Circuit Assembly

[Eyes & Ears]

I do not really take note notes. But I do write down what jumps out at me.

These are just several tid bids that jumped into my litte tablet at my recent

Circuit Assembly.



(title) PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

To put on the Lord Jesus Christ means to allow the Christ to grow inside of us. Transform us inside out.

ROMANS 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning
ahead for the desires of the flesh.


GALATIANS 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ.


1 COR. 2:16 For "who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, that he
may instruct him?" But we do have the mind of Christ.


1 PETER 2:21 In fact, to this [course] you were called, because even Christ
suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.



We are Satan's target

We must protect our spirituality

Safeguarding our spirituality is our life

Protect our minds

Control our thoughts

Avoid time consuming distractions.

Satan's aim is to distract, undermine

Stay focused on: Sanctification of Jehovah's name & Vindication of Jehovah's Sovereignty


Beware of Overconfidence


1 COR 10:12 Consequently let him that thinks he is standing beware that
he does not fall. (I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE, JUST LOVE IT)


LU 21:34 "But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become
weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties
of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you.

1 PETER 5:8 Keep your senses, be watchful. Your adversary, the Devil,
walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone.


So as I mentioned there was not much new, just reminders. Reminders are

certainly OK, but it was two days of the same reminders in different formats.

I wanted some beef. Oh well had to deal with my smoked turkey sandwich for

food.


The only other thing that concerns me is the amount of $$$$$$$ they seem to always

need and announce they need it with no hesitation. Can you imagine

from each Circuit. It is always in the thousands of dollars.

Look just have these assemblies in the summer in a nice shady area by some water

with lovely trees around. Bring a blankie, a sandwich and a cool drink and call it a day.

Wear casual clothes (don't go crazy now, no shorts, tank/tube tops come on now) :rolleyes: I

don't have thousands of dollars to give anyone OK.

Yeah I know Jinnster a girl can Dream on can't she?:):D

E & E

[The Way]

(title) PUT ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

To put on the Lord Jesus Christ means to allow the Christ to grow inside of us. Transform us inside out.

ROMANS 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not be planning
ahead for the desires of the flesh.


GALATIANS 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put
on Christ.


1 COR. 2:16 For "who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, that he
may instruct him?" But we do have the mind of Christ.


1 PETER 2:21 In fact, to this [course] you were called, because even Christ
suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.


Interesting theme and scriptures. I'm not sure though the right application was given and the full meaning explained of Gal. 3:27. (Of course I fully agree with the admonition taken from this scripture that we have to 'put on Christ' or 'to clothe yourselves with Christ' (NWT ftn.).) Judge for yourself in view of the context of the passage:

(Gal 3:26-29, Green's KJ3-LIT)
26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. [["into": Greek EIS, not just EN, "in"]]
28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are of Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.

1Co 2:16
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord (YHWH)?” “Who will instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Isa. 40:13


The only other thing that concerns me is the amount of $$$$$$$ they seem to always

need and announce they need it with no hesitation. Can you imagine

from each Circuit. It is always in the thousands of dollars.
The reason assemblies are always so costly is because the contributions are also used to cover the expenses for the circuit overseer. There is no transparency, no financial account with a breakdown of the costs, towards the public in the hall though.

[uglyandthin]

Interesting theme and scriptures. I'm not sure though the right application was given and the full meaning explained of Gal. 3:27. (Of course I fully agree with the admonition taken from this scripture that we have to 'put on Christ' or 'to clothe yourselves with Christ' (NWT ftn.).) Judge for yourself in view of the context of the passage:

(Gal 3:26-29, Green's KJ3-LIT)
26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. [["into": Greek EIS, not just EN, "in"]]
28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are of Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.

1Co 2:16
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord (YHWH)?” “Who will instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Isa. 40:13


The reason assemblies are always so costly is because the contributions are also used to cover the expenses for the circuit overseer. There is no transparency, no financial account with a breakdown of the costs, towards the public in the hall though.

Hi The Way:

That is an interesting point you make with the "in" and "into" argument. I think it actually changes the whole meaning of the scriptures depending of whether it says in or into. But then again I don't want to nit pick about words. Jehovah could have used the word for into, but really meant in. Right?

ugly and thin

[Eyes & Ears]

Interesting theme and scriptures. I'm not sure though the right application was given and the full meaning explained of Gal. 3:27. (Of course I fully agree with the admonition taken from this scripture that we have to 'put on Christ' or 'to clothe yourselves with Christ' (NWT ftn.).) Judge for yourself in view of the context of the passage:

(Gal 3:26-29, Green's KJ3-LIT)
26 for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. [["into": Greek EIS, not just EN, "in"]]
28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is no slave nor freeman, there is no male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are of Christ, then you are a seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.

