Sorry, I don’t accept Evolution as a science as it cannot be proven. Rather, it is a belief based on a theory competing with other similar beliefs. It has no place in the discipline of science – (Guyana Online) […] The Evolution debate cum the ingenuity of Homo sapiens will rage until the end times.…
Sorry, I don’t accept Evolution as a science as it cannot be proven. Rather, it is a belief based on a theory competing with other similar beliefs. It has no place in the discipline of science – (Guyana Online)
[…]
The Evolution debate cum the ingenuity of Homo sapiens will rage until the end times. The subject is intriguing for the reason we know so little about how the creature Homo sapiens was originally formed. Whether one subscribes to faith base beliefs or the Big Bang theory (another belief), the intrigue fuelled by the unknown is the same.
Here is the link to an interesting paper titled HOMO SAPIENS posted to Guyana Online newspaper by Leslie Chin and submitted to BU by Errol Harry.
Homo sapiens is undoubtedly the most intelligent creature that ever existed, together with a favourable anatomy he has come to dominate the world. However Homo sapiens is a flawed species with many shortcoming which may eventually lead to his demise. Homo sapiens is essentially a cave man who lives by the tenet “survival of the fittest” which is a legacy of our time as hunter gathers. In an increasingly crowded and complex world we have to suppress our warlike tendency if we want to live in peace. With nuclear and chemical weapons we have the potential to annihilate ourselves many times over. Until we evolve into a more benign, more empathic species (by Darwinian evolution?) we will continue to behave as we do – competitive, selfish, greedy, vindictive and homicidal, hell bent on destroying each other.
I’m surprised about your stance on evolution cos if you reject it you should not consult Dr’s. Go to you tube n look at What Darwin never knew…..a BBC documentary then see if evolution is an un proven belief as you believe human gnome mapping and all Modern medical science has ratified Darwin from the dna discovery in 1954 to Chimps being 99% human genetically.
A genetic eye problem in Germany was traced to the fruit fly the identical gene too AND WHY would the Great Designer in the sky contrive to make the humble rice grain more complex than we humans genetically? 4600 vs 2800 genes. In Guyana we used to disparage ragamuffin dogs as Rice – eaters. …
The growing Immunity to antibiotics is evolution right there..Fin ally..after exercising take off your tee shirt n ID where the biggest wet mark is yeah on your back …why ? When we were on all fours Bro you are entitled to your beliefs but not to yr own facts as the Guardian comments section says..
all the major Christian faiths have now secretly prepared doctrinal shape-shifting to deal with the discovery of alien life…which is expected.
While On you tube .type in Big Youth and play Natty cultural dread Pope Paul God made the world n all within it.. must be slightly amended from world to universe to encompass galaxies n the aliens. Some even believe they are already among us have a closer look at the messianic countenances of Tony Blair or George Bush or Trump..in full verbal flight…
This is sheer political prejudice of course Because my scant knowledge of human origins allied to the age of our planet 4 billion years and our first appearance in Africa 2.5 million years ago I think but millions not billions should have led me to expect the aliens to start cloning we Africans first. So have a closer Look at Robert Mugabe Idi Amin or Zuma on the continent or closer to home where all the hatred is . just.look at Dr Ben gifted hands Carson in the USA
Now besides all of his embarrassing (to the race) utterances why would this ex rucciatingly brilliant human suddenly feel the urge to deal with Pyramids?
or cleave to the ADVENTISTS of all the 30000 Christian denominations available to him?
Must be the X factor indeed but Isn’t that a strange religious choice Dr Sawak?
and what about our dear brother Prof Cornel West…see also on you tube the film Brother from another planet ..it’s great.
Me? Oh I’m a Catholic jus stickin to the Devil I know…
167 responses to “HOMO SAPIENS, more Questions than Answers”
Zoe
Paul’s teaching on law and grace
Paul couldn’t have been plainer about seeing himself as echoing the teachings and practices of Christ. “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ,” he told the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:1).
This statement allows no conclusion other than that Paul saw himself as perpetuating, not contradicting, Christ’s doctrines.
