The Greek and Hebrew, T-T
Reader comment on item: Too Many Mosques?
in response to reader comment: Matthew 7

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Oct 6, 2007 at 16:45

"One of the clearest and most un-ambiguous verses in the Bible from the gospel of Mathew."

Regarding the above comment from you - do you actually know how clear it is, "Truth"-Teller?

It helps to know the original languages, which is what I study the Bible under. Here in this case, it's Greek, and Christ is telling these guys that inspite of the "lip-service" they give to Him, they have not done the will of the Father (John 5:24), which is to believe that faith (in Christ, that He is the Son of God) alone is how they recieve salvation, eternal life. Theses guys want to add "works" - many will say on the Day of Judgement, "Did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons?" etc., but the point is that these "works" don't count - it's what Christ, as the Son of God, will do (and has done) on the Cross (John 3:16).

Quoting Paul, "For by grace (who and what God is, not who and what we are) are you saved through faith; and that salvation is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; and not of works, lest any man should boast.". (Ephesians 2:8-9).

A verse you might get a "kick" out of, "Truth"-Teller, is Matthew 16:23 - But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God's interests, but man's". Here, Jesus Christ is calling one of his deciples Satan! The use of the word Satan, which is a borrowed word from the Old Testament Hebrew, is interesting. Translated here in the Greek, it's "satanas"; root is Aramaic "satan". Both mean "accuser, adversary". Of course there's much more to Satan, but in this verse Jesus Christ is chastising Peter because Peter wants Christ to avoid the Cross (Matthew 16:21,22). Satan himself would have liked that.

"False prophets" include, once again, those who claim you must "do something" for salvation. While they might profess "great love" for God, do many "works" (giving to charity, frequent praying,and in the Old Testament, casting out demons, etc.) they are indeed "sheep in wolves' clothing" because although they appear very pious and devoted towards God, they infact are extremely arrogant to think they themselves must add to Christ's saving work of the Cross. In peaching, false profits always wants to "add" to salvation.

The Greek and Hebrew of the Bible is "sharper than any two-edged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), and is extremely lucid.

Non of us can add anything to Christ's work on the Cross (Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 6:23). Only through faith alone in Christ alone do we recieve salvation (John 5:24, John 11:25, Romans 8-1-2, Acts 16:31, John 14:6, Galations 3:26). Once a person believes that, the rest of his spiritual life on earth is a different matter, but although the believer is subject to discipline by God the Father, he never loses his salvation (Romans 8:1-2, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 8:38-39).

Too Many Mosques? Bring 'em on. analambano, panoplia!! (Ephesians 6:13-17!!) -JS

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