Tuesday, September 29, 2009

¿Que se desata o se ata en Mat 16 y 18?

Pregunta:

Qué quiso decir Jesucristo a sus apóstoles de atar y desatar en el pasaje de mateo 16:19 y 18:18

Respuesta Bíblica:

Creo que este poder de atar y desatar que se le dio a Pedro y a los apóstoles se refiere al mensaje del Evangelio que Peter "desatado" a los judíos en el día de Pentecostés (Hechos 2). Jesús hizo la declaración de atar y desatar cuando le dio las llaves del Reino a Pedro. Las llaves pueden abrir (desatar) o cerrar (atar). Quien acepe lo que estas llaves desatan (el mensaje del Evangelio) se le desatara el cielo y las bendiciones de Dios y quien no acepte este mensaje se le cerrara las promesas de Dios y quedaran atados a sus pecados.

¿Qué te parece?

Quien haya aceptado y continúe en este mensaje seguirá desatando las bendiciones de Dios para las almas aquí en la tierra que acepten este mensaje de perdón, pero los que no aceptan quedaran atados a su pecado y el perdón estará fuera de su alcance.

En cuanto a Mateo 18, cualquier acción que la iglesia tome en cuanto al perdón de pecados Dios lo acepta. La disciplina que le corresponde dar a la iglesia es una representación de lo que Dios ya ha hecho en los cielos; de la misma forma que el matrimonio es una representación física de la relación entre Jesús y la iglesia.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

What is the Value and Benefit of Homeschooling to Our Family and Society?

Question:

    I've know some church members are thrilled with home schooling and I've read some information online and I've got to say, I don't get it.  It's wonderful to spend time with your children and teach them directly but when I way the pro's and con's, I just don't see how home schooling is a better option. 

    Public school has some issues, not least of all cost.  If money were no object, I would prefer to send my children to a Christian based private school.  Class instruction allows for a thorough curriculum by people who know what they're teaching and know how to teach.  There are certain tracks for advanced students and other track for students who need extra help.  Parents can definitely teach children at the lower levels but when it comes to the middle school and high school levels no one can know everything, which is why they have specialized teachers.  Someone told me they downloaded lessons but then we're talking about book knowledge only. There's no Q&A because you may not know physics and I may not know 18th century history.  So from the academic aspect home school kids can be advanced in some ways but not fully well rounded.

    Second is the social aspects.  They don't have the chance to be on their own, learn from other children and also deal with social stress and problems.  What happens when they get out into the real world or go to college?  They're not going to know how to  handle themselves.

    The spiritual aspect is another big issue.  Christians are absolutely terrified of their children learning about evolution.  My only fear is teaching the children about homosexuality too soon but evolution?  No, I do not fear my children learning about evolution.  I want them to learn about it.  Evolution must be exposed for it's truth's and it's falsities.  As we discussed evolution has some scientific basis but when it can't explain everything and has a lot of shortfalls.

    I think the problem with public schools really has to do with parents who rely on public schools to teach everything.  Public schools will NEVER teach about God, they will not teach morality and they will sometimes not really challenge our children which is a father and mother's job. 

Answer:

Thanks for writing. Homeschool is definitely very controversial. I had all those questions you posited in this text and many more. Like you I was doubtful of what homeschooling could accomplish. I taught high school bio, physics, chem, and marine bio for 7 years in the private and public sector. I know what happens in school and I know the culture and the environment. Knowing these things and knowing little to nothing about homeschool I often casted dispersions on the idea. I definitely stood for what the public/private education sector sponsored.

Now that I have been homeschooling for 5 years I can clearly see and understand more and more what homeschooling is about. It is about so much more than that the scope of our public education. Since it is so much more than that, you can't compare both equally. It is like comparing apples and oranges. You can only compare schools and homeschooling at the education/academic level. I won't even compare them socially speaking because you and I know that there is no good social learning going on at any school. Putting a bunch of kids together does not accomplish any beneficial social engineering whatsoever. It’s like that psychology experiment where they left a bunch of kids to rule over themselves and they actually simulated and recreated everything that’s wrong with our society! Even the best private school on LI, Friends Academy, exhibited the same social challenges. The social atmosphere at a school is not a real world experience. This is why bullying and other offenses have been a challenge to control.

