Elaine

Hi Cheryl…Thanks for your reply…regarding the “pivitol” point.. while I agree with the Matt 11 v 12 words of Jesus…I do believe that He (Jesus) within the realms of those words point to Himself as being the pivotal point as He states in v 28 come unto Me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest (Lord of the Sabbath, eternal rest) While John was used as the announcer, he (John), still didnt know if Jesus was the one see v3 of same chap. John bore witness to Jesus but Jesus had a greater witness ( John 5 v 33, 36) I see scripture as stating quite catagorically that Jesus is the pivitol point in time for the great change that was to take place (John may have ANNOUNCED the change but Jesus IS the change) regarding the jewish nation and also at a later date the gentiles. I hope you read L. Ray Smith, Rich man and Lazarus, great insight into Luke 16 meaning. I think also that you did not understand what I said regarding the memorial tombs. I said that its easy for us (christians, jews and gentiles, one flock) NOW to understand the meaning and content (all), but in Jesus’ day the jews did not understand what Jesus meant, although they had the scriptues which spoke of the Christ…they didnt “get it” We know that Jesus is particularly talking to THOSE under law as He says in v 23 “That all men should be valueing the son.. AS THEY ARE (or should be) valueing the Father…and why Jesus says TO THE JEWS that “no-one can come to the Son UNLESS the Father draws him” meaning that IF they knew the God of Israel they will now have to know and accept the son and if they do not accept the Son then they never really knew/had the Father in the first place as the Father would give them to Jesus. This is an extremely important point, that the jews hear AND accept. Jesus tells of the time of the gentile calling when He says that “When the son of man is lifted up HE will draw all sorts of men (gentiles) TO HIMSELF (Jesus) as they unlike the jews would not have the problem of overcoming the law and being the chosen nation). Jesus himself says v 39 “Ye search the scriptures (what we know as the O/T) for in them ye think (jews not gentiles) ye have eternal life and they are they which testify about ME. So yes ALL would one day come out of the memorial tombs… but at THAT TIME the jews did not understand. I, me, other christians NOW understand but THEN the jews did not which is the point I was trying to make and obviously failing to do so. As regards the “there are not 2 ways to salvation only one way to life” that you said…once again I agree.. it is in Christ… but again you must agree that before Christ came, how could I believe in Him if He was not yet born and I was a little gentile living 500bc somewhere in the English countryside, not having the law, or, the True God of Israel as my Rock… then by which criteria are we judged…for rejecting Christ, cant be, no, but by works, as born out by the greek which says “to the one good doing the up-standing of life, the ones yet the foul practicing the up-standing of judging”John chap 5 v 29. There is a “before” Christ and there is an “after” Christ surley… Christ has already given the criteria for “after” His coming on the scene, hearing Him and believing… and I believe Jesus is giving criteria “before” His arriving on the scene as regards those in the memorial tombs, ie the doing of good.. to life, or, practicing vile things to up-standing of judgement. Hope this clarifies and that you too can understand. In Christ