In even stronger language, Paul wrote to the Church in Galatia,
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
In verses 8-9 Paul pronounces a curse on anyone who dared teach a message other than what Christ taught! In repeating this curse for emphasis, Paul sternly warned against changes to Christ’s teaching.
Since Paul used such strong language, we would expect his teaching on law and grace to be the same as Christ’s, and this is what the Bible reflects. Paul deeply appreciated God’s grace and He respected God’s law.
A good example of Paul’s teaching is found in his letter to the Romans where He writes:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). A few verses later Paul emphasizes this teaching once more, saying, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” (verses 14-15).
Paul’s teaching on law and grace was clearly the same as Christ’s. Paul appreciated God’s grace and respected His law. http://www.lifehopeandtruth.com
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Zoe
Bush Tea December 8, 2015 at 8:25 AM #
@ Zoe
Proverbs 26:4
..a word to the wise is sufficient.
Yes, but I am not dealing with the wise!!!
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Zoe
“For by GRACE (unmerited FAVOR) you have been SAVED through FAITH (Not Law, or good works) and that NOT of yourselves, It IS the Gift of God, least anyone should BOAST,” ( Eph. 2: 8,9) Emphasis added.
God has always been full of grace (Psalm 116:5; Joel 2:13), and people have always been saved by faith in God (Genesis 15:6).
God did not change between the Old and New Testaments (Numbers 23:19; Psalm 55:19). The same God who gave the Law also gave Jesus (John 3:16). His grace was demonstrated through the Law by providing the sacrificial system to cover sin.
Jesus was born “under the law” (Galatians 4:4) and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfillment and establish the New Covenant (Luke 22:20).
Now, everyone who comes to God through Christ is declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:15).
The conflict between Jesus and the self-righteous arose immediately. Many who had lived for so long under the Pharisees’ oppressive system eagerly embraced the mercy of Christ and the freedom He offered (Mark 2:15).
Some, however, saw this new demonstration of grace as dangerous: what would keep a person from casting off all moral restraint?
Paul dealt with this issue in Romans 6: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (verses 1—2).
Paul clarified what Jesus had taught: the Law shows us what God wants (holiness), and grace gives us the desire and power to be holy. Rather than trust in the Law to save us, we trust in Christ. We are freed from the Law’s bondage by His once-for-all sacrifice (Romans 7:6; 1 Peter 3:18).
There is no conflict between grace and the Law, properly understood.
Christ fulfilled the Law on our behalf and offers the power of the Holy Spirit, who motivates a regenerated heart to live in obedience to Him (Matthew 3:8; Acts 1:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:14). James 2:26 says,
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” A grace that has the power to save also has the power to motivate a sinful heart toward godliness.
Look Zoe the religious teachings and doctrines are not solely divide from christain teachings.Unfortunately all of the negatjve tranformations happenings in the church can be pointed back to the source that of Paul
Biblical religions originatedwith one source and one foundation.
The principles and foundations which.had remain in tact until Paul used his own ideas and teachings with an ease to emblished and reform theChurch
Hence at present the church remains divided and scattered
The bible states that God never changes so it would be unprincipled or God would be a liar to set rules and guidlines and decides to change them after giving his commandements t and written wird to Moses.
I ask u where in the bible did Jesus say he would use Paul to build a church
The church was already built and established by God until paul used his arrogance to influence the disciples. which is applied to present day churches
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Zoe
ac December 7, 2015 at 8:00 PM #
“Paul took liberty with Gods Law and revelation 2 vs 2 commends the people of Ephesus for their good works and rejection of Pauls apostleship”
Rev. 2:2, Has absolutely NOTHING to do with rejecting Paul’s Apostleship. Whoever came up with this us-scriptural nonsense, is guilty of Eisegetical Pretzelizing.
Revelation 2:1 Revelation 2:3
I know
Perfect tense, οἶδα [oida] , “I have known.” His knowledge of their past works results in the commendations and exhortations which presently follow.1 Christ is omniscient. See commentary on Revelation 1:14.
labor and patience
The Ephesian church had worked hard and born a consistent load of service.
The Christian life, though full of joy, is also attended by much labor and hardship (2Cor. 2Cor. 11:27). Continual labor requires continual patience.
