xjwsforChrist

That is an interesting thought. : )

Would you be able to ask Jesus whether or not he has chosen me and then tell me his answer?
Or would the answer to that be only between me and Jesus?

_________________
To fear me is to love me....

Sorry, I missed that, dear one (again, peace to you!). Probably because I've never had anyone indicate there was difference. It does help to know you see there is (smile back atcha!).



Which I think is totally fine, if our doing so doesn't interfere with our being able to discuss those differences - BIG SMILE!



And I can accept your stating it that way although that's not quite accurate but I can understand that you might not understand that (wink).



Of COURSE we do, luv! As to individual members of the Body of Christ. But here's the thing, as to the Body AND the 12: you're merely talking different kinds of apples (a couple of macintoches, maybe three golden delicious, a red delicious, a pippin, braeburne, gala, fuji, gala, and a granny smith). Different kinds of apples... some red, some yellow, some green, some red/green, some red/yellow, etc.). But all apples. Same fruit.

Here, we're not talking apples and apples. Not even apples and pears. Not even apples and oranges. Not even fruit and fruit. We're talking apples... and peppers. Both come in red, yellow, and green, even red/green and red/yellow. And both have seeds. But... one is of the genus Malus (the apple, of the rose (Rosaceae) family... and the other is of the genus capsicum (bell peppers, of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Not even kissin' cousins!



Then he must have been a person who had spent most of his life living under a rock. Because not only did most folks have a Bible (the Septuagint), else (1) how would they KNOW about Moses, and (2) how would they keep the Law, and (3) how could they be deemed "happy" pursuant to the first Psalm?? Dear one, they read from the scrolls... regularly, routinely, and necessarily. That was the purpose of the synagogues... to gather to read from the Law and Writings (scriptures). Since Christ said, ABOUT the scriptures, "These are very ones that bear witness about ME"... dear one, that is how they KNEW who he was in addition to John's witness: the SCRIPTURES bore witness ABOUT him. And so, they HAD them to CHECK, if they doubted.

Right??



The 12 knew because, as Christ told Peter, the Father revealed it to them. But he had more than 12 disciples, luv. He had at least 70, not counting the women... and those who hid their discipleship. The 12 were the ones that stuck WITH him, when others would leave off. But once he was resurrected many of those who went off came back. Remember, the NT speaks of "the apostles AND older men"?

A strange new teacher with avant garde teachings is bound to be questioned by me : )

This man, obviously knew who Christ was... as YOU would have. Else he wouldn't have SAID "I WILL follow you ANYWHERE." He didn't beg off because he didn't know... or believe... who Christ WAS. OR because he believed the teachings to be new and/or strange/avant garde. The teachings THRILLED him. Else, again, he would have just arbitrarily said, "I will follow you ANYWHERE." That wasn't the issue at all. The ISSUE was that he just couldn't make room in his LIFE at the time. He believed he had something "more important" to do.

Christ was TRYING to tell him that kingdom of GOD had arrived for him... and so NOTHING was more important.

See?

I hope this helps, dear, dear Pup!

Again, peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellamar

"Jesus", no, luv. I don't know "Jesus" nor does "he" speak to me. The Holy One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah), however... even then, not exactly. It doesn't work like that. I could not ask him, "Is this one of your servants, Lord?" per se. I mean, I COULD, but he would most likely respond, "What is it to YOU, child? Be about YOUR work!" or something like that. I know this, because I know HIM. However, he can and sometimes DOES reveal to his servants, including me, who DOES belong to him. For example, he revealed to Ananias that he has chosen Saul of Tarsus. He revealed to Philip that he was choosing the eunuch. He revealed to Peter that Cornelius had found favor. He revealed to the 11 that Mattias was to replace Judas Iscariot. He sent Timothy to Paul... Luke, Barnabas, etc.

So, he might tell me, yes... but not because I asked him. Because he would want me to serve YOU in some way, to assist in YOUR serving HIM.

Now, would he tell me that you do NOT belong to him? Yes. If the occasion called for it, it would absolutely say to me, "This one does not belong to me, child." Especially if you meant some kind of danger to ME and especially in a spiritual sense.

Even so, there are other means by which I could know, without him telling me. Your "fruits," for example. Blasphemy. Certain things you say (here, some things might indicate you just don't have a FULL knowledge, although you may have received holy spirit (Acts 18:24-26). Or they may indicate you have NO knowledge AND/or no holy spirit. For example, if you don't even know what holy spirit IS - Acts 19:1-7).



The CHOOSING itself it between you and him, yes. But KNOWLEDGE of that choosing... no. Actually, I don't think it's ever "only" between you and Christ. I really can't think of a single instance, actually. Somehow, it is made known to others. The primary way is the GIFTS of the spirit (which is the reason FOR them - to MANIFEST the receipt of holy spirit). Else, how would the others know? How would Ananias have KNOWN Saul was chosen? Or Peter Cornelius? Etc.? Goodness, the risk of being misled by FALSE christs would be ever greater, yes? And so Christ gave us WAYS to know including, again, the "fruits" of those who profess to belong to him... and those who truly do not.

