“The Fall”? “The Curse”? What Does The Bible Really Say? A “Curse”? A “Fall”?

Edward O’Hara Why is it that we hear so many using such hyperbole? Is it hyperbole? Or is it Biblical language? Is this language found anywhere in the Bible from which we may conclude anything like this? When we read the Genesis account do we ever see God using this language? Do we see God using “The curse” or “The fall” in connection to what happened to Adam and Eve? Does God say Adam and Eve were cursed? Or that they “fell” from anything? Do any of the writers of the scriptures use these terms to describe what happened to Adam and Eve? Let’s take a look. You may be surprised at what we find. We’ll start with Genesis and then also see what Paul says about this.  But first, let me give you something to consider that will be answered later…

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WHY DOES DEATH STILL REIGN EVEN AFTER MEN ARE CLEANSED FROM ALL SIN?

Edward O’Hara Mon 2/10/2020 1:14 PM… In 1John1:9 John says that when Israelites confess their sins Jesus is faithful and just to forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness. In Heb.9:15 we read that Jesus “is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” And in 2 Cor.5:21 we read “For he hath made him be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” So the question is since for those who have believed in Jesus all sin has been forgiven and cleansed, and the transgressions under the law were all redeemed by the death of Christ, and we are righteous in Christ, why do…

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THE SOWER SOWS THE WORD

In Mark 4 and Mt.13 Jesus tells of a person who plants a seed in the ground. He describes the kind of ground the seed is planted in. And how it is the condition of the ground that is the critical factor that determines whether the seed germinates, grows, and bears fruit. This message can be heard at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SlI8ix_aetM&feature=youtu.be After telling this story the disciples wondered what Jesus meant. Jesus answered them that it was for them who believe in Him to know the meaning of the parable. But, that the reason He told these stories this way was so that for others who would not believe in Him, those that Jesus said are “without”, that “seeing they may see, and not perceive, and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins…

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SANCTIFIED AND PURIFIED… BUT NOT FORGIVEN? HUH!?

Edward O’Hara Thu 2/6/2020 5:11 PM To understand the letter to the Hebrews we always need to keep in mind that this letter is written to well… the Hebrews, and not the whole world. This means that whatever it says, it says to those who were under the law to show them a better way. This is in contrast to the rest of the world who have never been under the law. Those who Paul describes in Eph.2:11-13 as Gentiles saying, “That at that time ye (Gentiles) were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” So the letter to the Hebrews was written to Israel to show them how Jesus was the fulfillment of that…

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“They That Are In The Flesh Can Not Please God” Rom.8

Edward O’Hara Wed 1/29/2020 5:01 PM Is Paul telling us this so that we will know that the flesh is evil? Is this verse telling us that because the flesh is evil man must be punished with death because it makes him the enemy of God and that this is why men go to hell? Ummm…. not so much. Because first of all not only do we not see those words being used in Rom.8 or elsewhere. But, secondly when Paul tells us things like this, and things like the carnal mind is at enmity with God in Rom.8:7, he is referring to the mind that was made by God. Made to relate only to the world that he was put in that is what has been made. But, made by God nonetheless.  So it’s being at enmity with God…

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The “Great Gulf Fixed” That Separates Believers From Unbelievers

WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE…  Edward O’Hara Mon 1/27/2020 3:37 PM This message, which can also be heard at https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0xlrxZdmPC0&feature=youtu.be, is about a passage from Luke16 that I think most people who have heard or read the Bible will be familiar with. Here is a portion from this passage- “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke16:19-31. Is it a parable? Or is it to be taken…

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What Universalists And Calvinists Have In Common

Edward O’Hara Thu 12/26/2019 6:54 PM… The Calvinist(those who believe John Calvin’s teaching) believes that God chose who will go to heaven and who will go to hell before they were born. The Universalist believes that all men will be saved because God chose them before they were born. The Calvinist gets this from confusing what Paul taught about predestination in Rom.8 and what Paul taught in Rom.9. The Universalist gets this from confusing Paul’s message in Rom.5:18. In Rom.5:18 Paul says “Therefore as by the offense of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” They believe this means that just as all are condemned in Adam because of his sin. So all are justified in Christ because of His sinlessness. Even though on the…

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