There cannot be any type of social engineering that is successful in a school by virtue of what a school is. Social engineering belongs to the parents. This is God's command. Homeschooling is more about social and spiritual engineering than anything else and this is why you cannot even compare it to schooling. Academically, homeschool will win out every time when parents know what to do. But since the social and spiritual engineering trump academics as well, even parents who may not be competent academically will produce homeschooled children that are a cut above all the rest in our society. Many universities recognize that and have been friendly towards homeschooled children knowing the value they give to their student population. Who is better prepared to deal with the social and personal challenges we all face? A person who is well prepared academically but lacks competent skills socially and emotionally? Many psychiatrists and psychologists are reassessing their approach to this dilemma and are valuing social and emotional quotients (EQ) more than intelligence quotients (IQ). As a matter of fact, academic preparation in tandem with poor or misguided social and emotional education prevents real intelligence: wisdom. However, in a mature and focused spiritual environment, where the social and moral engineering takes place in spiritually led house, academics succeed. Why? Proper motivation and goals are set and can be met since academics can only be successful when the individual is motivated to be academic. We know rote learning doesn’t amount to much. You can’t stuff academics in a person’s head. Did you learn anything when you had to cram for a test? No. You learned when you were properly motivated.

I am seeing this principle at work in my home. My children will have no limit to what they can accomplish academically. It is a seed I plant in them and they will pursue the fruits by owning that goal. If they depend on me or on a school/organization they will be limited by that entity. In them, it will be limitless, as far as they are willing to go. This is the goal of homeschooling – teaching them to be disciples in everything, but above all, disciples of Jesus. Nothing else rally matters. I am preparing them not just for this life, but for the next one which is the permanent one. An MIT graduate without social or emotional intelligence is poorly prepared for this life; and if he doesn’t know Jesus he certain won’t be prepared for the next. An “average” homeschooler, properly equipped socially and spiritually will accomplish far more for himself and society and will be completely ready for the eternal life.

1 Timothy 4:8 NIV For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

I include academics in the physical training. Physical training is about this world only. But spiritual training (godliness), which also trains you socially, morally and emotionally (something schools won’t ever be able to do because it belongs to the parent) holds promise for both this life and the one to come. That’s a promise from God!

Well, if you have any specific questions about homeschooling let’s talk. The scope of the benefits will take books to express. It is an experience you should welcome and let transform you. I believe it is the will of God. The scope of education in the public and private sector is completely misguided because our society in general serves evil. It teaches concepts that are worldly and cannot teach godliness. Just for that alone I cannot see any real benefit anymore.

Does this mean parents who send their kids to school are doing the wrong thing? Certainly not! Many who so desire to homeschool may not be able for several reasons not limited to health. We sent our oldest son to school for a year. During that year we continued to homeschool, particularly supplementing the elements the school cannot, like godly training (which includes spiritual, moral and emotional training). There are many effective ways of doing this. This will promote every advantage that homeschooled kids have. I believe both schooled and homeschooled kids can be on the same level playing field if the parents don’t delegate the moral, spiritual and emotional training to the public/private schools.

Parents who wholly depend on the schools for accomplishing spiritual tasks are definitely deficient in their parenting and morally and spiritually irresponsible.

This is all I will say for now for I have much to grow and mature concerning parenthood. Hope this helps!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

What Will Happen When I Die?

Question: when and how will i die?...............i am self-religious and a God fearing man.Thanks

Bible Answer:

Well, I don’t know the when or the how, only God knows that, but I can tell you the what from the Bible.

We can know what will happen when we die. Just take a look at this link which will explain everything the Bible teaches about life after death:

http://www.licoc.org/Gospel/StateOfTheMan.htm

Friday, August 28, 2009

How is the Holy Spirit In Us Affected by Our Sin?

QUESTION: In our bible class, a brother mentioned that whenever we sin, the Holy Spirit is removed from us because God cannot be in the presence of sin and when we repent then we can be forgiven and receive grace. I am a little perplexed about the Holy Spirit removal part as I am trying to grasp the full meaning of Isaiah 59:2. I've always thought that once we put on Christ in baptism and receive The Spirit that we couldn't lose it unless we stop feeding the Spirit and fall away. Would you mind giving me your feedback?

ANSWER:

Well, there are a few scriptures that come to mind concerning your question:

Ephesians 4:29-31 NIV  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  30  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

This passage mentions several sins which grieve the spirit "in us". Many do not believe God has truly given us the Spirit to live in us, but a quick reading of these verses proves otherwise: 1 Co 1:22; 2 Tim 1:14; James 4:5; 1 John 3:24; 4:13 and others.

So the Spirit is grieved in us when we sin (we are not perfect or without sin, otherwise we would be liars, as we will see in the next verse) but God doesn't take him away since we are “in” Christ, i.e., dead to the world and living for Jesus:

1 John 1:7-10 NIV  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  8  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  10  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

As long as we walk in the light we are covered in the blood of Jesus so any sin is immediately removed as long as we are transparent about it and penitent, meaning we are not using grace as a license to sin.