1Co 2:16
16 For “who has known the mind of the Lord (YHWH)?” “Who will instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. Isa. 40:13


The reason assemblies are always so costly is because the contributions are also used to cover the expenses for the circuit overseer. There is no transparency, no financial account with a breakdown of the costs, towards the public in the hall though.


Hi TheWay


Theme of the C. Assembly was Safeguard Your Spirituality
Romans 8:5; Jude 17-19


Put on the Lord Jesus Christ was one of the talks. My fault I should have stated that. Thanks for the info re: Assembly expense.

E & E

[The Way]

Hi E & E:

Thanks for sharing your notes and observations!


Hi The Way:

That is an interesting point you make with the "in" and "into" argument. I think it actually changes the whole meaning of the scriptures depending of whether it says in or into. But then again I don't want to nit pick about words. Jehovah could have used the word for into, but really meant in. Right?

ugly and thin

Hi u & t:

In my reading and understanding, while this is only a detail, it has indeed its significance.
Being "baptized into X" comprises "baptized in X", but "baptized into X" is a bit stronger an assertion, adding a bit more information. The same with:

(Mat 28:18-20, KJ3-LIT)
18 And coming up, Jesus spoke with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
19 Therefore having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into [Greek: EIS] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things, as many things as I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.

The phrase 'baptizing in the name ...' is so ingrained in/into our collective memory, yet it's simply not what the source text of the bible says. In English "into" makes the difference perfectly transparent, in languages other than English it may be more difficult to express this nuance.
"Baptizing into ..." conveys more than just the act of baptism that is performed "in the name ...", it has also to do with the change as a result of the act of baptism, the state of the one who is getting baptized after his/her baptism, all the time from his/her baptism on.
In my opinion, this is NOT a mere "baptismal formula", as if Jesus was only concerned with which words should be used, in a "ceremonial" way, at the time of one's baptism. Nor do I think that "in(to) the name of ..." ONLY means "in the authority of". As one of the last words he spoke face to face with his apostles, Jesus was expressing some very profound truths in v18-20.

Jah bless.
_____
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. -- Ecc 12:13-14, GNT

[uglyandthin]

Hi E & E:

Thanks for sharing your notes and observations!



Hi u & t:

In my reading and understanding, while this is only a detail, it has indeed its significance.
Being "baptized into X" comprises "baptized in X", but "baptized into X" is a bit stronger an assertion, adding a bit more information. The same with:

(Mat 28:18-20, KJ3-LIT)
18 And coming up, Jesus spoke with them, saying, All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me.
19 Therefore having gone, disciple all nations, baptizing them into [Greek: EIS] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all things, as many things as I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the completion of the age. Amen.

The phrase 'baptizing in the name ...' is so ingrained in/into our collective memory, yet it's simply not what the source text of the bible says. In English "into" makes the difference perfectly transparent, in languages other than English it may be more difficult to express this nuance.
"Baptizing into ..." conveys more than just the act of baptism that is performed "in the name ...", it has also to do with the change as a result of the act of baptism, the state of the one who is getting baptized after his/her baptism, all the time from his/her baptism on.
In my opinion, this is NOT a mere "baptismal formula", as if Jesus was only concerned with which words should be used, in a "ceremonial" way, at the time of one's baptism. Nor do I think that "in(to) the name of ..." ONLY means "in the authority of". As one of the last words he spoke face to face with his apostles, Jesus was expressing some very profound truths in v18-20.

Jah bless.
_____
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. -- Ecc 12:13-14, GNT

Hi The Way:

I have found this article in the biblecodeintro site very illuminating about the "in" and "into" issue. You may also find it beneficial. BLANK, enjoy! Some may find it just nit picking about words, but I think Jehovah chooses his words specifically.

uglyandthin

NO BIBLE CODE BS ALLOWED TO BE PEDDLED ON THIS SITE
Watchman

[uglyandthin]

Hi The Way:

I have found this article in the biblecodeintro site very illuminating about the "in" and "into" issue. You may also find it beneficial. BLANK, enjoy! Some may find it just nit picking about words, but I think Jehovah chooses his words specifically.

uglyandthin

NO BIBLE CODE BS ALLOWED TO BE PEDDLED ON THIS SITE

Watchman

Hi Watchman:

BS, what is that an abreviation for? Did you read the article? Does it matter if you are born "in the name of" or "into the name of" as it is in Greek in Matthew 28:19 and other scriptures. Seems to me there is a big difference. Actually it changes the whole import and meaning of the scripture depending on how you translate it.

uglyandthin

[LonelySheep]

Guys, I thought this is an interesting view of Matth 28:19,20 taken from the Online Bible translation (http://www.2001translation.com/) - the authors of which seem very earnest in arriving at accurate biblical truth.

