculinos y femeninos juntos. Él tejió mi ADN. Él, personalmente, me hizo.

 

Él determina nuestro destino. No es como la madre de Forest Gump que dijo que la vida es como una caja de chocolates que uno nunca sabe lo que vas a obtener. El planea nuestras vidas. Versículo 16:  Tus ojos vieron mi cuerpo aun imperfecto, y en tu libro todos mis miembros estaban escritos; que fueron luego formados, sin faltar uno de ellos. Dios sabe todo acerca de mí, incluso antes de que pueda hablar. Él está en control total de mi vida. Nunca se puede perder a Dios. No hay ninguna circunstancia que puede limitar en modo alguno su conocimiento. La razón por la que me conoce tan bien es, Él es mi creador personal que ha planeado cuidadosamente mi destino. Vidas no están siendo concebidos queramos o no y Dios no está involucrado.

 David habla por todos. Él está hablando de una asociación íntima entre Dios y cada creación humana. Dios está íntimamente involucrado en cada pequeña vida ... Él está allí en cada concepción única . Esto nos indica cuán preciosa es cada vida. Si cada vida es tan preciosa que Dios lo sabe todo, planea todo, nos guardia y nos protege de todo, nunca pierde de vista, estas vidas deben importarle. Puesto que Dios es por naturaleza un Salvador y no quiere que ninguno perezca, sino que todos procedan al arrepentimiento; y puesto que Dios quiere que todos los hombres estén a salvo, no hay razón ninguna en no creer que un Dios que crea la vida, que conoce íntimamente todo acerca de la vida, en caso de que esa vida fallece en su infancia, no confiar en la gracia de Dios quien es por naturaleza un Salvador en favor de que la vida , la vida de ese bebe, ese infante, los no nacidos y los nacidos que no ha alcanzado un estado de madurez este a salvo en el cielo.

A continuación voy a hacer referencia a versículos bíblicos que muestran la salvación de los niños.

DO ALL BABIES & INFANTS GO TO HEAVEN WHEN THEY DIE?

 

No death occurs apart from the purpose of God, no life occurs apart from the purpose of God.

 

In the original creation there was no death – it was intended that Adam and Eve would be “fruitful and multiply” and they would literally produce life in a deathless world – not one life that would have been conceived would ever die. Awesome isn’t it? But when Adam and Eve sinned, disobeyed God – then death comes to all and to many in infancy and childhood.

It has been stated to be an educated guess that perhaps half the people conceived die before they reach any level of maturity. The question then is how God deals with these infants and children. Would the answer comfort? Would it encourage? Would it give hope? Would it discourage? – Do they go instantly to heaven? The answer is yes! Scripture, the word of God, affirms the salvation of all the little ones who die.

 

Look  at Psalm 139 vs. 17: “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!”  David has written some precious thoughts, some divine truths that he treasures and holds on to. What are they? The Psalmist holds that God knows everything about him, even before he could even talk. Beginning with verse 1, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knows my down sitting and mine uprising, thou understands my thought afar off.  Thou compasses my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”

God is actively involved in every aspect of his life: “Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?  If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” He will never lose sight of you nor knowledge of you and where you are every second of every day. The point is this, that these precious thoughts of David tells us that God knows every little single detail about our lives from beginning to end, starting from before we could even say a word. How can God have such a personal intimate knowledge of us? The answer is that God is our personal creator. Look at verse 13: "For Thou didst form my inward parts. Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb."  God puts the male and female chromosomes together. He wove my DNA. He personally made me.

 

He determines our destiny. It is not as Forest Gump’s mother said a box of chocolates that one never knows what you’re going to get. He plans our lives. Verse 16: "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance." You saw me in Your sovereign view before I was ever formed. And in Your book everything about me was written down, the days that were ordained for me when as yet there wasn't one of them."  God knows everything about me even before I can talk. He is in

total control of my life. I can never be lost to God. There is no circumstance that can in any way limit His knowledge. The reason He knows me so well is He is my personal creator who has planned carefully my destiny.  

 Lives are not being conceived willy-nilly and God's not involved. David is speaking for every man. He is speaking of an intimate association between God and each human creation. God is intimately involved in every little life... He is there in every single conception. This indicates to us how precious every life is. If every life is so precious that God knows it all, plans it all, guards and protects it all, never loses sight of anything then they (These lives) must matter to Him. Since God is by nature a Savior and is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance, and since God would have all men

to be saved, there is every reason to believe just from that alone that a caring God who created that life, who guards that life, who knows intimately everything about that life, should that life perish physically in its INFANCY there would be every reason from that Psalm alone to trust the GRACE of God who is by nature a Savior in behalf of that life, the life of that infant, unborn or born that has not reached a condition of maturity.

 

Next I will reference  Scripture verses  that show the salvation of infants.