Hebrews 10:26-27 NIV  If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  27  but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.

When sin is deliberate - meaning you have no intention of wanting to draw nearer to God, then you are placing yourself in that dangerous place where God indeed will remove His spirit from you, as He threatened to do with the churches in Revelation if they did not repent:

Revelation 2:5 NIV  Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

That lampstand in this verse refers to the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, also mentioned by Paul in Ephesians 4:30.

Prior to being baptized (immersed in water) we are in sin, so God’s Spirit cannot dwell in us until we are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. That’s why Jesus’ sacrifice had to happen before the Spirit was poured out in Acts 2. We who have obeyed the Gospel (been baptized in water – Romans 6:3-4) are in Christ and His blood covers us until Jesus comes to take us home. The Spirit does not leave us unless we leave Him.

Do you want to know if you have received God’s Spirit? There’s only one way to receive Him and that is God’s way. Make sure you have obeyed the one and only Gospel message!

Check it out: http://www.licoc.org/Gospel/Gospel.htm

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Could the Rich Man Have Avoided Punishment?

Your question: In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. My question is, if the rich man had taken care of Lazarus and fed and clothed him in this life, would he have still opened his eyes in Hades?

Bible Answer:

Whether or not we suffer punishment in Hades (abode of departed spirits, or the place where the dead go) depends on the grace of God and our response to that grace by our faith. We all will face judgment (Heb 9:27), some will be welcomed to eternal life and some to eternal death (separation from God)(Mat 25:46). Both the rich man and Lazarus were in Hades. This is the place (or state) where the dead go. Please consult this graphic to better understand: http://www.licoc.org/Gospel/StateOfTheMan.htm

Paradise is in Hades and so is Tartarus, or the place of torment.

Abraham’s judgment of the rich man had to do more with his attitude than his deeds. If the rich man had the right attitude and worshipped God then he would have automatically taken care of Lazarus and anyone else. But the rich man was selfish and denied God, which resulted in his behavior towards Lazarus and probably others.

Because we all are guilty of sin, we all stand condemned (Rom 6:23). We all will end up in the same place the rich man is (he is still there). If it were not for the grace and mercy of the Lord Jesus and the salvation He provides we would suffer punishment forever. This is why it is so important to take advantage of the fact that you are alive now and become a disciple (student and follower) of Jesus (John 8:31-32). Please read this article I wrote to know how to be saved and be born again in Jesus: http://www.licoc.org/Gospel/Gospel.htm

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Where did Adam and Eve’s kid’s kids come from?

Lets read this passage in the Bible:

Genesis 5:3-11 NIV When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died. 6 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. 7 And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8 Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died. 9 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10 And after he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11 Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

Altogether here we see God gave Adam and Eve many sons and daughters. With no other people living on earth their purpose was to be fruitful and multiply. We can therefore assume that that Adam and Eve’s children married between themselves to produce more children.

Was this incest a sin back then? We can say it was not since God had not given Adam and Eve or their children the Commandments. That came much later during the time of Moses. It is within the commandments that God specifies incest as sinful and punishable even by death. For more reading on this see this article:

http://crosswordspage.blogspot.com/2008/04/is-it-ok-for-second-cousins-to-date.html

Friday, August 7, 2009

Can you force your way into God’s Kingdom?

Luke 16:16 NIV  "The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Question:

Would you help me? What does the Lord mean when He says "everyone is forcing his way into it"? [Another version says "everyone who enters does so with violence"]

Answer:

Here Jesus mentions how people are trying to force their way into God's Kingdom - can people really do that? Think about it...

The Kingdom is entered by new birth (John 3:3-5). We must be born again which implies we need to die, be buried and be raised again in Jesus - the Gospel is the doorway (Romans 6:3-4). How do people force themselves into it? This ties into John 10:1 where Jesus mentions how thieves and robbers try to get into the sheep pen (God's Kingdom) by other means. Jesus says the only way in is through the door - Himself! Only by dying, being buried and being raised with Jesus through immersion in water can we get into the kingdom - be born again!

Any other such way people may try to get it, or force themselves in will be seen as robbers and thieves - false teachers and antichrists. These are the people who pervert the Gospel and teach different ways of salvation (getting into the kingdom) than the simple Gospel way of Jesus - believe and be baptized and you will be saved (Mark 16:16).

The kingdom cannot be entered by force or by any other way other than through Jesus!

I hope this helps clarify the meaning.