Anycase, this is what they have to say:

The words found at Matthew 28:19, ‘baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and [God’s] Holy Breath,’ are not found in the ancient Shem Tob Hebrew manuscript, so they are likely spurious (words that were added to the Bible). And this begs the question: Does the Bibles really command that we be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Many churches use the words found at Matthew 28:19, 20 when baptizing, which say: ‘Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all the things that I commanded you.’ (This has been called the Trinity Formula, since it contains the three-person Godhead).
At present, we don’t have any complete Greek manuscripts of Matthew prior to the 4th Century, and all existing Greek and Latin manuscripts written thereafter contain this phrase. However, there is evidence that this reading is a later corruption of the original text.
For example: The early Church historian Eusebius appears to quote from a different manuscript than any we presently have, for eighteen times (between the years 300 and 325-C.E.) he cited Matthew 28:19, 20 as saying: ‘Go ye and make disciples of all the nations in my name, teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I commanded you.’
And it’s interesting that the traditional Trinitarian reading of Matthew 28:19 doesn’t appear in Eusebius’ writings until after the Council of Nicaea, when the Trinity began to formally be held as official doctrine.
In his work "A Textual Commentary on the Greek Gospels, Vol. 1 - Matthew" by WIELAND WILLKER (Bremen, online published 5th edition 2007) he wrote: "Eusebius uses a form of Mt 28:19 29 times and cites it in three different forms:
Form 1: Go ye and make disciples of all nations (7 times)
Form 2. Go ye and make disciples of all nations in my name (17 times)
Form 3. The traditional form (5 times).'
Also Willker noted: "Note that the Eusebian form does not contain the [Latin] word baptizo, so [Matthew 28:19 is not a reference to baptism at all." So, evidence strongly indicates that this is a spurious scripture inserted by later Trinitarians, in the same vein as 1 John 5:7-8.
However, this finding may prove to cut both ways for some; for while it breaks apart the only mention of the Trinity trio, it does seem to prove what many Trinitarians have said all along; that baptisms should only be done in the name of Jesus. So, since there may be no true mention of baptizing into the Father and Holy Breath (Spirit), the only other instructions in the Bible on how to baptize people say:
Acts 2:38, ‘Repent, and each of you get baptized in the name of Jesus the Anointed One, so your sins can be forgiven. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Breath.
Acts 8:15, 16, ‘They went [to the Samaritans] and prayed for them to receive the Holy Breath, because it hadn’t come to any of them yet, although they had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
Acts 10:48, ‘So he commanded that they should be baptized in the name of Jesus the Anointed One.’
Acts 19:5, ‘When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.’
Also, notice the Description that Luke gave of the parting words of Jesus, as found at Luke 24:47. ‘Then, in his (Jesus’) name, [the message of] repentance for forgiveness of sins is to be preached in all the nations, starting from Jerusalem.’ As you can see, the Trinitarian formula isn’t found there either.

So what do you think?

[sir_chan]

Hi Watchman:

... Does it matter if you are born "in the name of" or "into the name of" as it is in Greek in Matthew 28:19 and other scriptures. Seems to me there is a big difference. Actually it changes the whole import and meaning of the scripture depending on how you translate it.

uglyandthin


I went in the house.

I went into the house.

[The Way]

I went in the house.

I went into the house.

Hello sir_chan:

He got stumbled IN disbelief and sin.
--> He had a moment of weakness, temporarily fell prey to disbelief, sin, and as a result he stumbled.
He got stumbled INTO disbelief and sin.
--> He got stumbled and as a result, lost his faith altogether and became an unbeliever and hardened, confirmed sinner.
Note how cause and effect are more or less reversed here!

He moved to Australia IN good health and IN prosperity.
--> When he left for Australia, he was in good health and wealthy (but maybe, after one year in his new country he lost all his money and possessions, went bankrupt and got chronically ill).
He moved to Australia INTO good health and INTO prosperity.
--> Describes the blessed state in his new life in Australia, he prospered the rest of his days there due to the warm climate and favorable economic circumstances.

So even in English there is a difference in overtones, in what you intend to emphasize, even more so in Biblical Greek.
_____
After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret. ― Ecc 12:13-14, GNT

[Utuna]

Hi The Way:

That is an interesting point you make with the "in" and "into" argument. I think it actually changes the whole meaning of the scriptures depending of whether it says in or into. But then again I don't want to nit pick about words. Jehovah could have used the word for into, but really meant in. Right?

ugly and thin

Dear uglyandthin,

You're right ! Debating about "in" or "into" in biblical verses is utter intellectual and spiritual myopia.

As says the saying : "When the wise man indicates the moon, the stupid one looks at the finger".

It's all about translations and English words and we can't draw conclusions from such feeble and non pertinent details.