Believers are to persevere and not grow weary (Isa. Isa. 40:31; Gal. Gal. 6:9; 2Th. 2Th. 3:13; Heb. Heb. 12:3). Those who die in the Tribulation are said to obtain rest from their labors and their works follow them (Rev. Rev. 14:13+).
cannot bear
The Ephesian church did not bear those who were evil. This must refer to the Scriptural application of church discipline to protect the gathering from those who were not truly of them (Mtt. Mat. 18:17; 1Cor. 1Cor. 5:5; 1Ti. 1Ti. 6:3-5):
The sphere in which the Angel of Ephesus had the chief opportunity of manifesting this holy intolerance of evil-doers was, no doubt, that of Church-discipline, separating off from fellowship with the faithful those who named the name of Christ, yet would not depart from iniquity (2Ti. 2Ti. 2:19).2 http://www.biblestudytools.com
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Zoe
@ ac The following verses from Acts 26: 16,17, emphatically show the Words of Jesus spoken to Paul, confirming his CALLING, by Jesus, and to whom JESUS sent him, this IS the Word of God, recorded in Acts, AT the embryonic EARLY stage of the Apostolic Church.
“But rise, and stand upon thy feet; FOR I HAVE APPEARED UNTO THEE, for this purpose, to MAKE THEE A MINISTER and a WITNESS both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things IN WHICH I WILL APPEAR UNTO THEE, delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, UNTO WHOM I NOW SEND THEE.” (Acts 26:16,17) Now, that’s a strong statement, isn’t it? The LORD says, “Paul, I have CHOSEN you to go to the Gentiles. You are now hereby made a minister.”
And NOW you come with this ignorant, unlearned, question, and foolishly saying, “…The church was ALREADY BUILT and established by God..blah, blah blah…”
The Church was NOT already built, it WAS in its infancy, the very BEGINNING..It was NOW in the process of being BUILT, and Paul was CHOSEN by Jesus, as one of the Ministers (Apostles) and USED greatly by God in the process of BUILDING His Church.
“FOR I (JESUS) have appeared UNTO THEE, (Paul) for this PURPOSE, to MAKE THEE a MINISTER, and a WITNESS…” (Acts. 26: 16, 17)
The entire FIRST century, as recorded in Acts, the Epistles and the Letters, shows, by Inspiration of The Holy Spirit, the BUILDING OF, the Church, (process) NOT built, as you stupidly say, it was a PROCESS; and Paul WAS a chosen man of God, SENT by Jesus along with the other Apostles IN BUILDING the Church!
Zoe i take note of all your bible quotes and references but one simple question where in the bible did God give Paul the authority to reform the law or changes any biblical law. If u can specifically show me chapter and verse either by Jesus words or by prophesy i would concede
Now zoe get real how can u say that tge church was not already built when Jesus was a Jew and died a Jew .nothing in the bible or relugious teachings ssy differenly
says differently
Further more Jesus stated that he never came to change law
Now am i to belive that after his ressurection he had a spiritual awakening and deemed everthing written in law which he practised and took part should be change and only revealed to Paul
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Zoe
@ac, Paul NEVER said the Law (The Ten Commandments) were abolished. In fact, Paul wrote MORE about God’s Law than anyone else in the New Testament, he explained it in DETAIL, though hard to follow and understand for some. Paul upheld God’s Law, BUT, he thoroughly made it very clear, that the Law, could NOT ‘Justify’ Save anyone, because ‘Righteousness’ comes ONLY through FAITH, NOT Law.
Paul NEVER taught anything contrary to Jesus about the Law. Anyone who believes this, is terribly mistaken, and simply does not understand how Paul was inspired by The Holy Spirit, to teach and write the TRUTH about Grace and the Law.
Paul never said the Law was abolished. Read for yourself.
The following is a collection of clear scriptures showing that Paul never taught that we are free to disobey the Law (Hebrew: Torah).
First off, it’s obvious that Paul himself believed in keeping the Law:
Acts 24:14 (NKJV) – “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.
Acts 25:8 – while he answered for himself, “Neither against the Law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.”
Acts 18:21 – but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, Yahweh willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Romans 7:25 – I thank Yahweh–through Yahushua the Messiah our Master! So then, with the mind I myself serve the Law of Yahweh, but with the flesh the Law of sin.
