ACTS TWO BELIEVERS STUDY GROUP

March is already gone!  Thursday 27th we reviewed the difference between knowing and knowing.  English is so very limited in its expression. In Spanish it is conocer vs saber.  Conocer is always used when speaking of a person knowing another person.  While saber refers strictly to factual knowing.   There is no English equivalent word corresponding with conocer:  best we can say is to know personally. In Genesis the context reveals what sort of knowing was intended when Adam knew his wife Eve, but this is not the knowing we mean either. That is, we are not talking about physical intercourse, although that can be a part of the intimacy of personally knowing, it is not the main idea. John felt so comfortable with Jesus, (lets keep pure thinking here) that he leaned up against him during meals.  The custom was everyone lay around a meal set on rugs on the floor.  It was not at all unusual for many to be close together on an elbow next to each o...

The Venerable Bede, an 8th-century historian, suggested that "Easter" came from "Eostre," an Anglo-Saxon goddess associated with spring and renewal. Bede is the only source mentioning her. Some scholars suggest that Eostre was linked to fertility and rebirth, with symbols like hares and eggs—which later became part of Easter traditions. Inscriptions referring to Matronae Austriahenae, goddesses with similar names, were discovered in Germany, supporting the idea that Eostre may have been a genuine pagan goddess. Her legacy continues in modern neopaganism, where she is sometimes venerated as a goddess of spring and renewal. In the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible, the word Easter appears only once—in Acts 12:4—where it is [mis]translated from the Greek word pascha , which typically means Passover. Some scholars believe that the pagan holiday referenced here could be linked to the worship of Tammuz, a Babylonian sun god, or other Roman festivities honoring spring...

  Strong's Number: 3870 (παρακαλέω, parakaleō) - Meanings: To urge, comfort, encourage Consider these uses of this word in Scripture: Verses and NKJV Translation Greek Word, Parts of Speech, and Number Matthew 5:4 - "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be [comforted]." παρακληθήσονται (Verb, Future Passive Indicative, 3rd Pl.) Luke 3:18 - "So with many other [exhortations], he preached good news to the people." παρακλήσεις (Noun, Plural) John 14:16 - "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another [Helper]." παράκλητος (Noun, Singular) Acts 2:40 - "And with many other words he testified and [exhorted] them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.'" παρεκάλει (Verb, Aorist Active Indicative, 3rd Sg.) Romans 12:1 - "I [beseech] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." παρακαλώ (Verb...

Q. Who were the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6? A. Short answer: We reject the concept, according to the words of Jesus in Matthew 22:30, that strictly spiritual beings would have the ability to have physical relationships with human beings. They cannot “take wives” as in Genesis 6. A number of mythological doctrines have arisen that are simply not in agreement with canonical scripture, and with careful reading, can clearly be seen to be contrary to even the context of Genesis 6. We remind everyone that Jewish fables and the mixture of pagan concepts with the words of Yahweh God himself were common and polluted the true doctrine of Yahweh. Further we point to the fact that Christ died for humankind, not devil kind. To suppose that angelic being could have had intercourse with human women is totally contrary to everything God has said about the order of the universe, seeds producing things after its kind. To suppose a person’s grandfather generations back were an angel o...

Yes. While a bit obscure, it can be said Samson, whom essentially committed suicide to avenge himself upon the Philistines, was confirmed to be a righteous man and went to Heaven. You may read the story of Samson in Judges 16. In Hebrews 11:32-34, Samson is listed among the heroes of faith: “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson , and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised ; …” Please also study the answer to the following question and realize that it is extremely presumptuous of someone to assume suicide is a sin greater than other sins that God has forgiven in Christ, and that there are likely numerous sins for which we are not fully aware that we have never dealt with before God when we die. The sin problem has been fully dealt with in the Blood of Christ. Jesus said the only sin that will not be forgiven is the blasphemy of the ...

Q. Is there any reference that demonstrates a Believer committing suicide goes to Heaven or Hell? Yes. While a bit obscure, it can be said Samson, whom essentially committed suicide to avenge himself upon the Philistines, was confirmed to be a righteous man and went to Heaven. You may read the story of Samson in Judges 16. In Hebrews 11:32-34, Samson is listed among the heroes of faith: "And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson , and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised ; ..." Please also study the answer to the following question and realize that it is extremely presumptuous of someone to assume suicide is a sin greater than other sins that God has forgiven in Christ, and that there are likely numerous sins for which we are not fully aware that we have never dealt with before God when we die. The sin problem has been fully de...