On the other hand, Greek has two different ways to express baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

- eis to onoma tou kyriou Iesou
- en (or epi) tô onomati Ièsou Christou

Some scholars say that they are just two different ways to explain the same things, others say that there's a slight difference and that this difference is however significant. It SEEMS that the two baptisms were different in the effects (Holy Spirit or not, gifts or not) they brought to the persons baptized. They're used in the books of Acts especially and we know that God's Holy Spirit might have been acting in different ways at the very start of Christianism than later on and even now. Nevertheless, Luke used both ways in his book and we don't know why he chose one way over the other according to the context and situation he was describing and putting into words. For example, the ethiopian eunuch isn't described as having gifts of any sorts (Acts 8:39, please compare with Acts8:16,18). However, we shouldn't draw definitive conclusions but investigating somehow in those issues might be interesting.

...but I haven't had the time so far to make much research about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------
"Le sectarisme des jugements pauvres lui tenait quelquefois lieu de volonté" - Hervé Bazin
"J'ai pétri de la boue et j'en ai fait de l'or" - Charles Baudelaire
"S'il m'a été donné de voir un peu plus loin que les autres, c'est que je me tenais sur les épaules de géants" - Isaac Newton

[FutureMan]

Hi The Way:

I have found this article in the biblecodeintro site very illuminating about the "in" and "into" issue. You may also find it beneficial. BLANK, enjoy! Some may find it just nit picking about words, but I think Jehovah chooses his words specifically.

uglyandthin

NO BIBLE CODE BS ALLOWED TO BE PEDDLED ON THIS SITE
Watchman

My opinion is that to get caught up with Bible codes is to be misled by the master deceiver himself, Satan.

You might say how is this possible since the Bible is inspired by God?

God's original Word as written down by Moses and the prophets and the writings of the Apostles is inspired, but not necessarily were the translations after it.
Satan could have very easily caused words to be changed to form a Bible code.

Of course this is my personal opinion, but I have investigated Bible codes myself and do not find it to a be a valid way of looking at God's Word.

[uglyandthin]

Dear uglyandthin,

You're right ! Debating about "in" or "into" in biblical verses is utter intellectual and spiritual myopia.

As says the saying : "When the wise man indicates the moon, the stupid one looks at the finger".

It's all about translations and English words and we can't draw conclusions from such feeble and non pertinent details.

On the other hand, Greek has two different ways to express baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.

- eis to onoma tou kyriou Iesou
- en (or epi) tô onomati Ièsou Christou

Some scholars say that they are just two different ways to explain the same things, others say that there's a slight difference and that this difference is however significant. It SEEMS that the two baptisms were different in the effects (Holy Spirit or not, gifts or not) they brought to the persons baptized. They're used in the books of Acts especially and we know that God's Holy Spirit might have been acting in different ways at the very start of Christianism than later on and even now. Nevertheless, Luke used both ways in his book and we don't know why he chose one way over the other according to the context and situation he was describing and putting into words. For example, the ethiopian eunuch isn't described as having gifts of any sorts (Acts 8:39, please compare with Acts8:16,18). However, we shouldn't draw definitive conclusions but investigating somehow in those issues might be interesting.

...but I haven't had the time so far to make much research about it.

---------------------------------------------------------------
"Le sectarisme des jugements pauvres lui tenait quelquefois lieu de volonté" - Hervé Bazin
"J'ai pétri de la boue et j'en ai fait de l'or" - Charles Baudelaire
"S'il m'a été donné de voir un peu plus loin que les autres, c'est que je me tenais sur les épaules de géants" - Isaac Newton

Hi Utuna:

Actually, I was being sarcastic, imagine that! I believe Jehovah chose the word for "into" for a specific purpose and did not mistakenly use it instead of the word for in. I think this is the case because in baptism you are being baptized into a covenant depending on which baptismal class you will find yourself. You can be baptized into the name of the Father (which Jesus is currently the only one who has done this so far) and he has the name that is above every other name to prove it. You can be baptized into the name of the Son as the Bride of Christ are, and lastly you can be baptized into the name of the Holy Spirit covenant as a spirit begotten Son of God who is not a part of Christ's bride.

Also, in the symbolic you have the Father who is Abraham, the Son who is Isaac and the Holy Spirit represented by Jacob. Abraham being the Father of all those with Faith who never belonged to a true faith by baptism, Isaac being the father of all those who were baptized into a true faith (Judaism, Christianity in the early centuries and the late centuries), and Jacob is the Father of all the Spirit Baptized individuals, both those of the Bride of Christ and those who are spirit baptized although not part of Christ's Bride. So when you are baptized into the name of one of these "Fathers" you take on thier name and the convenant which they represent. A person who is a Son of Abraham can later be a Son of Isaac and still later be a son of Jacob as thier faith and relationship with God progresses from simply faith to faith and true religion and finally to a spirit begotten Son of God.

uglyandthin