Paul taught the disciples not to let anyone judge them for observing the Law (See Colossians study):
Colo 2:16-17 – So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the body of the Messiah.
Paul says that the doers of the Law will be justified and those who break it will be judged.
Romans 2:12 – For as many as have sinned without Law will also perish without Law, and as many as have sinned in the Law will be judged by the Law 13 (for not the hearers of the Law [are] just in the sight of Yahweh, but the doers of the Law will be justified;
The word that is translated “without Law” here is word #460 which means “not amenable to the Jewish/Mosaic Law”. (See Thayers and Strong’s lexicon). Paul says that we know His will and approve the things that are excellent when instructed out of the Law.
Romans 2:17 – Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the Law, and make your boast in Yahweh, 18 and know [His] will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the Law.
Here he says that when we break the Law, we dishonor Yahweh and blaspheme His name.
Romans 2:21 You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the Law, do you dishonor Yahweh through breaking the Law? 24 For “the name of Yahweh is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Here Paul twice states that we learn what sin is from the Law. This backs up the statement in 1John 3:4 that Sin is transgression of the Law.
Romans 3:20 – Therefore by the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Romans 7:7 – What shall we say then? [Is] the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the Law had said, “You shall not covet.”
Here is a key scripture proving that Paul believed that thru faith we do not make the Law void, but rather we establish the Law (To cause or make to stand, #2476).
Romans 3:31 – Do we then make void the Law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Here is another key scripture like the one above proving that Paul did not believe that once we are under grace, that we can continue to sin (break the Law):
Romans 6:15 – What then? Shall we sin because we are not under Law but under grace? Certainly not! 16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [leading] to death, or of obedience [leading] to righteousness?
Here Paul is equating “the Law” with “the commandment” and stating his opinion of them:
Romans 7:12 – Therefore the Law [is] holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
Here is an unpopular statement of Paul’s. Many like to believe that the Law is of the flesh. Not true! It’s spiritual:
Romans 7:14 – For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Paul delights in the Law of Yahweh
Romans 7:22 – For I delight in the Law of Yahweh according to the inward man.
In these verses he shows that righteousness is the opposite of Lawlessness (#458 in violation of the Law). Therefore if one is keeping the Law, they must walking in righteousness. (Though this is confirmed already by many verses I have already shown.) Please also remember this for later in the study.
Romans 6:19 – I speak in human [terms] because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members [as] slaves of uncleanness, and of Lawlessness [leading] to [more] Lawlessness, so now present your members [as] slaves [of] righteousness for holiness
Here obedience is equated with righteousness (as defined by the Law)
Romans 10:5 – For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the Law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Now in conclusion I must say that there would have to be very little doubt that according to these verses in which Paul spoke, he certainly upheld the Law as the very definition of righteousness and holiness. And he taught that breaking these commandments were Unrighteousness, Lawlessness, wickedness, and most importantly, SIN.
Therefore we can conclude that whenever Paul speaks of Sin…he most certainly is talking about disobeying the commandments in the Law. How many more scriptures could be added where Paul speaks against sin? This study would certainly be many pages l
One final quote:
Romans 8:6-7 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against Yahweh; for it is not subject to the Law of Yahweh, nor indeed can be. http://www.eliyah.com
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Zoe
@ ac, Having shown you clearly from God’s Word, the Bible, that Paul did NOT teach the abolition of the Law; the question that remains now, did Jesus teach any summation of the Law in the New Testament, let us hear Him on this matter:
Let us see how Jesus answered the probing Pharisaical Lawyer in Matthew 22: 34-40.
“But when the Pharisees had hear that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.”
“Then one of them, which is a lawyer, asked Him a question, tempting Him, saying,
“Master, which is the GREAT COMMANDMENT in the Law?”
Take careful note of Jesus’ response to this most serious and profound, and relevant question; let’s read on
“Jesus said unto him, ‘Thou shalt love The Lord God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the FIRST and GREAT Commandment.”