Remember, Christ said he tells HIS friends EVERYTHING. Either as to all they could bear when he was with them in the flesh... OR by means of holy spirit ("it will lead you into ALL truth" - that truth includes who fellow Body members are) as the Spirit he now is.

That is not to say, we can't be FOOLED. We certainly can be! Again, "false christs and false prophets will arise to mislead, IF POSSIBLE, EVEN the chosen ones." And "Wicked men will arise FROM AMONG YOU."

There are those who are not discovered as NOT having on a marriage garment until AFTER they've entered the marriage feast and seated themselves at the table. We don't have to worry about them, though - they're nakedness will be exposed, for which they are cast back out, into the darkness. But that is not OUR job... or our concern. OUR job... and concern... is to seek the kingdom and ITS righteousness... to tell OTHERS about the good news OF that kingdom, Christ... and by doing so "make disciples" OF Christ. Disciples... from which HE will choose members to be part of his Body.

I hope this helps, dear Pup, truly!

Again, peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellamar

Edited to add last two paragraphs...

;o)

_________________
To fear me is to love me....

silly ; P

long ago I made the post that when I typed "Jesus" I meant your "Jaheshua" ; P

To your knowledge, was Judas a Christian? Were his actions, which have been vilified, led from Spirit or led from his failings as a man?

_________________
To fear me is to love me....

as it's midnight now... dinner and Netflix for me and then bed ; D

lol I hope you all feel honored that I am having to insert an extra keystroke to make my smileys unbroken ;oP

_________________
To fear me is to love me....

; P

(BIG smile) Perhaps, dear one (peace!)... but you must understand that that won't stop ME from "speaking" accurately despite what YOU "mean." (Wink)



(Smile again) No, Judas was not a christian. He was an apostle (chosen to be sent out by him), yes... but he couldn't have been a christian (anointed and brought into UNION with and so part of him by means of holy spirit one). This is because the holy spirit, the oil of exultation by which ones are CHOSEN... due to an anointing WITH such holy spirit/oil... living water... had not yet been poured out by the time he took his own life (John 7:37-39; Matthew 27:3-5). He did that even before my Lord himself died... and rose.

Holy spirit wasn't poured out until (1) shortly after my Lord rose and appeared to the remaining 11, at which time he breathed it upon them (John 20:22), and then (2) almost two months after his resurrection, at Pentecost when he again breathed it upon the people in the upper room (Acts 2:2-4).

It was this receipt of holy spirit that made the apostles and others "chosen"/anointed ones. "Christ-ians." The MischaJah'im... or "Chosen (ones) of JAH."



They were the results of his failings as a man, which failings were able to be exploited by the Adversary. He was never led by the Spirit. Now, you might think this because he "had" to do what he did... but that person could have been ANY one of the apostles. Judas Iscariot just happened to be the one whose greed... and jealousy (which is rottenness to the bone)... led to his sin:

"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." James 1:13-15

If you recall the account, the Adversary entered into Judas. Why/how? Because Judas did not get the MASTER over his weakness (greed and jealousy) and so ALLOWED the Adversary to entice him. And, rather than oppose the Adversary so that that one would flee from him and leave him be... he let the desire (for 30 pieces of silver and jealousy over the favor by God of his childhood friend) "conceive" in him... which desire gave birth to his sin: betraying his Lord and friend.

I hope this helps!

Again, peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shellamar

11pm here (peace!)... and at least one dog looking at me like, "Will you turn that contraption OFF now and let's go to BED fercrissake?!"... so off to bed and a couple chapters or two of my current novel... then sleep ('cause I'll already be in bed - LOLOL!)



I do! Absolutely! Quite honored!! (Shellamar bows before the Debil Dawg) THANK you!

Peace... and g'nite!

A slave of Christ,

Shellamar

You two had quite the discussion : )

I couldn't keep my eyes open and went to bed.

Nice smilie faces, Pup ; )



Peace,
tammy

I still wonder what is the message or point of having Elijah and Moses standing next to Jesus as God voiced to follow Jesus?


Good morning PUP....

Shelby answered this wonderfully but

I too would like to add that I as well at first when you asked this heard my lord tell me that if nothing else it would bolster their faith IN HIM

Continuing to reassure them when he told them, " I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE"...

That this demonstration would prove BOTH that

(1) he being the life or having life within himself, he could awaken them with enough life to show his followers they too belonged to him and had faith in who he truly was, and ....

(2) then it would fully confirm to his disciples that if he could do this, he could bring them back/ resurrect them fully in his kingdom as all authority to do this had been given HIM.

What a wonderful taste or tidbit to show them the future. Something to keep lifting their spirit to continue on to accomplish their ministry.

Just wanted to add to what was already mentioned.

Thank you Shelby and everyone's comments
Love Justmom