“And the second is LIKE UNTO THE FIRST, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
The Lord Jesus Christ was the first person to combine these two text from Deuteronomy 6:5, and Leviticus 19:18
Having identified the TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS, Jesus now concludes by summarizing “All the Law” and it requirements, by saying:
“On these TWO COMMANDMENTS hang (How much of the Law,? 99%, NO!) ALL THE LAW and the Prophets.”
What did Paul, himself a strict ‘Law Abiding’ law keeping Pharisee prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus, have to say on this matter in Romans 13: 8-10,
How do we know that just like Jesus, Paul is referring to ‘The Ten Commandments’ when he refers to ‘The Law.” Let us read on and see:
“For this, Thous shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thous shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: (v.9a)
“And if there be any OTHER COMMANDMENT, (the other five) it is briefly comprehended (summarized) in this saying, Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thryself.” (v.9b)
Paul then concludes, just like Jesus in Matthew 22: 40, by saying:
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: Therefor LOVE IS THE FULFILLING of THE LAW.” (v.10).
Again we read in God’s Word, in (Gal. 5:14)
“For ALL THE LAW is FULFILLED in ONE WORD, even this: ‘Thous shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
The word rendered FULFILLED is from the Greek word ‘pleroo’, which means ‘To make full’ and when used as a task or a course of action, ‘To fully perform’ here in Galatians.
The verb is in the perfect tense, and the translation could read: ‘The whole Law stands fully obeyed.’
As Dr. Walter Martin, one of the most gifted Apologist/Polemicists of the twentieth century, now with the Lord in conscious eternal bliss, once wrote, with which I wholeheartedly concur:
“The Christian stand under ‘the perfect law of liberty’ which enables him ‘to fulfill the righteousness of the Law, by the imperative of LOVE.”
There you go trying to praphrase what Jesus meant. The queston being what does it mean to Love the lord the God with all thy heart
For Paul it meant to re-establish laws to exlude some of jedeau teachings founded on the laws God given to israelites which the Christain church now prefers to call traditions but if one read the book of levititicus there are laws which were given specifically by God which were to be observed by the isrealites Paul himself stated in his reformation of the early church that some of those laws were not necessary.
So then tell who was Paul obeying himself or the laws of God
@ac, I knew you would not understand what Jesus said, as usual, you remain very confused and unenlightened, all mixed up re God’s Word.
Paul literally emphasized what Jesus said, meaning the same thing about the Law, as it is now applied in the New Testament.
In order to “Owe no man anything, but to LOVE one another: For he that loveth another hath FULFILLED ALL THE LAW.” (Rom. 13:10).
“For ALL the Law is FULFILLED in one word, even this: Thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal. 5:14).
These two text, encompass exactly what Jesus said: “Thou shalt the Lord God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Deut. 6:5)
“And the second is like unto it, thou shalt LOVE thy neighbour as thyself.” (Lev. 19:18).
ac, you need to get saved, by Grace through FAITH, (Eph. 2:8,9). The Law cannot save anyone, it was there to SHOW all of us, that we NEED a Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Zoe Grace or Faith cannot saved me those two buzz words are in controversial to what Jesus said to Nicodemus when Nicodemus asked him how can he be born again
Paul was a master wordsmith in his influence and in his need to convince
…Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6″That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.…
Jesus had already stated the path for righteousness and salvation but once again Paul uses his only assertions to convince the Church past and Present that grace and faith
is the sufficient method of acceptance to the Kingdom of God
In his arrogance Jphn took liberty to the Word even at times overriding the principles and teachings of Jesus exemplified to coerce in his quest to defeat Peter and become leader of the Church
Faith and salvation ::::Jesus was the embodiment of Faith and salvation demonstrated in his miracles and his teachings while on earth ..In the sermon on the mount Faith and salvation is the intricate building blocks when Jesus spoke to thousands of his followers telling the multitude the path for salvation and heavenly reward
Matthew 5-7
Paul must not have heard of those teachings by way of Holy Ghost knoweldge as he used his influence and self knoweldge to captalise on his interpretations on the Purpose and Will of Jesus.
Faith and salvation already demonstrated, magnified in word deed and action and expounded (upon) by Jesus
have a closer look at the messianic countenances of Tony Blair or George Bush or Trump..in full verbal flight…
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